Show HE uc anny TOOK TUC THE I 1 lit DICI RISK M by FLORENCE HENDERSON its a nervy tiling thing to ask you to do ailing spoke tho the chief clerk of the empire national bank im willing to tako take the risk smiled gerald ailing quietly for two alluring reasons rea sona would it bo be impertinent for me to ask what those reasons might bea you are arc so BO good a friend replied ailing promptly that I 1 am glad to tell you first reason I 1 hall with delight any variation in my humdrum work of counting money in a screened cago cage second reason I 1 am in love with mr air wards daughter lucy and I 1 would like to mako make a good impression on her father who to tell the truth rather frowns on my matrimony al aspirations 1 I son sen very good laughed tho the chief clerk 1 I hope this now new experience per peri lenco ence will lead to a consummation ot your wishes all around young ailing had been with the bank for three years and was waa a model tho the mr air ward ho he spoke of was the special messenger of tho the institution atit ution for years whenever largo amounts of at securities or money wore were to be ba delivered it was tho the duty of ward to attend to it the coin transmissions were mado made in a wagon guarded by special off officers leers mr air ward disdained disdain ed such protection with his money satchel handcuffed handcuff rd to hlo his wrist ho he had carried hundreds of thousands of dollars across the city one day his fits good luck missed him As lie was passing an open area way two men hustled him film down its stepa two others stationed below seized him ile ho was waa knocked senseless with a slung slingshot shot and when ho he recovered consciousness ness the men and satchel wore were gone fortunately the amount of currency in tho the satchel was small but over 50 in bonds had been secured by the bold footpads they were of no value to the robbers but until they wore were recovered or proof positive of their dost destruction st was secured tho the bank had to put up a largo large bond against thorn them out of all this had had grown a suggestion from the chief clerk of at the tha bank ward was waa to carry the money as before only to distribute about hla his person persan ile was to proceed on his bla mission secretly from a side exit of tho the bank gerald was to carry the sato satchel liel empty tho the hope was that the old gang of robbers might be on the watch tor for a moro more profitable opportunity they U A frightful alarm night some day attempt to rob ger lid just as aa they had ward the former was to keep e L close lookout was to raise an instant alarm it if it tacked A detective was to follow lm alm within ready call hut but not closely enough to awaken suspicion cion it was waa the second day of the new grogram dogram when gerald was returning irom rom hla his mock cash delivery to a bank ank that a bright eyed old man accosted him and walked along with him 11 messenger service eh mr air ailing to 10 questioned yes yea assented gerald thought that loss of theirs would air up the bank observed his companion say I 1 guess I 1 shall never be able to thank you enough tor for that situation you found tor for me ohl ob I 1 was glad to be of service to you declared gerald heartily dropped your inventions have you until I 1 got get a little capital ahead yes res look hero drop in and seo see mo me at my room some time soon suggested the li lit with a studious glance at the satchel gerald was car ying lying id like to show you a new wrinkle ivo ive devised to td make the bank messenger absolutely immune from loss why you interest me declared gerald 1 I will surely avail myself of your invitation ile he had bad been going pretty regularly to see lucy ward but her father had bad circumscribed these calls to once a week now I 1 it is nonsense to think of marrying he be declared sharply or even an engagement until your salary Is materially increased and you have enough to start housekeeping in some substantial way Ws WB a long prospect ahead then mourned nour ned gerald but lucy loved him to tea know knew that and both exerted the virtue ot at patience of it a sensational character kad bapp happened ened along alone oc at his bial carrying the empty money satchel eat chol ono one day however however tho the bank detective came to him you know it except to keep a firm gripon grip on your nerve ailing hd said but you are being followed Is that so inquired our young hero 1 I feel sure euro of it I 1 have noticed two suspicious looking characters apparently patently ly on your trail for three can consecutive mornings now that evening gerald went to visit vlast his fits friend the inventor for lack of a bettor place to go to tho the man was a genius and grateful to tho the young bank man for past favors done chato night ho he showed hie gratitude gratl tudo to gerald by proving that ho he had done some thinking in his behalf when gerald loft left the inventors room tie ho carried a fair sized package which ile ho took down to the bank w with I 1 th b him I 1 in when ho he got ready to a start tart on hla his decoy route next morning he went to a secluded corner of the bank and placed the package in question care fully inside of tile the satchel A wire from it he ran t through brough the canvas so that its loop just clasped one of his fingers every morning after that for more than a week gerald repeated this op oration rind and ono a no eventful day there were results A jam of vehicles near a crowded court a jostling mob around him two men got close up to him ono one quickly caught his arm the other gave him a push down the court away from the street gorald gerald ailing smiled despite his peril live give up that satchel sat choll ordered one of the men take idill retorted geeald accommodatingly moda tingly and he bo let ho he loop slide from his finger dang bangi ding ding ding ding ding A frightful alarm of sound echoed from inside the satchel two revolver shots tho the shap rasping clanging ol of halt a dozen bells the dismayed and discomfited loot ers stared at satchel and messenger defore before they could turn and run the bank detective was at their side gerald saw them led to a patrol wagon went on his way and after banking hours was waa called into the private office of the president of the institution ile he found tho the bank detective also there now then young man observed the money magnate a pleased but curious expression on his bla face explain that young noise wagon of yours the satchel and then gerald told of the ingenuity of hla his friend the inventor in producing a device which went oft off the moment he let go of the handle ot of tho the satchel 1 I sent for you said tho the president to tell you that through the arrest at 0 the men your clever alarm call bat baa fled wo have recovered the stolen bonds our officer here will share a reward of five thousand dollars with you and you probably deserve a months leave of absence ailing til ill make a honeymoon of it itt cried the delighted young bank man copyright 1913 by W G chapman |