The Burglars Fate and The Detectives | Page 3

who sought the broad acres of the west, and builded their
homes upon the "edge of civilization." From that time began the work
of progress and cultivation. Towns, villages and cities sprang up as if
under the wand of the magician. Fifty years ago, a small trading post,
with its general store, its hand grist-mill, rude blacksmith-shop and the
fort. To-day, a busy active town, with more than five thousand
inhabitants, a hundred business enterprises, great railroad facilities, and
every element that conduces to prosperity, honesty and happiness.
Such is Geneva to-day, a substantial, bustling, thriving and progressive
village of the west.
It is a hot, sultry day in August, 18--, and the shrill whistles from the
factories have just announced the arrival of six o'clock. Work is
suspended for the day, and the army of workmen are preparing for their
homes after the labors of the day.
At the little bank in Geneva the day has been an active one. Numerous
herders have brought their stock into market, and after disposing of
them have deposited their moneys with the steady little institution, in
which they have implicit confidence, and through which the financial
affairs of the merchants and farmers round about are transacted.
The last depositor has departed, and the door has just been closed. The
assistant cashier and a lady clerk are engaged within in settling up the
business of the day. At the Geneva bank the hours for business vary
with the requirements of the occasion, and very frequently the hour of
six arrives ere their customers have all received attention and their
wants have been supplied. This had been the case upon this day in
August, and breathing a sigh of relief as the last customer took his
leave, the front door was locked and the work of balancing up the
accounts was begun.
Suddenly, a knock is heard at the outer door, and Mr. Pearson, the

assistant cashier, being busily engaged, requested the young lady with
him to answer the summons. As she did so, two men, roughly dressed,
and with unshaved faces, burst into the room. Closing the door quickly
behind them, one of the men seized the young lady from behind and
placed his hand upon her mouth. Uttering a piercing scream, the young
lady attempted to escape from the grasp upon her, and with her teeth
she inflicted several severe wounds upon the ruffianly hand that
attempted to smother her cries. In a moment she was knocked down, a
gag was placed in her mouth, and she was tied helplessly hand and foot.
While this had been transpiring, the other intruder had advanced to the
assistant cashier, and in a few moments he too was overpowered, bound
and gagged. In less time than is required to tell the story, both of them
were lying helpless before their assailants, while the open doors of the
bank vault revealed the treasures which had excited the passions of
these depraved men, and led to the assault which had just been
successfully committed.
No time was to be lost, the alarm might be sounded in a moment, and
the thieves, picking up a valise which stood near by, entered the vault,
and securing all the available gold, silver and bank-notes, placed them
in the satchel and prepared to leave the place.
Before doing so, however, they dragged the helpless bodies of the
young man and woman into the despoiled vault, and laying them upon
the floor, they deliberately closed the doors and locked them in.
Not a word had been spoken during this entire proceeding, and now, in
silence, the two men picked up the satchel, and with an appearance of
unconcern upon their faces, passed out of the bank and stood upon the
sidewalk.
The streets were filled with men and women hurrying from their work.
The sun was shining brightly in the heavens, and into this throng of
human beings, all intent upon their own affairs, these bold burglars
recklessly plunged, and made their way safely out of the village.
How long the two persons remained in the bank it is impossible to tell;
Miss Patton in a death-like swoon, and Mr. Pearson, in the vain

endeavor to extricate himself from the bonds which held him. At length,
however, the young man succeeded in freeing himself, and as he did so,
the young lady also recovered her consciousness. Calling loudly for
help, and beating upon the iron door of their prison, they indulged in
the futile hope that some one would hear their cries and come to their
rescue.
At last, however, Mr. Pearson succeeded in unscrewing the bolts from
the lock upon the inside of the doors of the vault, and in a few minutes
thereafter, he leaped out, and dashing through a window, gave