A Rock in the Baltic by Robert Barr
page 3 of 247 (01%)
page 3 of 247 (01%)
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The cashier behind his screen saw nothing of this play of the
emotions. He returned nonchalantly to his station, and asked, in commonplace tones: "How will you have the money, madam?" "Gold, if you please," she replied almost in a whisper, a rosy flush chasing the whiteness from her face, while a deep sigh marked the passing of a crisis. At this juncture an extraordinary thing happened. The cashier counted out some golden coins, and passed them through the aperture toward their new owner. "Thank you," said the girl. Then, without touching the money, she turned like one hypnotized, her unseeing eyes still taking no heed of the big Lieutenant, and passed rapidly out of the bank, The cashier paid no regard to this abandonment of treasure. He was writing some hieroglyphics on the cashed check. "By Jove!" gasped the Lieutenant aloud, springing forward as he spoke, sweeping the coins into his hand, and bolting for the door. This was an action which would have awakened the most negligent cashier had he been in a trance. Automatically he whisked out a revolver which lay in an open drawer under his hand. "Stop, you scoundrel, or I fire!" he shouted, but the Lieutenant had already disappeared. Quick as thought the cashier darted into the passage, and without waiting to unfasten the low door which separated the public and private rooms of the bank, leaped over it, and, |
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