combined action, lured him, pistol and all, away from his post during
the dullest hour of the day. It was not the decamping with those few
pieces of gold which now troubled him: it was fear of what might be
going on behind him. He was positive that these two had acted in
conjunction. The uniform worn by the man did not impose upon him. Any
thief could easily come by a uniform, and, as his mind glanced rapidly
backwards over the various points of the scheme, he saw how effectual
the plan was: first, the incredible remissness of the woman in leaving
her gold on the counter; second, the impetuous disappearance of the
man with the money; and, third, his own heedless plunge into the
street after them. He saw the whole plot in a flash: he had literally
leaped into the trap, and during his five or ten minutes' absence, the
accomplices of the pair might have overawed the unarmed clerks, and
walked off with the treasure. His cash drawer was unlocked, and even
the big safe stood wide open. Surprise had as effectually lured him
away as if he had been a country bumpkin. Bitterly and breathlessly
did he curse his own precipitancy. His duty was to guard the bank, yet
it had not been the bank that was robbed, but, at best a careless
woman who had failed to pick up her money. He held the check for it,
and the loss, if any, was hers, not the bank's, yet here he was,
running bareheaded down the street like a fool, and now those two
stood quite calmly together, he handing her the money, and thus
spreading a mantle of innocence over the vile trick. But whatever was
happening in the bank, he would secure two of the culprits at least.
The two, quite oblivious of the danger that threatened them, were
somewhat startled by a panting man, trembling with rage, bareheaded,
and flourishing a deadly weapon, sweeping down upon them.

"Come back to the bank instantly, you two!" he shouted.