“How safe is this bank? What I’m asking is, suppose I put my money in here and someone robs the bank?”
The bank teller laughed. “Oh, sir, I assure you, you will never have to worry about anything like that happening.”
“Oh? Why not?”
“Mr. Snellgrove?” the teller called.
A rather rotund man with a bald head, round face, pudgy nose, and eyes enlarged by the glasses he was wearing looked up at the call. Like the bank teller, he was wearing a three-piece suit.
“Yes, Mr. Lisenby?” Snellgrove asked.
“This gentleman wants to make a deposit with us.”
“Very good,” Snellgrove said. “I am sure you will be pleased with our bank, sir. All of our customers are.”
“I’d like you to show me around,” Malcolm said. “I want to see just how safe my money would be in here.”
“Oh, it will be quite safe, I assure you.”
“Aye, but I’m from Scotland, and if you know anythin’ about we Scots, it is that we are very frugal people with our money. Could you show me some of the features that you say will keep my money safe?”
“I would be glad to. Suppose you step back here,” Snellgrove invited as he reached down and released a latch that opened the Dutch door to allow Malcolm access to the back part of the bank. “Right this way.”
Snellgrove led Malcolm to the side, where sat a very large, heavy-looking, steel safe.
“It is called an American Standard,” Snellgrove explained, standing proudly in front of the big safe. The heavy door was painted light green, while the trim and lettering were in gold. “The door is four-inch-thick steel, and it is locked by four steel bars, each two inches in diameter. In addition, the tumblers are absolutely silent so that no one can pick the lock.”
“Could one breach the door with dynamite?” Malcolm asked.
Snellgrove laughed. “If someone attempted to blast the vault open with dynamite all they would do is destroy the building. The safe would remain impervious.”
“That must be a very strong safe,” Malcolm said.
“It has to be strong,” Snellgrove replied. “As of this morning we have on deposit.” He paused and called over to Lisenby, “Exactly how much money do we have?”
“Eighteen thousand, nine hundred, twenty-seven dollars, and forty-six cents,” Lisenby replied with a smirk of pride that he could quote to the penny the amount of money deposited with the Cheyenne Cattlemen’s Bank and Trust.
“That’s a lot of money,” Malcolm said.
“Yes, it is. And now, how much money will you be depositing with us?” Snellgrove asked.
“I don’t know, I need to think this over for a while,” Malcolm replied.
Snellgrove smiled. “Very well, Mister—uh—I don’t think I heard your name.”
“Malcolm,” Lisenby said. “His name is Rab Malcolm.”
“Mr. Malcolm, once you consider the security of our bank, I’m sure you will wish to become a customer,” Snellgrove said.
“Thank you for the information,” Malcolm said. “I will make my decision shortly as to whether or not I will entrust my funds to your establishment.”
Duff and Falcon had been working the mine for three days, and though they had not made a significant find, they had found enough color in the tailings to make their effort worthwhile. Last night, examining the nuggets they had recovered, Falcon estimated that they had at least one hundred dollars’ worth of gold.
“If we keep getting these results, you will get enough money to build your herd,” Falcon said.
“Aye, and that is my intention,” Duff replied.
The creature that had appeared on their first day in the mine did not reappear until late on their third day. This time, though, they were ready because they heard it when something hit the tripwire causing the empty tin cans to rattle.
“Did you hear?” Falcon asked.
“Aye.”
“Get ready.”
Duff picked up the lantern and moved it about fifty feet back toward the entrance. Doing so left them in the dark, but that was part of their plan. Falcon had a looped rope ready, and when the creature passed them, Falcon stepped out behind, then threw the rope out in a wide loop. The loop fell down over the creature and Falcon jerked the rope back, tightening the loop, which had the effect of securing the creature’s arms by its side.
The creature let out a bloodcurdling scream as Duff leaped out behind him to knock him down. The creature struggled, but Duff and Falcon were too strong, and within a moment Falcon had looped the rope around him enough times to have both his arms and legs restricted. The creature continued to scream for the whole time.
“Get the lantern, Duff, let’s see what we have here,” Falcon said.
Duff hurried back to get the lantern. Then he returned and held it up as Falcon turned the creature over.
