Raymond S. Spears

“ In a year or two Nemesis brings the fool back to face the consequences of his folly—suffering from conscience and prison terror. But let a fugitive be a real wise one, with a sense of humor, and Nemesis after a blink or two of surprise at the novelty, hands him one in kind.
Copron Colphete entered Pittsburgh and emerged on the far side, a little sooty, but jaunty and smiling. ”

“ In the darkness, after the moon went down, he would stare at the river lights, and he would gaze all day long at the banks moving past him—stone bluffs, corn-fields, patches of woods and mouths of creeks and rivers—towns and cities and farms and ferry landings. ”

“ When he passed Louisville he counted up the days of his vacation. He had left on Saturday, and this was Wednesday a week. He had till Monday morning to get back! He smiled grimly at that thought with what eagerness they were all waiting for him back there in Polefat! With what a rush they would come to seize him! With what smiles of satisfaction they would hang on to him!
IT was Saturday when he started to read the newspapers he had purchased at Louisville. He had made up his mind that it was a race without tongue, and he was more satisfied than he had been before. ”

“ He wrapped this package in a newspaper and took it to the bank on the Saturday morning before he was going on his vacation, which this year he elected to take in late September. At the proper moment, in the vault, he placed the substitute beside the package of bills in its box. Later—when he was alone, of course—he took the package out and walked quietly homeward to his desolate boarding house.
Never had an absconding cashier had a better opportunity, and never was a man able to make a cleaner get-away. ”