It was against the watchman’s orders to leave the bank for even a minute, but he was a kind-hearted person and hated to see a fellow being in distress and never raise a finger to help. While the watchman stood there, the well-dressed individual gave vent to a hollow groan, slipped from the lamp-post and fell prone to the walk. That was more than the watchman could stand. The next instant he had unlocked and unbolted the massive bank door and had hurried across the walk. “Who are you?” he demanded, kneeling beside the man. “What is the matter?” The man tried to talk, but his voice was no more than a faint whisper. The watchman bent his ear to the man’s lips. Then, in a flash, the supposedly sick man’s hands shot upward and gripped the watchman about the throat. Simultaneously with this movement, a figure darted out of a hallway to the right of the bank, sandbag in hand. A blow on the head settled the watchman, who pitched along the walk and lay silent and still. “Into the bank with him, quick!” hissed the well-dressed individual, and the watchman was picked up, head and heels, and hustled back into the room which he had so recently quitted. The door was again locked and bolted. “Not a second too soon,” went on the well-dressed man. “Down! Here comes the other watchman.” The two villains sank out of sight beneath the window. A slow step was heard outside as some one rounded the corner; then a pencil of light from a bull’s-eye lantern shot into the bank through the window. The ray swept aimlessly around, vanished, and the steps were heard once more, dying away in the distance. “It will be two hours before that cove comes around again,” muttered the man who had used the sandbag. “In two hours, then, we have got to have this job over and be away from here,” returned the other. “Where’s Cricket?” “On the watch halfway down the main street.” “And Five Points?” “He’s watching at the rear of the bank on the cross street.” “Good! You know about the wires of that burglar alarm, Spark?” “Sure.” “Then go below and break the connection.” “I’ll be back in five minutes, Clancy.” Spark vanished in the dusky regions at the rear of the bank, and Clancy dropped down beside the watchman. From his pocket he took a gag and fixed it about the watchman’s jaws; then, with two pieces of rope, he tied his prisoner hand and foot and dragged him out of sight under a customers’ desk that stood near the window. After that he passed through the cashier’s cage and halted in front of the vault door. There was a dimly burning light in front of the vault, and above the iron door there was a clock. “A time-clock,” said Spark, coming up at that moment. “Did you fix the alarm?” queried Clancy, in a sharp tone. “Broke the battery that operates it.” “Then out with the tools.” Clancy threw off his frock coat, folded it carefully and laid it on an office stool. On top of his coat he placed his silk hat.