ars had been
stolen. Mr. McGregor said that no expense should be spared to detect the
criminals, even though the money was not recovered; that would be an
important consideration, of course, but the first object sought was the
capture of the murderers of poor George Gordon, the late paying-teller.

Having already arranged my business for a brief absence, I was all ready
for the journey, and by the next train, I was speeding southward, toward
Atkinson.

I arrived there early in the morning, of one of the most delightful days
of early spring. I had exchanged the brown fields and bare trees of the
raw and frosty North, for the balmy airs, blooming flowers, and waving
foliage of the sunny South. The contrast was most agreeable to me in my
then tired and overworked condition, and I felt that a few days in that
climate would restore my strength more effectually than a stay of
several weeks in the changeable and inclement weather of northern
Illinois. For sanitary, as well as business reasons, therefore, I had no
occasion to regret my Southern trip.

My assumed character was that of a cotton speculator, and I was thus
able to make many inquiries relative to the town and its inhabitants,
without exciting suspicion. Of course, I should have considerable
business at the bank, and thus, I could have frequent conferences with
the bank officials, without betraying my real object in visiting them. I
sent a note to Mr. McGregor, on my arrival, simply announcing myself
under a fictitious name, and I soon received a reply requesting me to
come to the bank at eight o'clock that evening. I then spent the day in
walking about the town and gathering a general idea of the surroundings
of the place.

Atkinson was then a town of medium size, pleasantly situated near the
northern boundary of the State. The surrounding country was well watered
and wooded, consisting of alternate arable land and rolling hills. The
inhabitants of the town were divided into two general classes: the
shop-keepers, mechanics, and laborers, formed the bulk of the
population; while the capitalists, planters and professional men were
the most influential. Most of these latter owned country residences, or
plantations outside of the town, though they kept up their town
establishments also. A small water-course, called Rocky Creek, skirted
one side of the place, and many of the most handsome houses, were
situated on, or near this beautiful rivulet. The whole appearance