Second Harvest

"Roy, what's going on?"

It was too late. Roy was heading in the direction of the bank. When the front door banged open, every one of the customers jumped, fearing it was a gunshot and a robbery. Dust flew off Roy's clothes as he made a beeline for the bank president's office. When Roy burst through the office door, Grover Matting initially leaned back in his chair from fright.

"Well, hey there Roy, what brings you to the bank today?"

Roy placed both hands on the man's desk and small pebbles of dirt fell from Roy's hair and onto the papers lying on the top.

"Did Sheriff Dinkins bring you the strong box from that robbery a few weeks past?"

"Well yes. Why?"

"How much money was in that box Grover?"

Mr. Matting fumbled through the papers on his desk and pulled a piece of paper out. "Well, let's see, ah, it contained Sixty-three thousand dollars. It was all banded by Wells Fargo and accounted for."

"Sixty-three thousand dollars! Are you sure?"

"Without question, Roy. That's my handwriting. I counted it myself and placed it in our vault."

"Are you certain only sixty-three and not ninety-seven thousand was in that box?"

"Oh, absolutely Roy; I counted the money twice. Say, wait a minute, you know the newspaper reporter who visited me said the same thing about the money."

"What reporter?"

"Well, about a week ago, some newspaper man from back east, came here to do a story on the robbery. Funny, but he was convinced the box contained ninety-seven thousand as well. I told him we had recovered all the money and how proud we were of you for helping us find that strong box."

"Grover, you are the dumbest bank president I know. That wasn't a reporter. What would some back east newspaper want with your unknown bank for a robbery that occurred in Albuquerque?"

"Well, now that you mention it, he wasn't dressed like a typical reporter. He wore old clothes and was rather dirty. He blamed the long journey as an excuse for his attire."

"Oh for heaven's sake Grover, he was one of the boys from the Dixon gang and came here looking for their stolen money!"

"Really?"

"Grover, your ignorance nearly got me and Sara killed! Stay here, I'll be right back."

Mr. Matting started to inquire what Roy was going to do next, but Roy bolted for the exit, dust flying off his clothes. The front door banged open again making the whole place jump. Roy marched quickly to the sheriff's office. When the front door burst open, Sheriff Dinkins jumped out of his seat.