Bank Robbery - Short Story

Bank Robbery - Short Story

Ned now decided to be an outlaw in earnest. To maintain supplies of

arms and food he needed money, so he decided to rob a bank. He chose a

bank at Euroa and decided that the right moment for a robbery would be

when the court was in session. He reasoned that few people would be in

the streets on a mid-summer afternoon, when most would either be at

home or in the courthouse. He had also found that there was only one

foot constable stationed at Euroa to protect the bank, post office,

railway station, two or three hotels, and all the stores. Despite

several warnings, the police had made no attempt to get more of their

men stationed at Euroa, though they knew the Kellys were at large.

Having completed their preparations, the four outlaws, mounted on

splendid horses, rode towards Euroa with every detail of the robbery

worked out in advance. The dismounted at Faithfull's Creek

sheep-station, four miles from Euroa. Ned and his mates went to the

kitchen door and spoke to Fitzgerald, a rouseabout, and his wife, the

housekeeper. His first words reckoned them. "I'm Ned Kelly," he said.

He had a revolver in his hand, but he did not point it at them.

"You'll have to bail up, but we wont hurt you if you do as you're

told. We would like to have some dinner." The outlaws sat at the table

enjoying a hearty meal. Mrs Fitzgerald was impressed with their polite

manners, and Ned won her mother sympathy at once by telling how badly

his own mother and sisters had been treated by the police.

For the rest of the day and night Ned and his gang held everyone

prisoner, capturing, but not hurting, the various men as they returned

to the homestead. A lantern was lit and kept burning all night, and

the sixteen prisoners lay on the floor, smoking or dozing. For several

hours Ned sat inside, too, talking in a friendly way and answering the

many questions they asked him about his encounters with the police.