Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15
hundred thousand plunks.. returned the


that money In his pocket all the time we'd
been fussing with that SAFE and rigging
up plans for chasing the cashier Wed
never thought OF going through him: he'd
acted SO cool when We came near him. and
so nervous when we got around to the safe,
that he'd fooled us completely.
When the colonel showed the money his
friends jumped on us. 1t was the signal
that they'd agreed upon in the outer room
while Tracy was bringing them in As for
me. l never raised a finger. Danny made q
little half-hearted fight and then went un-
der.
I'VE got FIVE years for the Job. and I'm
just out. Danny died of heart disease soon
after we reached Sing Sing. i suppose he
must nave got II when the colonel flashed
that roll. did"
And the burglar laid his hand upon his
ample bosom and sighed
PART Nv.
The burglar had barely finished his story
"neh the train which bore the party stop
ped with an unusual grinding of brakes
anu rasping OF wheels upon the rails So
suddenly. indeed. was the speed arrested
that the three criminals-who had been
rioing with their faces to the front-were
brought to their feet. and they remained
Tor an instant standing there In line as
TX they expected the angel Of evil deeds to
call the roll Of them.
thought we were all going overheard"
SAD fanney. glancing out OF the window at
the waters Of the Hudson.
Inc place was little to the southwark
or fonkers. where the railroad runs for a
considerable distance upon an embankment
raised but O few feet above the level Of
the river.
There's been an accident OF some kind"
said Gleason. Il can hear people shouting
ahead Of US. Let's go out and See what
has happened
The suggestion was accepted and the
-FOUR men hastily left the car. At first
their view was blocked by the throngs Of
people that were pouring out of the train,
ana mingHng with a much larger number
that came down from the bank upon the
left After brief struggle with the press
they came to spot from which they could
see what had barred the way OF their
train. An express bound northward had
been partially wrecked by the breaking OF
a wheel under the car Immediately follow
ing the tender Of the engine. A coupling
had parted and the car had been almost
demolished by those which came after it,
All the tracks were strewn with wreck
age. and the express car had gone into the
river. where a corner Of its top could be
seen above the water.
No person had been seriously hurt, but
the rescue Of the two men who had gone
overheard with the express car had been
very near to a miracle.
A telegraph wire had been tapped, AMI
an official of the road was communicating
with one OF his super:ors in New York
The click of the instrument was family
audible to Newcombe he stood survey
ing the scene Presently Gleason touched
him on the shoulder. He turned and saw
that his companions eyes were burning
with fierce eagerness.
DO you know what that man is tele-
graphing" demanded Gleason. NO:
you're not an operator. Well. 1 am, and
I'll tell you what that sounder says
There's sS0.GO0 lying there in the river
under our eyes"
Il don't understand you" said New
combe.
Tt was in the express safe" continued
Gleason. and it went overheard with the
Car. They've sent for wrecking apparatus.
and they're going to pull the car out of the
river Now, the question is. can We get
that money!"
Newconlbe was astounded.
How can We get il, with a thousand peo-
pie watching u.s." demanded the criminol-
oSiSt How could We get it, anyhow. while
it's under water and locked up ia a safe?"
There's always way to get money if
you want ii badly enough" returned Glea-
son. SententiouSly.
That was all that he would say on the
subject, but he remained for a long time
staring down into the water. while he
listened TO the spasmodic clicking of the
Geographic instrument. AT last train with
the appropriate wreckage appliances ar
rived, and, after considerable labor, a great
chain was fastened to the express car, and
it was drawn out of the river. But the
safe was not TO he found Ii had been dis
lodged by the shock of the plunge, and had
passed out through the forward end of the
car like an enormous cannon ball. Tn
douDtedly it lay in the mud of the river
bottom, and the task of finding it would
not he easy.
They'll have to send for a diver" said
Gleason. by the Lord Harry. 1 wonder if
1 could do it.''
do WHAT" queried Newcombe
Gleason did not Immediately reply. He
seemed to be engaged in some such mental
effort as one makes in trying to rememb bier
name that is on the tip of the tongue at
one moment and far away the next. So
absorbed was ne that when Harris touched
him on the shoulder he jumped as II he had
been Weakened suddenly from sleep.
Bin" he said. dreamily, Il want that
safe"
You can't get it," replied the burglar;
but there are a number of articles down
the track that you can get. There are two
or three baggage cars all smashed to
smithereens. and the contents amt being
half looked after. They're just beginning
to cart some of them to the station Just
above here"
Never mind that" said Gleason There's
a better game going. Listen to me. You
know that I'm diver Well. 1 know an
other one, and he's as big a rascal as | an
He has an outfit right here In Yonkers, and
In two hours l can have it. He won't re-
fuse me anything-he can't. Then I'm going
to offer myself to the railroad company to
dive for that safe"
But you can't open it under water"
Harris objected.
Probably not" said Gleason. but well
get the money out Of it some way Now,
then, Woodbury.. l will go and see nv
diver. You and Pinney stay here and keep
eyes and ears open. In about an hour am.
half you join at the longest pier of
the three that lie near together about a
mile above here. Wen be there with the
boat"
Before Newrombe could decide what
course he ought to pursue in such ex-
cept1onal circumstances Gleason had him
by the arm and was hurrying him away
For the next half hour he followed the
criminals guidance bnndly His mind
was alternately busy with two considera-
TONS First. in his character as a stu
dent of sinners. he rejoiced in this unrival-
ed opportunity for observation. 1t was a
demonstration In crime-an illustrated lee
ture by a trio of eminent specialists New
combe could not afford to miss such a
great educational treat. Second, as an
honest man. he was bound to prevent a
crime. But how would that be best done?
If. at that early stage of the proceedings
he denounced the thieves. no one would
believe his story. 1t would be regarded
as ludicrous. How could these men COM
NIT such a gigantic robbery in the pres
ence of thousands? 1t would be much
better to let the conspiracy progress to a
point near to success before interrupting
it.
Therefore, Newcombe attended Gleason
in his visit to the diver, and listened to
the negotiations for the boat and AMMAN