The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-17

back OF the building. inspecting tue sue
walls carefully. In one corner was "
clothes press and this he trleo 10 open
fist with skeleton keys. Finally no FORCED
tile lock. The contents OF the closet must
have interested him, for when ne closed
the door ne wore a pleased race
But his tour of inspection was not yet
done. The vault wore an air OF interest
TO him, as though he had never seen II
before. He looked at IL closely ana passed
his hand slowly over II again ana again.
Many times his hand travelled across the
front
Then he turned to the easy chair that
stood opposite the vault ana hfted II
from fits place. 'I've got nara nlght
watching" said he, ana thlnk III
take an easier chair. Iheres one over
there that looks as much Ike this as
two peas"
The new chair was n tight squeeze.
but the Waterman rearranged all as it
had been before. There was the chair.
with a table on each side Of II. and
opposite. cleaning a little now in me
early dusk. stood the cleaning steel vault
with its small mysterious door that could
have told so many tales.
"Now it's supper time" said the watch
man. 81 brought mine with me to-rlgpt.
Quite comfortable But a little lonely.
Gracious. what's thatl Only a mouse. II
was like a creaking sound. ! mustn't Tor
get that there's a package OF $1,000 ana
Lord knows how much more lathe vault.
But as the hours wore on sleep pc
gan to tell upon the Waterman. Ana ne
rested longer and longer IN the cnalr.
He was an old man after all ana not as
brisk as he used 20 be. Long night TINS.
he murmured sinking back IN lhe chalt
after sending in the 3 o'clock alarm and
receiving hfs answer from headquarters.
"If I keen nv eyes fixed upon that one
snot on the front OF the vault" he said
half aloud. 81 think I can keep awake.
n sort Of concentrates the attention
leaning back in his chair, he half closed
his owes hut all the while there was that
CLEAN from between the lids that told ne
was keeping watch upon the shining spot
on the front of the vault. Watching I'D
spite of the nodding head
Suddenly the Waterman saw or thought
he saw az the back OF the great dusky
room. a creeping shadow Nonsense
no thought. 1T is only another mouse
Rut the shadow crept up, coming closer
and closer. Back in the easy chair rested
tho Waterman. his eyelids half closed
and so near asleep that he himself could
not have sworn that he was awake
Suddenly there stood before him a fig
IRE. A tall dark figure, plainly outllned
now. and between him and the vault
with a quick glance at the Waterman
whose head had fallen now in slumDer.
the figure adjusted the combination ana
opened the door OF the vault turning
the handles as easily as though II were
q toy. IT..
oo,or fingers working like lightning. STUFF
eng the bills into his pockets II took but
a minute. but the man in the chair saw
it all.
All now. The work IS done. Like
fash tho combination is adjusted the
door closed. For an insant the thief
naused. There was a slight rustic IN me
room, He turned 10 the Waterman
chair. II was empty, He gave wild start
forward. then a leap towards the door
NV God, Michael he grOaned scarce
~ raising his voice above whifper
"MichaelH
No answering sound. But in the dis
tance there was the regular call OF the
usual alarm TO the Central Office.
with a look Of relief the tall dark man
s1ipped across the room, getting into
tho dusk of the doorway. Click. click.
His fingers did not stop now Tor caution.
His one idea was escape. In SECOND
the Waterman would return on his round
He could not escape notice again, blind
though the old man might be.
omen flew the side door and out into
the street slid the tall dark man into
the arms Of two waiting detectives.
"We've got you this time. Don't try
in effect an escape. II IS useless Even
the Central knows by this time that you
are caught"
conc minute" said the Waterman, APP
nearing In the door. minus wig and spec
tacles. "You SEQ now. President LeClerc
mat YOU were dealing tonight. not with
old Michael but with Detective Martl-
not. Of the New York police
Damn you
"TeI us. Mr. LeClorc." said the Cen
trail. how you managed 90 connect that
electric battery so perfectly with the
arms Of the chair I'm which Michael
O'Hara sat every night in front Of the
vault"
Il am n practical electrician. 7 worked
az II right under Michaels nose under
the pretense Of finding my coat in the
closet"
And the combination. How did you
get that?'
II am expert enough unon the drops
TO read them from their sound.
every we'll that Is all. But If you ever
do anything OF that kind again don't bum
gle II so. BE sure that the chair has not
been changed. and look 10 sec II there is
a small mirror glued upon the front OF
the vault to tell the Waterman just when
go, oro eof.ft- ouonfun the side door so