Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-01-23

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INK MYSTERY. 8
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out for 'em where and how they were
to loosen up the boards Of the floor In
their room above, % we could break
through and lower ourselves into the
vault when the time came. Then you
see we'd only have the safe to get into
and the great iron door between US and
the Waterman.
Everything was ready, and we was
pretty sure the money was paid.
Do you hear that storm now, judge7
Twas like that ten years ago tonight,
dark - Egypt with the rain and wind
q perfect hurricane; a terrible night:
the kind Of night for any sort Of crime.
The men chuckled to themselves. Twas
q fortune sure this time, and they'd all
be on the way to comfort and safety be.
fore day. amt never seen 'em 20 ex.
cited. Nothin' hadn't gone wrong and
nothin' couldn't now.
We had sentinels stationed round to
give the alarm. but there wasn't much
danger on . night like that.
We had planned 20 - to have the
door Of the safe ready to blow open
when the Waterman went down cellar
to ses to his hres. knowed time Of
night he did %. seein' him often from
my house across the way through tho
window Of the bank, but to make sure
We stationed q man where he could give
the signal at the proper time. With
the Waterman downstairs and we shut
in that vault, with solid masonry below
~, 'twarn't in the range Of possibilities
for no human to hear 10.
Twas planned that when we broke
through the ceiling me and one Of the
others was to 90 down first with the
lanterns and tools and get the door
ready for Jim Groogan. the leader Of
the gang. to come down and use the
dynamite and be on hand to take out
the money.
Lord, but II was Just the night for
such o piece Of work. and after had
examined to eco II all was safe, know.
ing the dangers better than the others.
We broke through the door and lowered
the ladder. and there We was-right In
the vault Twas well for me I'd hit II
right, for my life warn't worth much
II any o my plannin' failed to work.
Tom Doolan In o hurry went down
frst and when was half way down
he started back, saying In . hoarse kind
Of whisper:
"Who called mer'
mo one, you fool" said Jim.
"Then," he said, and he ran past me
on the lcdder, someone u down there.
Twict heard someone say: Go back,
90 back"
"We'll gag him." said Jim, and mo
and him went down ind turned our
lanterns round lookin' everywhere, but
there warn't no one there.
"Whats the matter with the foolr'
growled Jim, and went back and tried
to send him down again. but he Just
wouldn't 80, 20 Jim cursed him and
como himself, and he and me begun
to get the safe door ready to blow up.
That's q thing that takes time and
care. Judge. but We went at II with a
viii. and never . word. II was % stlll
you could almost hear your heart beat,
when all Of q sudden came smothered
cry. loud and clear. like o woman's.
We stopped work aud looked at each
other. Jim's face white and scared.
Lord. what was thatr he said.
II often hears 'em on the street like
that" I said.
"That warn't on the street; II sounded
close By" said Jim. I'VE couldn't hear
nothin' outside In this place."
Nonsense" said. don't you mako
q fool Of yourself. too. and spoil It." and
! went to work again.
could see his hand trembled for .
while and then got steady again.
THAT must have come through the
room upstairs." he said presently.
"Queer, though, II sounded 20 Close"
Then we worked on and there warn't
nothing more to be heard. Rest Of tho
gang might all have been dead men.
for all the sound they made and we
didn't say nothin'. and 30 the night
went on.
At last we had It all ready and were
only waiting for the signal to blow It up
and then-m0ney enough to make US all
rich. faint such as you can realize
the excitement and the strain of such
q moment. To know It's all there
ready, and then to have to wait! lite
easier walkin' over red hot Goals. it,
all right to 20 on and work. but to stay
still and only breathe and listen gives
q man the shivers.
Presently Jim caught my arm.
"Say, ! thought ! heard voices. did
your he whispered.
1.-THE men upstairs" said.
Sounded down here. Have your
pistol ready"
took my lantern and went round tho
vault again carefully, and then held i
up to examine the walls. Then SHOOT
my head. There warn't no way w
could hear no one.
Its the Queerest place ever wal