Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-17

forget that there's package Of $4,000
and Lord knows how much more IN tbs
| vault
| But as the hours wore on sleep he-
| gan to tell upon the watchman. And he
| rested longer and longer in the chair
| He was an old man after all and NOT al
brisk as he used to be. Long nlght>
| this" he murmured. sinking back in the
| chair after sending in the o'clock
| alarm and receiving his answer FROM
| headquarters.
IF l keep my eyes fixed upon that one
spot on the front of the vault, he said
half aloud. Il think 1 can keep awake
1t sort of concentrates the attention.
Leaning back in his chair, he hall
closed his eyes. but all the whns tbar,
was that CLEAN from between tho u5s
that told he was keeping watch ,nor
that Shining spot on the front of tina
vault. Watching in spite of the nodd,n.
head.
Suddenly the Waterman saw, or thousht
he saw, at the back of the great duskv
room, q creeping shadow. Nonsense ;.
he thought. cit is only another mouse :,
But the shadow crept up. coming chosen
and closer. Back in the easy chair rest
ed the Waterman, his eyelids hale closed
and so near asleep that he hin,Eelr could
not have sworn that he was awake,
Suddenly there stood ashore him
figure. \ tall. dark figures plainly outlined
now, and between him and the vault.
With quick glance lat the Waterman.
whose head had fallen now in slumber..
the figure adjusted the combination and
opened the door Of the vault turning
the handles as easily as though it wera
a toy.
Out came the roll OF greenbacks. hi
eager fingers working like lightning
stuffing the bills into his pockets
took but minute. but the man in the
chair saw it all.
All, now The work is done Like
fash, the combination Is adjusted. tue
door closed. For an instant the thief
paused. There was a slight rustic in
the room! He turned 70 the watchman's
chair. 1t was empty! lie gave wild
start forward. then a leap towards tho
door. My God! Michael" he groaned.
scarcely raising his voice above a whis-
per. "Michaelr
No answering sound. But In the dis
lance there was the regular call of tie
usual alarm TO the Central office.
With a look of relief the tall dark man
slipped across the room, getting into
the dusk of the doorway. Click. click
His fingers did not stop now for caution.
His one idea was escape In a second
the Waterman would return on his
round. He could not escape notice
again. blind though the old man might
be.
open flew the side door and out into the
street slid the tall dark man into thu
arms of two waiting detectives.
We've got you this time Don't try
an effort to escape 1t Is useless Even
the Central knows by this time that you
are caught"
zone minute" said the Waterman. ap-
pearing in the door, minus wig and
spectacles. you see now, President L.
Clerc, that you were dealing tonight.
not with Old Michael. but with Detect
i've Martinez, of the New York Police"
Damn your
Tell us, Mr.. LeClerc." said the Gem
tral, how you managed 10 connect that
electric battery so perfectly with tho
arms of the chair in which lIichD
O'Hara sat every night in fro ~
vault"
~" ! 2m practical -elartr'sian--fss
And the combination. How didjyou
get that?"
Il am expert enough upon the drops
TO read them from their sound
Very we'll that is all. But II you
ever do anything of that kind again,
don't bungle so. BE sure that the chair
has not been changed. and look to sec
II there is a small mirror glued upon
the front of the vault to tell the watch
man just when you are softly opening
the side door, so he can he ready for
you"
II need time TO pay this fine. Judge"
.,AlI rivht Six Inonfha. n-NeM YorK