The Globe-republican., 1903-01-01


the proper celebration Of meerchauw
pipes.
Nichols cleared his throat and sound
ed his lowest register.
"Mr. Sinmonsy' he inquired.
Suppose 1t is," answered Simmons,
with a caution born Of long years of
warfare with gentlemen interested In
improving the condition Of the poor.
Nichols leaned over Simmons's Shout
der In his most impressive manner,
Jenkins the Gent" he whispered, and
sprang back to observe the effect.
That's what they used to call me-"
acknowledged Simmons evenly.
"The celebrated safe breaker?" asked
Nichols.
"0h, I've had my picture in the pa
pers more than once" replied Simmons
with a delightful absence Of pride.
Can | have talk with you alone:"
asked Nichols.
Simmons led the way into bis private
room.
"Why did you quit the business?"
quered Nichols, when they had moist
ened the organs after the most ap-
proved manner prescribed by Mr.. Silas
Wegg.
'"Too many certain wires" replied
Simmons bitterly. SCOT jagged three
times in succession Thought 1t time
to quit Bought this place here and
settled down"
Say, now" began Nichols He
looked around the room hesltatingly
and twlddled his watch chain with a
nervous hand. Say, now he reiter-
ated, carefully avoiding Simmonss eye,
IF you saw good chonce-no wires
or anything like that-would you take
it2"
go on said Simmons; 'I'm inter
ested.'
Say, now" Nichols began again.
He gulped with difficulty, his Adams
apple feeling as big as an orange. II
know a place" He took another
moistener and leaning back in bis chair
gazed at Simmons with overnight
eyes. He stimulated again and played
nervously with the empty glass.
Banks at Warrington, just the
other side of Jersey City" he went
on. He addressed his remarks softly
to the empty glass in his hand. Pm
cashier and I'm in hole" He smiled
gently and licked his burning lips.
Tomorrow night there'll be 100000
in the vaults. I'll have the Waterman
fixed and things arranged SO that q
good man can easily get at the money.
There should be 100000 by rights,
but I'm short for the difference. You
get in, take the 100000 and the bank
will think the whole 100000 was
stOlen.'
He plunged into other details, gave
map Of the bank, the address where
he lived, and wound up with almost
fearful entreaty,
'Will you do it?' he whispered. "Eh?
AS a favor to me? Will You do it?
MP
''I'll be there answered Simmons,
rising. "There'll be certain prelimin-
ary expenses. You'd better leave
$1,000"
It will be seen that no matter what
part of his studies Nichols pursued
1t cost the bank good money, But ex-
perlence was in store for the bank,
and experience is always costly. And
the experience of bank Indirectly
paying money TO be robbed is a nov.
city, and novelties come high
s#+ ""'F
p After Nichols had left Simmons
philosophically crossed his legs and
sat down to figure the thing out. He
leaned back thoughtfully, one hand
caresslng his favorite beer mug, the
other thrown over the back of bis
chair. His eyes had an retrospective
cast. He smiled reaectively. Occa.
sionally an after hour reveller would
fling a remark at him. Simmons in
answer merely lifted his free hand
with d gesture for silence and slowly
let 1t drop again.
Drop by drop the mud of argument
yielded the pure water Of true philos.
ophy, which crystalllzed as it fell into
two luminous ideas:
IA man who will beat the bank
where he works will surely beat q
stranger.
2.-Such man Is fair game.
The next day new boarder took
up his quarters at Nlchols's boarding
house. He arrived shortly.after Mich.
OILS had left for his days work.
The new boardcr was very particular
about his room, and the one over Mich.
ols's was the only one that suited him
The new boarder was given 10 rheuma
tlsm, and a southern exposure was es.
sential He paid double price for the
room, and the landlady was charmed
with hlm--so exclusive, 50 refined and
such beautiful references.
The new boarder Ind hobby, What
truly great character has not2 THE
AI4 "a