The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1904-03-09
JIMMY MACUfRE'S
LAST JOB

and wearing on his freckled face an air
of virtue which was glariugly artificial.
the clerk behind the desk looked him
over carefully aud then deliberately
dropped one eyelid.
At McCoy's hotel. which Is near the
water front. the guests are very seldom
questioned on any matter. but on this
particular afternoon there was no Que
save the clerk in the Office when Jim
my entered. 1t was becs use the clerks
acquaintance with Jimmy extended
over "A period OF seven years that the
gentleman behind the desk inquired
casually:
Anything on, Jimmy"
I'm getting my clothes pressed for
Sunday" said Jimmy meekly.
The clerk laughed s~pasmodically.
Anything funny In thatY" Jimmy
Inquired peevishly. Cant l get my
clothes pressed for Sundayr'
Course. Jimmy. course" the clerk
Uttered. Going TO get 'em pressed in
town."
Maybe" said Jimmy, walking over
to a rack of time tables aud spreading
out "A folder.
Two hours later Jimmy Mcguire aud
his suit case were speeding through the
early evening gloom on u ~southbound
train. The smoker was nearly desert
ed. and in the dim light OF the lamps
Jimmy was examining " plan crudely
drawn on the back or All envelope. Ia
one place On the rough map was n
heavy cross. and near il was drawn an
arrow. along whose shaft ran these
words: ALLEY here. Enter third win
dow from this end"
Jimmy folded the envelope carefully
and placed il in an inner pocket. Then
he lay back and dozed until the brake
man called %'Redpath.' Jimmy caught
up the suit ease and alighted.
lie ven down the dark street from
the station. took the first left, then the
second right. as the map had directed.
and suddenly stopped before a squat
brick building. In the dim light OF u
~neighboring street lamp he read the
furnished gilt sign beneath the c~ornice.
"Rcipatli County Loan and Construc-
ton Company" He went to the rear
and found the alley indicated OH the
map. He also found the third window
WHICH WIZ IllfHllolieu. ne pulleu out
his watch.
Quarter past 10 he unused. whole
towns in bed probably. This Is too
easy
In Il few moments Jimmy was inside
aud standing before the heavy door OF
a vault which he was examining crit
ically.
dynamite nothing" he unused TO
himself. ""Twon't take me thirty min
utcs to open that"
Jimmy went swiftly and quietly 10
work. In just %tweuty-six minutes from
the time he opened the suit case he
swung open the door OF the vault. lie
took one step forward and then stag
gered back. for out of The vault tot
tered Il young omar who stood be-
side him swaying TO and fro. Jimmy
sprang forward and caught her just
az she fell.
He laid her gently OIL the floor. with
his coat beneath her head. Then he
brought water from a faucet he found
in the inner office and deftly laved her
wrists and temples. Presently she
opened ner eyes ana sat up.
Pretty narrow squeak that" said
Jimmy cheerfully.
"Where-where are the rest:" she
asked dazedly.
Jimmy brought a chair and lifted
her INTO it,.
II know all about IT," he said sooth-
ingly. 'YOu work here. and some one
accidentally locked you in the vault at
closing time. | confess | didn't ex-
pect TO lind you In there when l opened
II. l came OF my own accord. you I'M
derstand. for quite another purpose"
"Oh." she gasped and regarded him
with wide opened eyes. ut was just
in time for M anyway. couldn't
have lived in there much longer"
Jimmy had risen and was putting
his tools i'm his suit case. after which
he shut the door OF the vault.
II have interrupted your-your busi-
ness" she said.
Jimmy smiled. He noted she was
very pretty girl. There was something.
too. in the way she accepted the situs-
ton that won his admiration.
Really" he said. I'm not In the
mood for work tonight. If you feel
able TO stay alone here for a moment
I'll call a carriage to take you home"
The girl gave him a grateful look.
81 didn't realize there were gentle
men in your-your profession she
said. But I fear your run too much
risk in getting the carriage. You'd bet
ter not go"
Nonsense" laughed Jimmy and dis
appeared through the window.
1t vas two years from the night that
Jimmy Mcguire and his suit case left
McCoy's that Mr.. Andrew R~ider-"Si-
lent Andy" more commonly opened a
letter in the office Of the same hotel
and read as follows:
Dear Andy-You remember that job you
put me next tn down In Redpath. Well.
what do you think ] got out Of that
Vault Old hoy. N was q wife. the best
and sweetest woman in The world. We