The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-04-19

II NlHArtii. " llht Ab hubN. u cbhhN Nh@F
got In ahead of me"
II 20 happened. therefore. that by
permission of the section foreman
| bIrly night watchman came on an
hour after Britches left. This night
watchman had a bushy beard. Other
wise lie had the same proportions of
Mr.. Britches Bellman. I'm course.
/ the night watcbman assured himself.
The union wouldn't stand for me
workin' day and night, so | eotter
plaster or the makeup. And | gotIer
4 watch mat hole 10 see she don't get
away from me For when a hole gets
i 9way from a man-especially a hole
like this one-it amt no easy job to
get another"
Mr.. Bellman had worked only a few
days and a few nights when he strucl
something with his spade that gave
him JOY.
IF this amt a vein of gold bearing
ore" said Mr.. Britches. I'll wager
it's the underground part of the Coun-
" banks underpinnings; and If it's
that. why then II is a vein of gold"
He was right. II was portion of
the banks cellar wall. He hastily Gov
cred It up. hung around until the whis-
tie blew. then he left and. returning
later in the evening. brought with him
new set Of sharp tools.
| "I'll get this job finished by morn
ing" said this night watchman. "or
I'm a Dutchman."
He removed a layer OF tar coating:
then a layer of cement. Then he struck
the bricks.
Now" he said to himself. IF she
amt more than three feet thick I'll
have her through in no time. That's
what"
But that wall was blank wall. and
II had been laid many. many years
before. when there were no trade
unions. and no employers associations
and when cement and bricks were
cement and bricks. When the first
gray streaks of dawn had appeared in
the sky above the subway Britches
had not finished. But he judged from
, the sound his hammer made that
there was but one layer of bricks still
|. 10 be removed
Tomorrow night" said Britches to
, himself. tonight, mean. why-the
| trick'l be turned to T. And no mis-
take"
, He took a day OF and rested up. He
was made OF flesh and blood and he
was tired. But that night he started
in, refreshed in mind and body. A
. deep peace was upon him. for he knew
that in 90 minutes he would be inside
. the bank And there was no man in
, the whole world who understood the
: inside OF a bank as well as Britches
Bellman.
One by one he loosed the bricks: ne
was right; II was the last layer. Little
by little the hole widened. He stuck
. his head inside. It was dark as pitch
, He was prepared for this; prepared
with a dark lantern.
Now" he finally explained. a huge
Joy possessing him. now, here | am.
The hole was Just wide enough to ad'
init his body. and he pulled himself
| carefully through and dropped down tc
!, the inside floor.
"Ho. ho," exclaimed Mr.. Britches
Bellman. softly. this is nuts. fol
, fair
He didn't want TO show a light. Sc
he CROPPED his way carefully abou
across what seemed TO be little room
II was. as he suspected. a coal cellar
He crossed II. and the boiler room;
picked a lock and entered still another
room In this room he walked into {
: wall and stepped back suddenly. AS m
did so his heel trod upon something
soft. Suddenly the room was flooded
with a bright white light. BritcheI
sasped and looked behind him.
'You stepped on my corn" srowle'
a voice in his ear. II was the voice o
a very big man. This big man PLACED
his hand upon Mr.. Bellman's shoulder
Then Bellman looked in front OF him
Two other men were looking on. smck
ing cigars. They wore blue uniform
and brass buttons. They smiled oI
Britches Bellman.
lis this the gentleman" said one
archly. who has no use for evidence? (?
Bellman gasped again. The bank.
said another. has been a-watchin' yol
! for two days: they wanted 10 stop you
but we wanted you to go on. until yo
finished the-the job"
"Gee," gasped Bellman. holding OH
his wrists. II firished II. all right