The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-03-03

asked.
"Yes," said George. Anything can
do for your
'Well, not exactly fer me-" said the
man, "but old Squire Deck-I reckon
you know him, over in Gilmer"
II know of him." George responded.
'Well, he sent me to AK eff you uns
would let i'm put his will in your safe
that is, eft you got one; the squire
didn't know whether you had or not"
The man was looking about the room.
81 don't see none, I'm shore"
Its there In the vault" George ex-
planned, pointing to the big steel door.
"Oh. it's in thar? Well, reckon it's
good an strong"
zone of the best in the country"
George said, leaving his high stool
and opening the outer door.
"One o. them concentration
locks?"
"Yes-that's 1t. Did you bring the
paper with you? We are always glad
TO accommodate people"
mo; didn't fetch it, He told me to
inquire l never did like the notion o.
them combination locks, as fer's I'm
concerned, said the man. 100 many
folks has got the password into 'em.
Now, a good, stout key that shoves a
steel bolt into a good. strong socket is
hard to beat"
I'm the only one about here that
knows this combination" Buckley ex-
planned politely. I'VE change 1t quite
often too. Even Mr.. Hillyer doesn't
keep up with it unless I'm going away"
"Oh, well, | reckon 1t will be safe
enough, an I'll tell the squire about it
when l go back"
The man turned out of the ware
house, crossed the railwav tracks and
walked on till he was in tie woods on
the edge of the village. Here he was
met by two other men who, glancing
about furtively, came out into the open
to meet him.
George had considerable work to do
that night in the office. The safe was
already closed and the front and rear
doors of the building were locked and
barred. Countrymen often came about
the warehouse early in the evening.
and, as he wished to be undisturbed he
closed the door to keep them from
knowing he was there. He also closed
the heavy wooden shutters of the front
windows that the light Of his lamp
might not show through to the street.
He worked On unconscious of the pas
sage of time from o'clock until near
midnight. Suddenly he detected a
sound like the crunching of grain of
wheat under foot, and, looking round.
he saw three men standing behind him
with leveled revolvers.
"What does this mean?' he asked,
his eyes fixed on the rigid face of the
man whom he recognized as his visitor
of that afternoon. rs this trap"
"That's about the size of it, young
man." was the cool reply. Nov, you
keep yore seat on that stool an don't
bat yore eye The fool on my left's
got gun that's powerful easy on trig-
ger, an it's all he kin do to keep his
finger up. Don't shoot i'm, Bill, till
I've give i'm a chance"
"What is it you wantY' George asked
He was not frightened, but the situa-
ton certainly was a grave one, and |
he felt that he had little, If any, chance |
for his life.
"We. are mountain hoosiers," said the |
leader of the men, but we hain't fools |
by long shot. We know our business |
as well as you know yore'n, an thar's |
no need tellin' you eff you cont git a |
move on yoreself an open that safe
you'll never open it ag'in."
That's it, them
'Yes, that's it. This is one time when
you've got to knuckle ur git the wust
of it,
George glanced toward the front
door
"You needn't be lookin' fer a way
out" said the mountaineer, IAN you
needn't expect the night Waterman TO
be pacin along by here. He's dc ID
drunk. l know, kase l furnished the
liquor an seed it take effect"
$50 you think you can force me into
this thing" said George. do ~
know, I'd rather die right here than
ASI you IOD tuuI sale W II 10 III my |
care?"
ooh, come off; you are no fool, Buck
ley. Open the safe. We are not here
to palaver. At least say positive
whether you will or not I'll jest give
you sixty seconds by that clock up
thar. Boys, eff he don't open the safe
In one minute from now pull down on
i'm an don't miss fer all you do. You'd
ruther die, had you, Buckley? Well,
we'll see if that's so or not. He's a
chip off'n the old block, boys. His
daddy couldn't keep his hands offn
other folks things, an his life wasn't
at stake. He'll wilt all right"
$50 that's the reason you thought I'd
give in," said George, now quite pale,
his lips quivering.
"Well, that's one reason" said the
man. But what's the use O. talkin'? I
Time is passin'. Jest another half min I
ute. boys Git ready. He may be fool
enough to want to defy. us"