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

the men. 'I'll count six. and eff be
don't move when l say six. pull down
together. Listen! That's the II o'clock
train. Fire jest as it's passin'. boys.
We won't take no resk on the sound
reachin' outside"
George heard the coming train. The
rumble of it was felt in the walls of
the building. The mountaineer was
measuring Its approach by counting
slowly: "One-two-three-four'
Put down your guns" said George
Buckley mo man can expect another
TO sacrifice his life for little money.
I've done the best can. Put. down
your guns"
That's the talk. young Teller. You
are no fool. For a minute you tuck
this thing so durn cool l thought you
was goin' to commit suicide But keep
i'm covered. boys. We don't take 10
chances on him. nur no other chap"
You needn't be afraid" said George,
with cold, hard smile You fellows
are simply too much Tor me. Iney say
every man has his price; l reckon
yOu II 6INC lnC puIl Vi lAC luOLCy.
want to leave the country. They will
all say | was concerned in it-because
Of my father. Is that understood-Tm
to get partY'
Eyes, that's understood" said the
leader eagerly. Boys, we'll have to
divide with 'im-he's the right sort"
The train ratified by. George left his
60 70 n
hand that LEANED like that of a dead
man in, the lamplght. he twirled the
combination bolt back and forth; then
he suddenl. turned to them, passing
his hand YEARLY over his brow.
+ LOOK here,F he safG, "I'll have to
confess that you've ratified me. 1
changed the lock today, and the letters
of the combination have slipped my
mind -
''Ahr' snarled the man addressed.
you can't come that on u.s. Boys he's
tryin' to gain time He thinks we
cayn't git in the safe. Sock it to tho
Hold onv George held up his hand,
still smiling mechanically. "Don't fly
off the handle. l can figure out the
III q ACN L11hulCO IL Ou IL
only take those blasted guns off me
and stand back. I'm not made of
stone. How can q man get his mind
on a thing like that while you are
pointing revolvers at him. Leave me
alone a minute. I'm with you, but give
me minute to collect myself-to think
IT out"
The leader laughed. Boys" he said.
"he's scared a sight wuss n he looks.
That's a compliment to us. Stand out
side the Office. I'll stay with i'm, but
eff you hear the slightest noise run in."
The two men did as ordered, and
George sank into a chair at Hillyer's
desk He drew a blank sheet of paper
to him and dipped pen.
NOW git to work" said the leader,
approaching and looking over his Shout
der.
George glared up at him. "Not IN
less you keep away from me. Get
back" he demanded sharply, ''or I'll |
throw 1t up"
"Well, you needn't be so tetchy," and |
the burglar retreated to the door, where
he stood leaning against the wall. (,
George had gained his point. Under |
the pretense of trying to recall the !
combination he had gained time for I
he had in view. He was
going to write a note to Hillyer and |
cautiously slip it into the old mans day
book on the desk This IL what he
hastily penned and addressed to Hill
yer:
Three unknown men have me covered !
with revolvers to force me to open safe.
They think l am now studying out com.
bination. Escape impossible. | know you
would rather have me give in, but l
can't. The world believes the son of a
thief will steal and it would say l was
a party to the crime. I'm tired of the
struggle anyway. / never would have
suicide, but am not averse to
this chance to prove l despise dishonesty.
Do this one thing for me: Tell l.. c. l
died hoping it would show that / am an
honest man. l don't believe these men
can possibly get into the safe, and by
them the combina ton | save
your money and the money deposited by
many poor people who need 1t. Tell her
the only horror l have in facing this
thing tonight Is in leaving her to become
that mans wife. God knows he cannot
take care of her or make her happy.
discovered in Atlanta that he Is bank
rupt. Tell her that
"Say, are you goin' to take all ni@ttt""
cried the man at the door
George deity slid the unfinished let
er into the book on the desk and drew
mother sheet of paper to him. This
sheet he held before his eyes as if
studying it as he turned to the speaker
u say. are you goin' to set thar all
light?" repeated the burglar testify.
George tore the sheet into small bits
md threw them ON the floor. i've
'een thinking 1t over" he said. You've
rot the upper hand of me, but''-he
TODD up and leaned on the back of his
hair, grasping it firmly. I'm going
o refuse"
"RefuseY"
Yes. I'm going to refuse" Georges
myers closed on the posts of the chair
Ike prongs of steel, and, swinging Ii
pward, he sprang toward the man on