Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-21

for another devil in the morning"
| Suppressed excitement srnoldered In Tom
rny's black eyes when ne struck the Office
| three hours later. but none of the fellows
At the appointed time walker buttoned
| his coat tightly and left the office. Micky
! was waiting at the head of the stairs.
| Good boy.'' approved Walker. Come.
| Well go by my room for certain paraphef,-
| MALTA that wen be sure to need.
| Tommy chuckled at his own joke in ex-
| ceedingly had taste.
| Little time was wasted after arriving at
| his room. Micky was furnished with re-
| volver, which he gazed at with show or
| fearfulness. Tommy slipped another IN ms
! own rear pocket. Then he held under the
| light for Inspection two pairs of shining
steel bracelets
| Miek's eyes asked questions.
Borrowed 'em tonight from one OF my
friends on the police force" explained Walk
! er. Told him 1 wanted to play joke on
| a couple of fellows. And that's just what
! / propose to do before the nights done
| with"
| Once outside again, Micky took the lead.
After travcrsing q dozen blocks or more
| he piloted Walker into narrow alleyway.
| They moved slowly and quietly from that
| time fearful lest some mistake should send
| loose atom of stone Gathering and warn
! the burglars of their approach. They found
| the gate leading through the wall open ana
| crept through like shadows to the rear end
| of the bank. Here they hesitated for forty
| snail-like seconds. s.raining their ears for
| some sound from inside. None came. At
| last Walker tried the door with cautious
| hand. II moved inward. creaking never so
slightly, and Tommys heart made more
noise In the quiet that followed than the
half-dozen linotypes at the office.
Death-footed he led the way inside, Micky
following like cat. The way to the main
| part of the building led through the pri-
vate office OF the president of the bank.
An inner door of the room opened on the
main aisle of the bank. directly opposite
ths, of fau frnn thof in
closed the massive vault. The door was
slightly ajar, and through the narrow slit
Walker peered, hardly daring to breathe.
Crouching before the heavy time lock was
| a thickset, swarthy man, adjusting a short
fuse with a rapidity that denoted long prac-
tice. few feet back of him, bound hand
and foot, but with his mouth free to give
directions of warning, lay Honest John. the
faithless Waterman. Close at hand dangled
long rope which depended from the sky
light overhead. The burglars had carried
out their plot to the smallest evil detail.
Walker stuck his mouth close to the
DEVILS ear.
Come" he whispered. You cover the
Waterman to keep him quiet. and I'll take
care Of the chunky guy. Train your gun
straight and don't let her wabble."
Noiselessly he opened the door and
stepped into the main aisle of the bank.
Walker took his place near the window,
with Micky a few feet to his left.
Absorbed in the work before them, neither
ger. The thick-set man finished laying
fuse with def fingers, and whipping a
match from his pocket, stepped back to APP
ply It,
through the silence like a keen file. You
might make too much noise and wake the
police
The craftsman wheeled with snarl of
rage only to look into a nuzzle of cold
steel a few feet from his head.
A smothered noise from the Waterman
stirred Micky to action.
Il don't think I'd even try to whisper.
Honest John he advised. Somebody
might suspicion YOU
I up with your hands," commanded
Walker. I've got the Drop on you, and
you'd better be a live prisoner than dead
burglar
Sulenly the man obeyed
'Now step to the window and poke your
arms through. Move lively"
Two brawny wrists protruded. sharp
click followed and steel bracelets gripped
them.
Now step back and we'll finish this job
in short order. Micky, I'll yield you the
great honor Of taking the gun from our
obliging friend here. Bill Dugan."
The burglar WINGED as if from blow
and swore backly.
Needn't fret about 1t So Billy admon-
ished Tommy Il know you by that peculiar
little scar on your left cneek. Your picture
holds the place of honor at police head
quarters, and 1 recognized you the minute
you turned. There's nice little reward out
for you, Billy, old boy, and I'm needing a
little extra money just now pretty bad"
Mtcky entered the cage and relieved
Dugan OF his pistol with Srlnning CELEBRITY.
With the two men secure. it was the work
of a few minutes to fix thick gags firmly
in their mouths. Tommy produced several
stout leather thongs from an inner pocket
and Dugan's feet were soon dashed firmly
together. When they came to the watch.
man to see If his letters were dependable
Tommy said:
''All the stories you'll put up in the morn
ing won't Telp you in the slightest Old
Honesty. You'll look well in stripes, you
VIII
When the Job was completed to Tommy'e
satisfaction, he glanced hurriedly at his
watch. 1t showed 2:33.
Quick work, Micky; and I've got forty
minutes left to turn out story that'll raise
your hair"
He showed his gun in his pocket
Think you can hold EN- for an hour?''
The devils face was cloven with grin.
'lll do my best Mister Tommy"
'All right. I'll leave 'em with you. They
won't prove troublesome, I guess. But If
they do don't hesitate to use a little Vio-
! lenee. I'll be back with a couple of cops
in hour"
Ten minutes later, painting like a steam
engine, Walker crashed into the office
wilkins, the night editor almost fell out
of his chair.
the devil and Tom Walker?" he ex-
claimed.
Not exactly It's Tom Walker all right,
with the hottest story of the season. But
the devils busy elsewhere Just now
Without further remark Tommy fell on
his typewriter with furious fingers. Wilkins
beamed at the first page of copy. Tommy
had touched up the picture in vivid colors.
IT'S hot" declared wilkins. Stretch it
to the limit, Tommy. We need IT.
And stretch 1t Tommy did smile of pc
culiar satisfaction crimping the corners of
his mouth.
When he returned to the bank an hour
later with pair of bluecoats Micky was
still standing guard.
Kept as quiet as kittens" he grfnned
The officers took the prisoners in charge
and Tommy accompanied them to head
quarters where he was closeted with the
chief for good half hour.
When he started back to the office the
Herald was already on the streets. He
bought a copy and scanned It feverishly.
Not a line of the boldest attempt at bur-
glary ever made In one of the most prom
inent sections of the city appeared. Tom
my waXed jubilant
It's the cleanest beat of the season." he
announced exutingy to wilkins.
To rub 1t In thick the Registers presses
were held until the Herald had time to
become thoroughly circulated in every por-
ton of the city Then the newses took
the streets crying at the top of their lungs.
1t was long after daylight when Tommy
turned In for needed rest. But at II o'clock
1 Il. +. M IL d