Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-18
The Thinking Machine Search of Treasure

identity of the man who alone and un-
aided, robbed the Thirteenth National Bank
of one hundred and nine thousand dollars
in cash 1t was Mort Dolan expert safe cracker,
albeit young one, and he had made clean sweep.
abouts He was safely in a cell at police head
quarters, having been captured within less than
twelve hours after the robbery discovered.
Dolan had offered resistance to the officers
when he cornered, and had attempted no denial
when questioned by Detective Mallory He knew
he had been caught fairly and squarely, and
of pride at job well done. 1t was four or five days
after his arrest that the matter to the atten
ton of The Thinking Machine. Then the problem
But perhaps it would be better to begin at the
beginning.
than thirty years DID, Mort Dolan was man for
whom the police had wholesome respect He had
a record, for he had started early This robbery of
the Thirteenth National was his big job and to
have been his last. With the proceeds he had
intended to take his wife and quietly disappear
beneath full beard and an alias in some place far
removed from former haunts But he had made
one mistake. This was leaving behind him in the
bank the in which the nitroglycerin had been
bought. Through this carelessness he had been
traced.
Dolan and his wife occupied three poor rooms in
poor tenement house: From the moment the police
got description of the person who bought the
explosive, they were confident, for they knew their
Therefore, four clever watch
about the poor tenement. Neither Dolan nor his
wife there when they arrived, but from the
condition of things in the rooms the police believed
that they intended to return, took up positions
to watch.
Unsuspecting enough, Dolan along just
about dusk and started up the five steps to the
front door of the tenement 1t Just happened that
he glanced back and head drawn suddenly
behind projecting stoop. But the electric light
glared strongly there and Dolan recognized Detec-
tive Downey paused for moment and rolled
a cigarette while he thought it Perhaps in
stead of entering it would be best to stroll down
the street, turn corner, and make dash for it.
But just at that moment he spied another head
in the direction of contemplated flight. That was
Detective Blanton
Deeply thoughtful, Dolan smoked half the cigar
cite and stared blankly in front of him. He knew
of back door opening alley. Perhaps the
detectives had not thought to guard that He tossed
unconcern and closed the door Running lightly
through the hail. he flung open the back door.
He turned back instantly-just outside he
had seen and recognized Detective Cunning
ham.
Then he had an inspiration. The roof! He
half way up the last flight which led to
the opening in the roof when he stopped.
From above he caught the Whit of bad
cigar then the measured tread of heavy boots.
Another detective! With sickenng de- i
preston at his heart Dolan came softly down n
the stairs and entered his fiat. ~
He imagined that they were only waiting ~
for his wife return, and suddenly remembered 9Es
that it necessary for him to see her The
police could not connect her with the robbery ~
in anyway; for her innocence beyond :,
question. And if he taken before she
returned she would
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