The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-05

| dressed.
yes. sir, 1 am
How long have you been out yon-
der. between here and the rear door,
utes. I'd say
Has any man passed out of the
building by that way?"
Not while i was out there I've
been sweeping the rear steps"
That's all. Watch the elevator,
Jimmie. I'll sing out to you from above
| 81 little later
With the last hurriedly called as he
departed, Boyd started at the top of
his speed up the stairs. mounting
flight after flight, three stairs at a
stride, and glancing sharply into each
corridor through which he passed un-
I'll he arrived at the eighth and upper
floor of the building. There, painting
for breath, he discovered the elevator
motionless and deserted at the closed
door of the well.
All that had transpired as thus far
depicted had occupied barely five min
| utes, and Boyd, flushed by his exer-
tons and with an ominous fire in his
dllated eyes, now shouted Justify down
| the deep shaft and babe Coleman have
the elevator man lower the car, the
lever of which Boyd was unable to
reach through the closed door. and Join
him on the top floor.
When Coleman came I'D he found
Felix Boyd in narrow offshoot OF the
corridor, seated on the lower round of
a fixed ladder which led I'D TO a scut-
tie, or trap-door, opening upon the flat
roof OF the building. The scuttle was
| open, and the midday sunlight was
shed brightly down upon Boyd, who
then was engaged in studying a TWEEN
ty-dollar bank note, which he had
found on the floor. His haste and ex-
citement appeared to have abated.
however, for he did not arise when
Coleman approached, merely remark
| ing:
"Ah, here you are. Jimmie. I've been
waiting for you. Did you come up
alone?"
with the elevator man." repIied
Coleman. He has gone down again
with the car
I'D have sent It down to YOU II
| had not found the door guarding the
Wei securely closed. A curious fact
| too, Jimmie, that is"
| THAT man in headlong flight after
robbery should have delayed to close
both the elevator door and that guard
! ing the we'll"
Coleman failed to see the real point,
but asked quickly:
DO you think he came this way?"
$50 1t looks on the surface
And escaped by way Of the roof?'
II found that scuttle slightly open, "
replied Boyd, with a rather quizzicai
| smile. Also this bank note on the
floor. back of the ladder"
There's no doubt of IL, then" Cole
man growled. THE thief must have
dropped it when hurriedly mounting
| the ladder. Why are you stopping
here? Haven't you been up on the
roof"
''Not yet"
''The dickens, Felix!"
I've been waiting for you"
"And possibly your delay has let the
rascal escape. Why in thunder didn't
you follow him to the roof? 1 never
knew you to go lame at q time like
this. II he"
We'll go up there now, Jimmie, -
interrupted Boyd. rising. Perhaps you
are right"
There's a mighty small chance of
finding our man now" frowned Cole
man, as they climbed the ladder and
reached the roof.
1t was still damp after a rain of the
previous night, and a sharp breeze was
blowing. Yet the broad expanse of
roof, which was somewhat higher than
those of the neighboring buildings, pre-
scented only one object of interest.
which Immediately caught Coleman's
eye. 1t was a length of stout line
knotted securely around the base of a
chimney, then running over the edge
of the roof and down to that of the
next building, some twelve feet below.
There, you have iti' cried Coleman.
even more consciously. your DELAY
gave the scoundrel time to give you
the slip. You must have been close
upon his heels. The rascal went down
this rope and through that scuttle on
the roof below"
by Jove! It does look so. Jimmie"
admitted Boyd. a bit dryly.
Look sol" echoed Coleman, with a.
growl of disgust. "Thunderat ton. FELIX
it is so! The knave had his way of
escape all prepared. IT beat taking
chances at the street door, and he was
lucky enough to find the elevator down
and vacant
"All owing to that fight" murmured
Boyd, with a curious twinkle lurking
in his clear, gray eyes.
The devil take him, he may be a
mile from here by this time" added
Coleman, with obvious disapproval of
Boyds conduct. mo one in that build
ing would have known of the robbery
nor have had any occasion to detain
him. I'm blessed If I don't think YOU
hung fire in this case, Felix, to say the
least"
I'VE know so little of the robbery
ourselves. Jimmie. that 1 think we'd
better hasten back and get the facts, I"
said Boyd. There's yet a chance of
landing the rascal. 1 want word with
those two ruffians In Ryan's keeping"
DO you think that they"
Stop bit, Jimmie Notice the roof
around this trap door? Very nearly
dry, Ell? Yet on the floor below, and
just back of the ladderg, Jimmie, where
found the crumpled bank note, you
viii see a considerable spot, still damp
from a slight leak at or near this cor
ner of the scuttle. The water dripped
down there during the rain of last
night"
well. well; what has that to do with
the case?" Coleman impatiently growl-
ed. as they descended the ladder.
What in thunder can you make out of
that?'
Merely that the owners of the build
ing should repair the scuttie." laughed
Boyd quizzically, as they started for
the elevator. by the way, Jimmie,
since 1 now think of it, leave me to
handle this affair after we reach Gas
toms office. Also kindly execute any
instructions I possibly may give you.