New-York tribune., 1909-10-10


automobile, coming rapidly down the avenue,
ackened its speed and SWerved in toward the side
walk. SuSpeCtIng attack on the show window.
with quick getaway in the motor car the watchman
bounded toward the corner. As he did so. the man
who had run across the avenue dashed past him
down the side street. while from the automobile
which had stopped with Jerk jumped two young
and fashionably dressed women.
The necklace, The necklace" gasped one of
them. pointing toward the show window.
Following the direction of her finger the watch
man saw that the pearl collar which had formed the
most conspicuous feature of the display missing
Missing. too We're the supposed rat catcher and his
accomplce. Where could they have gone: Down
stairs, OF course Perhaps even now they were
sneaking out of the basement door He bounded
back round the corner, Just in time the face
OF a mantle who had given the signal-ap-
pear above the curb of the areaWay. In three Jumps
the watchman reached the top of the basement steps
AS soon as the man did hurled himself upon
him
Catching the blow OF the watchnan's billy.on his
raised forearm. the man closed with his assaant.
His numbed arm. however. placed him at disad-
vantage. and the outcome might have been doubtful
had not suCCOr come speedily from two sources,
OF them as unexpected as the onslaught itself.
THIS was when hatless breathless young woman
running up behind the watchman. threw her
arms round his neck in no loving embrace and
planted one knee in the small OF his back.
Compelled to relax his hold upon his intended
victim to save himself from strangulation the
grasped with crushing force the two hands that
crCled his throat and tore them apart surprised to
BE aft with We. ye little diII. he gasped as he
turned and saw from whom the attack had come.
and lave US two men he broke OF on seeing
that his employer had suddenly appeared upon the
scene. " Hould onto her. Misther Reinhart, he
cried. ''whiles I"
Hold onto yourself. YOU brute" shouted the
jeweler. Bravely done Miss Marshall! trust that
you are not hurt Are YOU all right, Mr.. Carleton,"
les. yes, come along. exclaimed the counterfeit
rat catcher Protect these ladies' he cried to the
chauffeur who now came hurrying up. Thank you.
God bless YOU dear, Wait here he SAID TO the
excited girl as he darted into the building and up
the stairs. followed closely by Reinhart.
Wait here" echoed Eleanor Marshall, her eyes
blazing. "The-the idea! Come, Laura! Come
men, Hurry! He may be going to his DEATH And,
gathering up her torn and disordered skirts, She
ran like deer through the entrance and led the way
to the second floor. brushing by the astonshed ele
vator man who stood half asleep. blinking blanky.
She entered the front room almost at the heels OF
Renhart and Mrs Mason, the chauffeur. the watch
man, and the now thoroughly awakened elevator
attendant were not far behind
A STRANGE sight met their eyes as they crowded
through the doorway into the dim apartment,
illuminated only by the light that filtered III through
the drawn shades from the street. Standing up in
huge box was a sandy haired man. with sharp fea-
t11reS and a nose twisted slightly aWTV. He
looking over the shoulder of another who stood
facing him lust outside the box his back toward the
door. Both men held their hands above their heads
\ third man, standing we'll inside the room pointed
an automatic pistol at them. In the uplited night
hand of the man outside the box a CrClet OF
pearls which cleaned with sudden briiance as the
elevator man switched on the electric lights.
Carleton surveying this tableau in speechless
astonishment, seemed to the Others TO form part
OF il.
Why. it's Mr. Lessingl" Reinhart broke in i'm
petuously And you've caught the rascals! How
did YOU happen here opportunely:
Simply enough replied the man addressed
Don't move or speak" he cautioned his two human
again to Reinhart .' i WAS walking east from Broad
ysr on the other side of the street. when saw man