The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-03-25

w WOIh dSsulu.
1t Is singular how quick the reason
ing process will develop results in
ones brain. In less time than it takes
to tell it had made a deduction. This
gentleman" was fake. He was
made up to personate the head Of the
concern. He was wearing wax nose
had joggled him. and it had fallen
off his face. Had looked up would
have seen him with his own natural
nose. but this would have betrayed the
fact that | had got on to his scheme.
He had purloined the letter head on
which he had written me, and his two
clerks were confederates.
l pretended to work all the faster
after this incident, but in reality nc.
complished very little. didn't dare
lessen the pressure of my bit on the
steel, fot the diminution of noise
would have betrayed me, but bored
to make the hole larger instead of
deeper. couldn't see my mans face
but he was evidently at least partly
treasured. At any rate. he said moth.
ing.
And while worked thought. Here
was unwittingly participating in a
burglary. All other considerations
were lost in my horror of having to
share the punishment that these men
were likely to get in the end. My
whole mind was at once bent on out
whiting them. The moment they sus-
pected that had got on to their
scheme would be forced to continue
my work at the muzzle of a revolver.
What should do? Anything should
do to attract attention without would
fall upon me as well as on the bur
glars.
saw but one possible way Of de-
feating their purpose. That was to fin
ish the drilling, get at the tumblers
and put them SO out Of gear that to
get them in order again would require
taking out the whole apparatus. On
this course resolved.
Having come to decision, was
anxious to get through us soon as pos
sible, fearing as much US they that we
might be caught in the act there
fore worked with all my vigor. the
typewriter pounding the while. My
employer. seeing that was doing my
best, seemed to regain any confidence
he might have lost by his mishap.
You're all right, young man. You're
sure to win. Ten minutes yet to make
your $4,000. I'll do better. I'll make
it $4,000"
He didu't need to make it $4,000 to
induce me to hurry. If any one should
interrupt the proceedings l didn't see
how l would escape the penitentiary.
| So !. worked as hard as could. but in
order to inspire confidence purposely
lost the $4,000 by two minutes.
That's oil right" said the chief in
response to my look of, disappoint-
ment. 1.-Two minutes don't make any
difference to man who will make
as much out of your work as will
I'll give you the whole amount. Now
| open the door,"
1.-The most important work yet re-
mains," replied. "These tumblers are
complicated affairs. If get them out
Of gear I'll lose this fortune and my
| girl too"
well. be careful" he said anx.
iously.
Meanwhile my brain had been as
busy us my hands. l saw that more
depended on my deceiving them than
in throwing the lock out Of gear. If
could persuade them to give up theil
| job without my throwing the lock Out
| Of gear it might help me in the story
would tell after all was over.
worked on for awhile, then let piece
of steel in the lock drop in it's place
| with click. With an exclamation
and an assumed look of horror turn
ed toward the men.
what is it?" cried the chief.
1--WE done it,
"What?"
II couldn't open it now If you'd Civ,
| me million. I've lost! I've lost"
II believe you're fooling," said tn
man.
4 He called the two clerks" togethe
for consultation. knew very wei
that they were discussing the feasibil
ity of forcing me at the point of q pts
tol to go on. also saw from their ez
pressions that two of them believe,
my story and the third was doubtful
Finally the two convinced the third
and the chief. approaching me. said:
You've done the best you could. an
I'm sorry you've lost your prize. I
you'll come around in the morning II
make you handsome present. can
do it now because all the money Is 1
the safe. You can go now. Goodby."
thanked him, picked up my ba
and was about to leave when the ma
who had doubted by sincerity ~
preached the chief excitedly and said
; you don't mean to say you're goin
to let him go out first and send cop
In here after U.S."
y From this point they threw OF a
idea of deceiving me. The leader sol
TO me: You stay here for ten minutes
Ten minutes-do you hear? One of U
will be waiting outside. and IL 70
come before ten minutes you're dea
man. See?'
/. I feigned to be very much astonishe
and frightened and told them woul
stay MS long as they wished. The
they turned out the lights and we1
away. knew their ten minutes Il
me to stay didn't mean anything, IN
after was satisfied they were off
went out myself and in drug stol
looked up the residence of the pres
dent Of the company. Then went
his house and told him the whole st
ry. handing him my written promise
!, 5000 lie I opened the safe within