The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-04-14
CHAPTER vI-(Continued.)


Borough Lot was not original. Come.
Jimmy stepped gingerly through int
the darkness. He heard the snap of
button, and q soft glow of light re
vealed a tiny chamber, In which tw,
men might comfortably stand upright
The back of the wardrobe closed, an
they were alone in a little room abou
as large as an average cupboard.
There was a steel lever on one sid,
of the walls, and this the lawyer pulled
cautiously. Jimmy felt a sinking sen
sation, and heard a faint, far off buzz
ing OF machinery.
A electric lift, l lake it," he sale
quietly.
IAN electric lift" repeated the law.
yer.
Down, down, down, they sank, til
Jimmy calculated that they must be
at least 90 feet below the street level
Then the lift slowed down n stopped
at a door. SPEEDING opened this with
, key he tool from his pocket and they
stepped out into a chill, earthly dark
ness.
There's q light here" said the law
yer. and CROPPED for the switch.
They were in a large vaulted apart
ment Lit from the roof. At one end a
steel door faced them and ranged about
the vault on iron racks q number OF
black Japanned boxes.
Jimmy noted the inscription and
was a little surprised at the
extent and Importance of the
solicitors practice. SPEEDING must
have read his thoughts, for he turned
with a smile.
Not particularly suggestive of a de-
faulting SOLICITOR" he said ironically.
Two million pounds" replied Jimmy
Immediately, that is my answer to
You. Mr. Shedding An pnnrfnntu fp,-
tune for the reaching. l wouldn't trust
Che governors of the Bank of Eng
land"
SPEEDING may nave been annoyed as
he walked to the door in the wall and
opened it, but he effectively concealed
his annoyance.
AS the door fell backward, Jimmy
saw a little apartment, four feet by six
Feet, with a roof he could touch with
his hand. There was a fresh current of
air, but from whence it came he could
NOT discover. The only articles of fur
niture In the little cell were a writing
table and a swing chair placed exactly
beneath the electric lamp In the roof.
SPEEDING pulled open a drawer in the
desk.
II do not keep my desks locked here
he said pleasantly enough.
1t was characteristic of him that he
INDUCED In no preamble, no apologize
100 1llu liIdl lie SHOWED no
OF embarrassment as he slipped
his land into the drawer, and drawing
forth a bulky red envelope, threw it on
to the desk.
You might have forgotten that his
last words were denials that the red
envelope had existed. Jimmy looked
at him ~curiously, and the lawyer re-
turned his gaze.
"a new type?" he asked.
Hardly" said Jimmy cheerfully. II
once knew a mar like you in tho Ar
gentine-he was hanged eventually
Curious" unused the lawyer, II have
often thought ! might be hanged, but
have never quite seen why He
nearly added something else, but check
ed himself.
Jininnt had the red envelope in his
hand and was examining 1t closely. 1t
WE heavily sealed with the lawyers
own seal. and bore the inscription In
Reale's Grabbed, illiterate handwriting,
Puzzle ideas" He weighed it and
ipinched 1t. There was a little compact
packet inside.
= shall open this said Jimmy deci-
SlVeIy, You, of course, nave already
examined 1t.
The lawyer made no reply.
Jimmy broke the seal Of the envelope.
Half his mind was busy In speculation
as to Its contents, the other half was
engaged with the lawyers plans. Jim
my wac too experienced a man to be
deceived by the complaisance OF the
en1ooth Mr. Speeding. He watched his
every v All the while he was en-
gagged In what appeared to be a con-
centrated examination OF the packet his
eyes never left the lawyer. That Sped
ding made no sign was a further proof
IN Jimmy's yes that the coup was to
tone.
eWe might as well examine the en-
velope upstairs as here" said the law
yer. The other man nodded, and fol-
lowed him from the cell. Speeding
closed the steel door and locked it, then
turned to Jimmy.
do you notice he said with some
satisfaction. how skillfully this cham
Der Is c~onstructed?' He waved his
hand round the larger vault, at the
iron racks and the shiny black boxes.
Jimmy was alert now. The lawyers
Eeniality was TOO gratuitous, his re-
marks q trifle inapropos. It was like
the lame introduction to a story which
the teller was anxious to drag In at
all hazards.
Here, for instance" said the lawyer,
tapping one of the boxes, lis what APP
pears to be an ordinary deed box. As
q matter of fact. 1t is an ingenious de-
Vice Tor trapping burglars, IL they
It Is not opened by an ordinary key,
but by the pressure of a button, either
In my room or here
II walked leisurely to the end Of the
vault, Jimmy following.
Eor 9 ma of his build Speeding was
q remarkably agile man. Jimmy had
moderated his agility.
He realized this when suddenly
the lights went out. Jimmy sprang
for lawyer. and struck
the rough stone wall OF the vault. he
CROPPED quickly left n right, and
grasped oEiy the air.
Keep quiet commanded ~Spedding,s
tnlm voice from the other end OF the
chamber. and keep coSi. i am going
10 show Q my burglar CATCH
Jimmy's fingers were feeling along
he wall Tor the switch that controlled
the lights. AS II divining his intention.
thealawyer's voice said:
THE lights are out tf control, Jimmy.
and ] am fairly we'll out OF your reach,
we shall see. was Jimmy.s even
reply.
saas And liz you start shooting Won VIII
only make the atmosphere of1this place
8 little more unbreathable than 1t ii at
present, Speeding went on.
sM9S Te,,Nyv,xy rTrafJoAN IN tha I, .n--. ,