Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-12

over them to see that they are right
The slightest slip in any detail will
throw out my bid. Come; get to
work"
l plunged my hand into my bag. got
out my brace and bits. adjusted them
and was soon at work.
Now, as | worked it occurred to me
that here was the opportunity Of my
life If this gentleman was dependent
for his half million on me to get him
into the safe. why shouldn't l have
something more than beggarly ten
dollar bill? l saw that he was i'm
patient and thought / might get an
offer to do the work within 4 given
limit of time.
I'm afrnid,' I said, this is going
to be an all night job
See here, young man." said the
gentleman, SIS there anything you
want especially that costs lot more
money than you've got?"
Yes, there IS l replied. Il want a
girl"
"Oh, can't give you girlr
Il could get the girl quick enough
if had anything to marry on"
HIM said the gentleman. biting at
my hook. 81 see. How soon can you
guarantee to open the safe if it's made
worth your while TO hurry
"Three-quarters of an hour"
Very well. II you'll do it in that
time I'll give you $1,000. If you do it
in thirty minutes I'll make it $1,000
Give me a bit Of writing for that"
l said. And without waiting for him
to do so ! began to drill furiously, my
racket making a terrible sound.
Mr.. Perkins" said the gentleman
to one of the clerks, take the type
writer and write to my dictation."
One of the clerks sat down at a
typewriting machine and wrote out
contract to cover the agreement made
with me. When it was finished the
gentleman signed it and gave it to me.
l wasn't going to be fooled, so l stop
ped drilling and read it.
Write at the bottom of it," 1 said,
1.-The money to be paid before the said
Thomas Jakeaway leaves this office"
He took the paper to his mahogany
desk and wrote what ! required, while
/ went on drilling.
do you have to make all that
noise:" he snapped Cant you put
some oil or something on your drill?
They'll think outside there's a bur
glary going on in here. If they come
in to investigate I'd have 10 explain,
and there'd be a lot of delay"
The faster l work." l said, "the
more noise"
Mr.. Perkins. you go on typewriting
Never mind what you write. Make
oIo 20
"All right, sir" And the young man
began TO pound the keys so hard thas
l thought lie would break something.
/ was working like a beaver when
the gentleman came and stood over
me. watching me. Suddenly my brace
slipped. and as l was pressing hard
against it in n stoopElG position l lost
my balance and fell against him.
Something dropped at my feet. I pick
ed it up and felt the soft smoothness
of wax. The gentleman spatched Il
from me, and without looking up a.
him l readjusted my brace and went
to work again.
1t is singular how quick the reason.
ing process will develop results in
ones brain. In less time than it takes
4
gentleman" was fake. de was
made up 20 personate the head Of the
concern. He was wearing wax nose
| had ioggled him. and it had fallen
of 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 ac-
complished very little. 1 didn't dare
lessen the pressure of my bit on the
steel, for the diminution OF noise
would have betrayed me, but l 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