The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-04-14
CHAPTER v1-(continued.)

the darkness. He heard the snap of a
button, and a soft glow of light re-
vealed a tiny chamber, in which two
men might comfortably stand upright.
The back of the wardrobe closed, and
they were alone in a little room about
as large as an average cupboard.
There was a steel lever on one side
of the walls, and this the lawyer pulled
cautiously. Jimmy felt q sinking sem
sation, and heard a faint, far off buzz
ing OF machinery.
IAN electric lift, l take it, he said
quietly.
IAN electric lift" repeated the law
yer.
Down, down, down, they sank. till
Jimmy calculated that they must be
at least 20 feet below the street level.
Then the lift slowed down n stopped
at a door. SPEEDING opened this with
q key he took from his pocket and they
stepped out into a chill, earthly dark
ness.
There's a light here" said the law
yer. and CROPPED for the switch.
They We're in a large Vaulted apart
ment lit from the roof. At one end a
steel door faced them and ranged o
the vault on iron racks a number of
black japanned boxes.
Jimmy noted the inscription n
was a little surprised at the
extent and Importance of the
solicitors practice. Speeding must
have read his thoughts, for he turned
with Il smile.
Not particularly suggestive of a de-
faulting SOLICITOR" he said ironically.
1.-TWO million pounds replied Jimmy
Immediately, that is my answer to
you, Mr.. SPEEDING. AN for
tunc for the reaching. l wouldn't trust
the governors OF the Bank of Eng
land
Speeding may have 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 q fresh current of
air, but from whence it came he could
not discover. The only articles of fur
ntture 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
indulged in no preamble, no Apologize
preliminaries, and that he showed no
Sign of embarrassment as he slipped
his hand 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 ch%eerfully. II
once knew a man like you in tho Ar
Eentine-he was hanged eventually"
Curious unused the lawyer, Il have
often thought l might be hanged, but
have never quite seen why" He
nearly added something else, but check
ed himself.
Jimmy had the red envelope in his
hand and was examining it closely. 1t
ws.s heavily sealed with the lawyers
w seal. and bore the inscription in
Reale's grabbed, il%literate handwriting.
pinched 1t. There was a little compact
packet inside.
IT shall open this said Jimmy deci-
sively. You, of course, have already
examined it.
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 was too experienced a man to be
deceived by the complaisance of the
smooth Mr.. SPEEDING. He watched his
every move. 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
come.
w 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. chow skillfully this cham
Der is constructed?" He waved his
hand ound the larger vault, at the
iron racks and the shiny black boxes.
Jimmy was alert now. The lawyers
geniality was too gratuitous, his re-
marks a trile %fnapropos. 1t 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 nat APP
pears to be an ordinary deed box. AS
a matter of fact. it is an ingenious de-
vice for trapping burglars, if they
should by any chance reach the vault.
1t is not opened by an ordinary key.
but by the pressure of a button, either
In my room or here"
He walked leisurely to the end of the
vault, Jimmy following.
For a man of his build Speeding was
moderated his agility.
the lights went out. Jimmy sprang
for the lawyer. and struck
the rough stone wall of the vault. He
CROPPED quickly left and right, and
grasped only the air.
Keep quiet" commanded Spedding's
calm voice from the other end of the
chamber, "and keep COIL. l am going
to show you my burglar CATCH"
Jimmy's fingers We're feeling along
the wall for the switch that controlled
the lights. AS if 0iEininp his intention.
the lawyers voice said:
The lights are out of control. Jimmy,
n I an fairly well out of your reach"
we shall see" was Jimmy's even
reply.
only make the atmosphere of this place
q little more unbreathable than 1t is at
present" SPEEDING went on.
Jimmy smiled in the darkness, and
the lawyer heard the nap of a Colt