The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-04-14
CHAPTER vI-(Ccntinued.)

DoTouSH LOU was not Original. Soie.
Jimmy stepped gingerly through into
the darkness. He heard the snap of 9
button and soft glow of light re-
vealed 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 q steel lever on one side
Of the walls. and this the lawyer pulled
cautiously. Jimmy felt sinking sem
sation. and heard faint, far off buzz
ing of machinery.
IAN electric lift, l take it," he said
quietly.
s>,.An 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 and stopped
at a door. SPEEDING opened this with
q key he took from his pocket and they
stepped out into chill, earthly dark
ness.
There's a light here" said the law
yer. and CROPPED for the switch.
They were In large vaulted apart
ment lit from the roof. At one end a
steel door faced them and ranged about
the vault on iron racks a number OF
black japanned boxes. :,
Jimmy noted the inscription and
was little surprised at the
extent and importance OF the
solicitors practice. SPEEDING must
with a smile.
mot particularly suggestive of de-
faulting solicitor" he said ironically.
1.-TWO million pounds" replied Jimmy
Immediately, that is my answer to
you, Mr.. Speeding. An enormous for
tune for the reaching. / 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 1t, 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 fresh current OF
air, but from whence 1t came he could
not discover. The only articles Of fur
niture in the little cell were a writing
table and swing chair placed exactly
beneath the electric lamp In the roof.
SPEEDING pulled open 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 apoiogetic
prellminaries, and that he showed no
sign of embarrassment as he slipped
his hand into the drawer, and drawing
forth a bulky red envelope, threw 1t on
20 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.
IN new type?" he asked.
Hardly" said Jimmy cheerfully. II
once knew a man like you in the Ar
gentine--he was hanged eventually"
Curious" unused the lawyer II have
often thought I 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 1t closely. It
WEI heavily sealed with the lawyers
own seal. and bore the inscription in
Puzzle IDEAS" He weighed it and
pinched 1t. There was little compact
packet inside.
II shall open this" said Jimmy deci-
sively. You, of course, have 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 was too experienced q 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 further proof
In Jimmy's eyes that the coup was to
come.
I'VE might as well examine the en-
velope upatairs 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 constructed?" He waved his
hand round 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 trifle inapropos. 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, sis what ap-
pears to be an ordinary deed box. AS
q matter of fact, 1t Is an ingenious de-
vice for trapping burglars, If they
should by any chance reach the vault
It is not opened by an ordinary key,
out py the pressure or button, either
In my room or here"
He walked leisurely to the end of the
vault, Jimmy following.
For q man 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
Tor 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
cain voice from the other end Of the
chamber. "and keep COL. 1 am going
to show you my burglar catch"
Jimmy's fingers were feeling along
the wall for the switch that controlled
the lights. AS IL divining his intention,
the lawyers voice said:
The lights are out Of control Jimmy,
and / am fairly well out of your reach"
I'VE shall see," was Jimmy's even
reply.
."And IL you start shooting you will
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 q Colt
pistol as his captive loaded.
did you notice the little ventilator?"
asked the lawyers voice again. well,
I am behind that. Between my un-
worthy body and --our, nickel bullets
there are two feet of solid masonry"
Jimmy made no reply, his pistol went
10 III In IN I.a1 I,f