Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-09-28

L
and stood on the floor. The man al
the safe had worked the combination
on one Of the inside boxes. He was
/ taking out layers of bills
Foot by foot. / approached the in
visible robber The time seemed to
fly though it could not have been a
minute until | was at the door. Two
more steps would put me within
striking distance. Every muscle In
my body was quivering as / moved
forward another yard. then another.
Then-there was fash in my eyes,
and the lantern light shone full in my
face. Help" I yelled, and leaped
blindly forward. l struck the robber
as he leaned for his pistol, and We
both rolled over in a heap on the
floor
was fighting for his hands.
knew If he ever got his hands on the
trigger of his pistol It would probably
be all over with me.
Bang" The roar was right in my
ears, but the flash of powder went
over my head. Neither Of us had
been hit
With strength I never thought ]
possessed, l seized the mans arm and
give it terrific wrench A cry of
pain burst from his lips. and the PTS
toll fell to the floor My hand CROPPED
out after it. My fingers seized the
hot barrel. With one frantic swing
sent the revolver sliding across the
floor of the other room.
It was fair fight to the finish now.
A clenched fist struck my face
singing blow but I kept my fingers
open. and felt for my antagonists
throat. He must have known my In
tentions for a second later felt his
fingers grip down on my wind-pipe
BY sinking my nails into his wrist l
wrested myself from his deadly grip.
Help Helpi" | shouted as my
breath came back
Over on the floor we rolled. The
robber was now on top. but ! chung
to him desperately determined TO risk
my life in holding him. Suddenly a
light shone aboTe US and then every
electric bulb in the room went on. l
caught a glimpse of the watchman's
face.
Grab him. grab him." | cried. as
the robber pulled himself from my
weakening grasp.
In an instant the Waterman had
swung the cane he always carried.
His aim was true. A mans form fell
beside me on the floor. looked at
him He was a young man and HIS
hair was red
TITS Summers. the new shipping
clerk" gasped the Waterman TTl
sit on him while you call the police.
Be quick"
struggled to my feet and rushed
TO the telephone booth. In five min
utes the now conscious Summers was
handcuffed and being dragged off to
cell in the station house.
HE put me up to it," he exclaimed
ale gave me the combination and
was going to give him half the money.
He was the cause of my doing it. o,
Lord. why did | ever listen to him!"
Who? Who?" demanded a detec.
tive ''Who put you up to It? You'd
better tell now. and save Yourself"
HE, Braxton!" blurted the thief
Gle put me up to it,"
saw Mr. Cramp stagger.
"Braxton?" he gasped. "Braxton?
| Then It had come to this? I've been
watching him for some time-but to
think that-it's astounding, simply as
| toundlng!"
Where's Braxton?" demanded the
detective
AT the Hotel Bedford" said Mr..
Cramp weakly.
The detective. followed by the DO.
liceman. darted out the door.
But the telephone had been work.
ing for when the officers got to the
hotel, Mr.. Braxton was nowhere to
be found He had left Miss Walker
abruptly and without a word of ex.
planation.
Three weeks later he was caught in
one of the large cities.
Developments showed that he was
wanted in the far west for robbing a
safe five years before. Summers
career was that of petty thief. who
was in demand at several police head.
quarters,
Invitations TO our wedding had been
out two days when Dorothy asked
me a question
Are you going to buy a dress suit
for the wedding, dear?"
Certainly. my dear girl" I replied
squeezing her hand; Il can afford to
buy one now. Look Mt this
opened an envelope that had just
come. and took out blue slip of pa
per. II was "a check for $1,000. The