Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1910-09-22

piece of paper held between the mans
fingers. The robber was reading the
combination as he worked It!
In a few seconds, at most. he would
open the safe, rifle ii of it's cash. and
disappear into the darkness without
ever a soul seeing his face,
Then the horror of the situation
came upon me. and my heart bumped
against my bosom. would be ac-
cused of the burglary!
Half a minute more and II would
be too late. Better be killed." /
thought, than condemned for this
crime" The man grasped the handle
Of the door of the safe and the block
Of steel swung back.
My senses were alert now. and
tried not to think of the danger.
Quickly | lifted my right foot and
ran my hand down to my shoe tops.
How lucky 1T was that | had worn
buttoned shoes with my dress suit,
for ! could unfasten them easily and
with one hand. AS felt button after
button give way under my fingers I
gained courage to face death. Softly
| slipped off the shoe and set it
gently on the floor. Then, as eau
tiously, ! took off the other one.
Though trembling for fear Of ma
king noise, slipped out OF my chair
and stood on the floor. The man at
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
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 flash in my eyes,
and the lantern light shone full in my
face. Help" l yelled, and leaped
blindly forward. ! 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 II he ever got his hands on the
trigger OF his pistol 1t would probably
be all over with me.
"Bang!" The roar was right in my
ears, but the fash of powder went
over my head. Neither of us had
been hit.
With strength | never thought ]
nnCCaCSad / ha NJ
give 1t terrific wrench. A cry of
pain burst from his lips, and the pis-
toll fell to the floor. My hand CROPPED
out after II. My fingers seized the
hot barrel. With one frantic swing
! sent the revolver sliding across the
floor of the other room.
1t was a fair fight to the finish now
A clenched fist struck my face a
singing blow but kept my fingers
open. and felt for my antagonists
throat. He must have known my in.
tentions for a second later I felt his
fingers grip down on my wind-pipe
BY sinking my nails into his wrist ]
wrested myself from his deadly grip
Help Help" / 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 above us and then every
electric bulb in the room went on. ]
caught 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,
ITS Summers, the new shipping
clerk" gasped the Waterman. "Tll
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
a cell In the station house.
He put me up to it," he exclaimed
HE gave me the combination and ]
was going to give him half the money.
He was the cause of my doing II. 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
He put me up to II
! saw Mr.. Cramp stagger.
"Braxton?" he gasped, "Braxton t?
Then II had come to this? I've been
watching him for some time-but to
think that-it's astounding, simply as
tounding,"
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 10
be found. He had left Miss Walker
abruptly and without a word of ex.