The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-07-13
NOBLE DYKEMAN


one of us-was constantly treated by
him to some fanciful exploit In which
he had been engaged. though he mod
estly left all the credit to some one
else. At one time be had come upon
man overpowered by footpads just
in time. with the assistance of others.
to drive the rascals off. At another be
had rescued child from the fourth
story of a burning building. mention
ing. by the way. that woman had
been rescued from the fifth story by
some one else under far more difficult
circumstances. Then there were con-
slant encounters with men in the
dives" where Dykeman considered it
necessary to go in the pursuance of
some Of his assignments for criminal
news. Occasionally some one not ac
quainted with him would hear him re-
count these episodes and sneer. but
those of us who belonged to the
gang" as we disrespectfully referred
to ourselves. believed that Dykeman
was simply suffering from having got
into the wrong sphere of life and his
stories of adventure were hissings of
steam from his safety valve.
You were missing last night, Dyke
man." l would say to him at dinner
when we were assembled at the little
restaurant in the alley where we all
dined together. Where do you spend
your evenings when of duty"'
Last night-let me see All. | re-
member! Last night l was walking
on - street when a woman threw up
a window In q house l was passing
found a thief, who had got into the
second floor Of the house while the
family were at dinner. just climbing
down latticework from a rear porch.
l reached over and. Selling his coat
collar. drew him up. Just then a po-
Hceman entered. and l turned him
over"
did any one else come in for any of
the credit?" asked one of the gang.
''Yes; it was all due to the woman
who called for help. She had induced
the man to enter closet by assuring
him that he would find the silver there.
and when she got him in she slammed
the door and turned the key. How
ever, the door was frail. and he broke
it down. tell you she was plucky.
that woman"
But where were you the night be-
fore and the night before that? You
are never with us any more. Do you
rescue some one every night?"
A panied expression came over his
face, and FASTENED to add:
Never mind. dear boy. You shall
spend your evenings where you please"
Nevertheless curiosity got the better
of us, and many were our discussions
sure hours. One said that he was Sc
cretly taking boxing lessons. another
that be had joined the militia and was
giving all his spare time in drill. Dyke
man himself when twitted with the
subject gave out that he had job to
shadow a multimillionaire.
Time gave no explanation. so at last
we concluded to hunt up one for our
selves. Choosing an evening when we
were all off duty together. we made
our arrangements to follow Dykeman.
will you go to the theater this even
ing?" | asked him. I'VE are all off
tonight and can take In any show you
like"
Thanks would like to be with
you, but you see
II don't see."
"Well, then, there is bank
(which is to be robbed tonight"
How did you know that?"
"Never mind Go on
"Dhey need some man who is quick
on the trigger. who has plenty of
MUSCLE
THAT will do. Business before pleas
ure. You can go to the theater with
us some other evening"
We left Dykeman sitting over a glass
of sour wine and sailed forth. osten-
sibly to the theater. really to places of
concealment. from which we watched
till he came out. then followed him.
He soon stopped at a candy store.
from which he emerged with a paper
of sweets.
rs he going to head of the bank
robbers by peppering them with bon-
bonsY remarked one of the gang"
A second stop was at fruit stand.
where he purchased some luscious
peaches and yellow bananas
II see." said another. Hes going
to scatter the skins on the floor in
front of the vault. and the robbers
will find their feet in the air and
themselves OIL their backs"
There were no more stops till Dyke
man entered little frame trap on the
outskirts of the city He went in at
the door. and we took position at the
window. dim light shone within.
and there was half an inch of space
between the window shade and sill
through which we peered from the
outside A little girl of some seven
or eight years was lying on couch.
Her cheeks were thin. her eyes were
large and lustrous with disease, and
their expression as they flared upon
the great muscular figure of Dykeman
was that of one who had waited huh
grily for him all through the day. She
threw her thin arms about him as he
bent over her and patted his broad
back. the only manifestation of her
delight visible to us now that he was