The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1911-05-04

"Red, got handkerchief" he snap
ped
Eyes"
"Well. get moving. Come on-blind
fold me so that l can't see. so that
every nerve will be conferred on hear
ing the tumblers click-you know-the
old gag"
"Sure thing"
Red scrambled to his feet and has
tily tied a handkerchief tightly around
Valentines head. completely covering
his eyes. Valentine stepped back TO
the vault. and Red crouched again at
his feet.
Deity. intently. the ex-convict ma
nipulated the intricate mechanism OF
the vault
Hurry. Jimmy. that kid" urged
Red, to whom the suspense was be-
coming unbearable.
"D-n you. be quiet If you say
another word I'll knock your head off
my hands are like leather"
He again sandpapered his fingers.
You're bleeding!" exclaimed Red.
what of it?' returning to his task.
Don't talk. ! tell you. ! heard 1t
click missed it again" turning the
continuation slowly-"but ] felt 1t
that time-I felt the dog lift"-Valen-
zine was intensely excited. Red, there
it is! Hurry with match!'
Red. well acquainted with the du-
ties required of him. by reason OF
the thorough education he had receiv-
ed from Valentine in the past. had
been waiting expectantly with u
match ready for the striking. AT the
word he Illuminated the combinations
dial with tiny flame.
what is it? cried Valentine
The other stretched himself upward
and peered at the numbers on the
metal saucer
ut points to twenty -onew he ex
claimed.
Valentine again drew away from the
vault
"Sandpaperw he cried. Red handed
him another sheet He rubbed his
fingers softly across 1t. His raw. bleed
ing flesh could not stand more than
the slightest contact with the rasping
surface. I'm feel every jar clean to
my eyeballs now" he added. He turn
ed the dial back and then forward and
then four complete reverse revolu-
tons. That's the way to get them
Red"-two more forward revolutions
bare. bleeding nerves"-a half turn
back-"raw. throbbing nerves-a tooth
ache in every fnfier end-eh. Red
there-matchv'
After a moment:
"Fifty-twow
"How many bolts did this door
have" asked Valentine. Did you
noticeY He went Oh turning the dial
Twelve"
Thought So" jubilantly. Can you
hear her any more. RedY
Reds ear was pressed against the
crack of the vault door.
mo. And God knows l don't want
to. Honest. Jimmy, l don't believe
u
"Oh. yes. you do. So long as she
calls we know she's alive"-turning
the dial slowly back-"here we are
again. If this Is eleven l know this
old rOtation-matchr'
"Eleven" shrieked Red joyously
after moment of racking suspense.
1--WE got it! I've got it!' cried Val
entine. "If this is it, Red"-reversing
the dial again-"she's ours in another
minute. Matchv'
Red struck another match.
''Ten!' he cried.
A half turn Of the dial forward
Valentines sharp ear detected the
sound as though another bolt had
drawn back. Here we are again!
Match!'
"Forty-two." exclaimed Red.
"That's it-forty-two-that's what 1t
should be. Do you hear Kitty now"
mo. Good God, Jimmy. suppose.
after all. she's dead"
Two more turns of the dial.
keep your nerve, old pal-there-
match
To George Doyle. standing in the
doorway. the scene was one of grip.
ping interest. The consummate. al
IIOSt uuCuHuys Shlu uleu-
tine was something to cause in the de-
tective. experienced even as he was
with resourceful and intelligent
cracksmen. thrill Of genuine admira
ton. No wonder Valentine had proved
the despair of the safe makers. the
banking officials and the sleuths of
half a dozen states. And a lieutenant
governor had pardoned him!
AS Doyle surveyed intently the op-
erations Of Red Flanagan and Jimmy
Valentine in their superhuman effort
to rescue their beloved little playmate.
Kitty Lane, from the stifling clutches
of the steel vault he became aware Of
sudden though very slight change
in the darkened room, the windows of
which, opening into shaft, gave al
most no aid at all to inquisitive eyes.
He glanced across the room to the
point from which the light seemed to
come and saw that the door leading
from the assistant CASH RS office had
been partly opened. Next, to his utter
amazemept, he saw plumed hat