Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-04-07

Ell a
n FTER lev moments Valentine
|. ~ shook his head angrily and
~ drew back q step from the
"Red. got handkerchiefT' he snap
ped
Eyes"
''well. get moving. Come on-blind-
fold me 20 that can't see. 80 that
every nerve win b centered on hear
ing the tumblers click-you know-the
old gag"
'sure thing"
Red scrambled to his feet and has
thy tied handkerchief tightly around
Valentines head. completely covering
bis 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 quietl II you say
another word I'll knock your head OF
my hands are like leather"
He again sandpapered bis fingers.
you're bleeding. exclaimed Red.
"what Of itY' returning to his task.
Don't talk. tell you. I heard It
click-I missed 1t again" turning the
combination slowly-"but felt It
that t!me-I felt the dog lift"-valen,
Tine was Intensely excited "Kad. there
It IL! Hurry with match!'
Red. well acquainted with the du-
ties required of him. by reason Of
the thorough education he had rece:v-
ed from Valentine in the past, had
been waiting sxpectantly with a
match ready for the striking. At tho
word he illuminated the combinations
dial with tiny flame.
"what 10 itr' cried Valentine.
The other stretched himself upward
and peered at the numbers on the
metal saucer
ut points to twenty-oney' he ex.
claimed.
Valentine again drew away from the
vault.
''sandpaperr' be cried. Red handed
him another sheet. He rubbed his
fingers softly across II. Hisraw. bleed
ing nesh could not stand more than
the slightest contact with the rasping
surface. "I'll feel every jar clean to
my eyeballs now" be added. He turn
ed the dial back and then forward and
then four complete reverse revolu-
lions. That's the way to get them.
Red"-two more forward revolutions
''bare bleeding nerves. half turn
back-''raw. throbbing nerves-a tooth.
ache in every anner end-eh. Red
there-matchv'
After q moment:
'Fifty-twol"
'How many bolts did this door
haveT asked Valentine. did you
noticeT' He went on turning the dial.
Twelve"
'.rhousht Co." 1ubilantly. "can you
hear her any more. RedT'
: Reds ear was pressed against the
crack Of tho vault door.
mo. And God knows. I don't want
to. Honest. Jimmy. ! don't believe
r.
"oh. yea, you do. 80 long 40 she
calls We know she's alive"-turning
the dial slowly 'back-'here we are
again. If this Is eleven know this
old rotat1on-matchy'
"Elsvsn!" shrisked Red 5oyously
after . moment Of rscking. suspense.
i've got It'll I've got itg' cried Val
entins. IL this 10 1t, Red"-reverslns
the dial 'again-"shs's ours in another
minute. Matchr'
Red struck another match.
'Tenr he cried.
A half turn OF the dial forward
Valentines sharp ear detected the
sound az though another bolt had
drawn back. Here we are again!
Natchr'
'.Forty.two." exclaimed Red.
That's it-forty-two-that's what 1t
should b. Do you hear Kitty nowT'
.No. Good God. Jimmy. suppose.
after al. shes dead3"
Two more turns Of the dial.
Keep your nerve. old pal-there-
mach -
IL George Doyle, standing In the
doorway. the scene was one of grip
ping interest. The consummate. al.
most Gncanny. skin OF Jimmy valen-
tine Wa something 70 cause In the de-
tective. exberienced even as he was
with resourceful and intelligent
craftsmen. thrill Of genuine admira.
tion, No wonder Valentine had proved
the despair Of the safe makers. the