Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-03-31

"Red, got handkerchief?' he snap
ped
"Yes."
"Well. get moving. Come on-blind-
fold me 80 that | can't see, so that
every nerve will be centered on hear,
ing the tumblers click-you know-the
old gag"
"Sure thing"
Red scrambled to his feet and has
tily tied 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 III knock your head of
my hands are like leather"
He again sandpanered his fingers.
you're bleeding" exclaimed Red.
What of it?' returning to his task.
Don't talk. tell you. heard 1t
click-I missed 1t again" turning the
combination slowly-"but | felt 1t
that dme-I felt the dog lift"-Valen
tine was intensely excited. RED. there
1t Is. Hurry with a 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 e1pectantly with q
match ready for the striking. At the
word he illuminated the combinations
dial with tiny fame.
What Is itY' cried Valentine.
The other stretched himself upward
and peered at the numbers on the
metal saucer
ut points to twenty -onee' he e1-
claimed.
Valentine again drew away from the
vault
"Sandpaperr' 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'll 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 finfer end-eh. Red
there-match"
After a moment:
"Fifty-twor'
"How many bolts did this door
haveY' asked Valentine. Did you
notices? He went on turning the dial.
Twelve"
Thought So" jubilantly. Can you
hear her any more. Red?'
Reds ear was pressed against the
crack of the vault door.
"No. And God knows l don't want
to. Honest. Jimmy. don't believe
u
"Oh. yes you do. So long as she
calls we know she's alive"-turnins
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.
"Iye got it, I've got it, cried VAL
entine. IF this Is it. Red"-reversins
the dial again-"shes ours In another
minute. Match
Red struck another match.
.'Tenw 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 nowT
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
most uncanny, skill of Jimmy yalen-
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 q dozen states. And lieutenant
governor had pardoned him!
AS Doyle surveyed intently the OPP
erations of Red Flanagan and Jimmy
Valentine in their superhuman effort
to rescue their beloved little playmate.
Kitty Lane. from the sitting clutches
of the steel vault he became aware of.
a sudden though very slight change
In the darkened room. the windows Of
which, opening into a 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 cashiers office had
been partly opened. Next. to his utter
amazement. he saw a plumed hat
thrust forward into the opening. and
then a girlish figure appeared. The
figure halted and turned its face to-
ward the vault where Red Flanagan
o~a TSporou oil rr,ro