The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-04-07
CHAPTER XVII.
Copyright. 1910. BY American Press
Association

IA shook bis 0eaQ anSrlly anu
! drew back step from the
"Red, got a handkerchief be snap
ped.
"Yes"
"Well. get moving. Come on-blind-
fold me so that l 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
tfly 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.
On you. be quiet! II you say
another word I'll knock your head of
my hands are like leather"
He again sandpapered his fingers.
| "You're bleeding" exclaimed Red.
"What Of ity' returning to his task.
Don't talk. tell you. heard 1t
click-I missed it again" turning the
combination slowly-"but felt 1t
that time-I felt the dog nft"-Valen-
tine was intensely excited Red. there
it is! Hurry with II 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 a
match ready for the striking. At the
word be 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 one" he ex-
claimed
Valentine again drew away from the
vault
''Sandpaperr' he cried. Red handed
him another sheet He rubbed his
| fingers softly across 1t. His IA ". 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. half turn
back-'raw. throbbing nerves-a tooth
ache In every 6nfier end-eh. Red
there-match"
After a moment:
"Fifty-twov'
"How many bolts did this door
haveY' asked Valentine. did you
noticeY' He went on 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. ! don't believe
r.
"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-match!'
"Elevenw shrieked Red joyously
after a moment of racking suspense.
i've got it! I've got it," cried VAL
the dial again-"she's ours in another
minute. Match!'
Red struck another match.
"Tenv' 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 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 ueTFcs Olu pdl-tuciC-
match
To George Doyle. standing in the
doorway. the scene was one of grip
ping interest. The conSummate, al
most uncanny, skill Of Jimmy Valen-
tine was something to cause in the de-
tective, experienced even as he was
with resourceful and intelligent
cracksmen. a 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 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 sitting clutches
of the steel vault he became aware of
sudden though very slight change