The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-11-08
A Tf1.EF'S
RUSE
BY GWENDOLIN L. RICE

, normal state seemed in jail rather than
at liberty. He had served 4 term for
| burglary, was rearrested on another
charge. brought into court, tried and ac-
! ,Iutted for want of evidence. While
waiting for the papers in his case to
! be made out he heard the prosecuting
attorney say TO messenger:
Go to my house and ask my
daughter TO look in a tin box marked
I Schneider & Co. in the vault, get out
a deed she will find there, give it to
you and bring it back to me"
Are you in a hurry. SIR" asked the
messenger.
why do you ask?"
Because I'm to 20 on another errand
that's very important"
VERY we'll You may do that one
first. won't need the deed before
this afternoon
! Pete knew the name Of the prosecut-
ing attorney very well. Indeed. he had
been made familiar with it by the fact
that Mr.. Wilkinson had arranged for
his lodging in prison on divers occa-
sions. Moreover Pete had great per-
ceptive faculties.
AS soon as Pete left the courtroom
he sought drug store and In a few
minutes was turning over the leaves
Of directory hunting for Mr. Wilkin-
sons home address. Upon finding it
he proceeded to that gentIeman's
house. rang the doorbell and called
fox Miss Wilkinson" A young lady
came int the hall and asked Pete
what she could do for him.
Your father sent me for a deed in
a tin box marked Schneider & Co. in
the vault. miss"
oh" said the young lady. II sup
pose he means the silver and jewel
vault ! believe he keeps some law
papers there. I'll go and find them"
Miss Wilkinson tripped upstairs to a
recess in the upper hall and began to
/ turn a knob on vault door with a
view to getting inside. Pete's original
idea was while the young lady was off
! looking for the deed to help himself to
! any article Of value in small bulk he
might see and get away with it. The
mention Of the silver and jewel vault
opened up new possibilities.
Peter was heSitating whether to fol-
low Miss Wilkinson and force his way
into the vault when his heart was glad
dened by hearing her call from the
/ landing above
Il find two deeds in the box Did ia
ther say which one he wanted?"
II think" said Pete. I'D know it if
was to see it."
Come up, please"
/ Pete sprang up the stairs with alac-
] rity. Here was the chance of his life.
! the jewel and silver vault standing
open with no protection except a girl
He might not have to do any open
work at all. His wits were sharp. and
it was quite possible he could make
| pretext to go into the vault and slip
few gems into his pocket without being
detected. He found Miss Wilkinson
standing by table on which was an
open tin box full of papers. She show
ed him two deeds and asked him which
| he thought her father wanted. He ex
amned both very knowingly, when the
! girl. noticing the name on the box, ex.
! claimed
This isn't it at ALL This is marked
| Parker & Treusdale Co III get the
| other one"
Couldn't do it for you. miss?"
u o,I.
there, and | have trouble with my
eyes. There are several boxes on the
shelf. Look for the one marked Schnei-
der & Co and bring il out into the
| light"
Yes, miss. My eyes are first rate"
Quite beside himself with joy at this
unexpected advantage. Pete went to
the vault, entered and instead Of look
Ing for the boxes. cast his eyes about
for the valuableS There was nothing
so far as he could see. but lot of tin
boxes and musty papers. But before
he could quite take in the situation he
heard the door Of the vault shut. the
| knob quickly turned. and he was
prisoner.
MT. Wilkinson. sitting ut his desk in
his office. heard his telephone bell ring
and took mp the receiver.
Papa. did you send a man for a
deed In the vauIt?'
"Yes. Why do you ask?'
Whom did you send?"
Edward Beam"
Edward Beam didn't come But
another man came. and from the mo-
ment ! laid eyes on him | knew he
was hardened criminal"
"Great heavensw
"How did such a man know what
you wanted?"
Il don't know. Tell me what has
happened. Anything stolen? Are you
safe?"
"Oh. It's all right"
Whats become Of the man?"
"He's here"
Here. What do you mean"
i've locked him in the vault"
"ln the vault?"