The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-11-10
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IN on GROUND FLOOR
BY WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE

The underworld in New York is di.
vided into two great classes. First
those who get caught; second, those
who don't. The police department
finding II impossible to keep an eye on
everybody all the time, had come to
the conclusion that Britches Bellman
belonged 10 the latter class. In their
hearts they knew that Britches was up
to many things; but when they came
10 s1ft even one Of these things to the
bottom Invariably they found them.
selves woefuliy weak when It came to
evidence
Evidence" snorted Britches; q
amt got no use for it. l don't want
none of 1t around me- To - with
evidence"
Now. Brftches Bellman, being citi
ZEN Of the underworld. had come to the
conclusion that for part Of the time.
Ut least. such a citizen ought to reside
underneath the ground. He got this
idea one day when he was passing the
County National bank. In front OF the
County National bank was ditch
This ditch is called the subway.
Geei" said Britches Bellman,
knocking himself on the side Of the
head, Get down In that hole, Jus.
where you belong"
Now. II Britches hadn't been an ex'
traordinary kind of a man, he never
could have pulled of the little scheme
that filled his head. But he was any
thing and everything, from an AL con
man down to the lowest kind Of q
strong-armer. In high hat and q
frock coat he was superb; in bust
ness suit he was all matter of fact; In
SLOUGH hat he could scare the wits
out Of befated rich old party by Just
looking at him.
One day genteel-looking parsonage
called at the offlce OF the subway CON
tractors and announced that the Coun
" National bank (which. by the way
was backed By the Democratic boss)
had concluded to strengthen It's under
pinning just bit He produced let
ter apparently on the letter head OF
the bank. signed apparently by its
president. He was courteously re
ceived. as, Of course, any representa-
live Of the boss bank would have tc
be, and he left bearing with him the
written direction OF the contractor tc
the section foreman to permit the
workmen Of the County bank to make
any necessary excavation In the sub
way. This genteei-looking parsonage
1t cannot be denied. looked extremely
like Mr. Britches Bellman. A day
later q rough. honest-looking workman
wearing a union button and dressed II
toil-stained overalle. handed the letter
to the section foreman. together with
another letter from the bank, stated
casually that be and Sam Parks hat
known each other all their respective
lives. borrowed q chew of tobacco, ant
started in to work.
The work he was about to do he hat
all planned out on sheet Of rough
drafting paper. II was TO cut square
hole four by four from the subway II
to the foundation Of the bank.
The bank" he said to the foreman
amt 30 much afraid Of going as 4
Is Of fallin' down. Its pins Il weak
or somethtn'."
In Ave hours the genial Mr.. Beilma1
had made himself the most popular
man In the ditch He talked to every
body. sympsthiEed with everybody
jollied everybody.
He was a good workman and he un
derstood his business. But he In
sisted upon one thing. Every night
when he left his job. he carefully GOV
cred up the mouth of the hole he wa,
making with pile of dirt.
Some fellow" he explained to tn,
foreman, might take a notion to FIN
ish up my Job some night and go oleal
through the bank, outside and in
The foreman expectorated.
-Hee!" said the foreman, that's 90
I(never thought of it." He scratche,
hisN head and grinned.
1T s'pose," he added, that / nigh
takeIa hack at 1t myself some night
What dye thinkf"
Britches Bellman, honest workman
shook his head. IT you talk tina
way" he said. smiling. "T1l have to Sc
a pIain-clothes man on top Of you.
got to take care of that there bank
and no mistake" He caught the othe
by the arm. Say" went on Britche
Bellman, tits blamed good thing 20,
chaps down here are honest. II yol
weren't-say, think of the whole lot o
banks here on Broadway-you coult
tap the whole lot. almost, and nobod,
wouldn't know the difference, not un
TIL" he added. mot until they fount
out"
And when they found out?" sug
gested the foreman.
"There'd be a hot time" returned
Britches. He scratched his head again
Nov, look-a-here," he went on, "tha
raises a very nice. delicate, importan
question IN my mind. 1t seems to m,
that I'll have to get the bank to put ,
nieAf Waterman down here to set /,
frontN Of that there hole. It won't d,
to have any two-legged rats a-burrow
in there when I'm away. l NATURAL,
eotter keep the bank protected, be
cause-bec. Nuse." he added. softly, I,
himself aI'.x like to know If som,
chap got in ahead of me-"
It so happen ed. therefore. that b,
permission of the section foreman
burly night waite Nnan came on al
hour after Britches left This nigh
Waterman had a bus W beard. Other
wise he had the same proportions o
Mr.. Britchss Bellman. In courRss
the night Waterman ASSUMED Mpselt
"the union wouldn't stsnS for n
woxhin day and night. soy gotte
plaster on the makeup. And 4 gotte
watch that hole to see she don't &c
away from me. For whsen holeN get
away from a especially hol'
like this one-it amt no.easy Job VI
get another"
Mr.. Bellman had workedtonly few
days and few nights when, he strucl
something with his spade THAT gave
him Joy.
IF this amt vein of gold-bearint
ore." said Mr.. Britches. I'll wagel
IT'S the underground part Of the Coun
y banks underpinnings; and u til
that. why then It Is a vein of gold"
He was right 1t was portion o
the banks cellar wall. He hastily Gov
cred It up. hung around until thu
whistle blew, then he left and. return
ing later In the evening, brought Will
him a newfset of sharp tools.
It'll get this Job finished by morn
ing" said this night Waterman. 20
I'm Dutchman."
He removed a layer of tar coating
then layer Of cement. Then he strucl
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