The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-05-06

band drifted to the lower
REGIONS Of the house. His
. fingers wound tightly about
o. the lone ifty-dollar bill. In
forty -eight hours Captain Velvet had
cost them. II seemed. three thousand
nine hundred and fifty dollars! Pol
lard rejecting that he had not even
been able successfully to borrow hush
money from tho victim. stilled q
little moan a. he stepped out Of the
elevator and looked about for signs Of
the Snake.
Happily, the sound Of their remark
able motor greeted him. coming from
the side street. He hurried to the de-
serted ladies' entrance OF the place
and confronted the junior member
and his heart bounded 80 violently
that It came near to choking him.
Capable. persistent to the death. she
inimitable Snake had gone forth and
returned with the duplicate OF Captain
Velvet's bag.
Sheer emotion precluded speech as
they bent over the wonder in the cor
ridor. Curve for curve. line for line
handle. lock and all-they were
alike.
Pollard strove to control his voice.
SNAKE" no said chokingly, you're
q good kid. You're the best ever
knew. 90 out and buy ninety-five
pounds Of monkey wrenches!"
"Huhr
Have you the price?"
There's twelve dollars OF my own
left" the Snake confessed.
Make 1t Hatirons. Snake" tho
guiding mind corrected. "Ninety-five
pounds Of cheap fatirons. Bring them
In here. I'll walt In the little parlor."
"Ail right"
And get thousand brass washers
20 drop In the bottom and make the
rattle" added Pollard. as he took
chair in the corner and wiped tho
food Of nervous perspiration from his
brow.
Hardware stores evidently were few
and far between In that neighbour
hood. Another grim half-hour Pol
lard waited before the Gathering
motor trickled musical sound into
bis ear.
Staggering. the Snake penetrated
the little side entrance and laid his
burden on the tapestried chairs: and
Robert Pollard thrilled.
II think I'll let YOU switch 'em.
Snake" he said.
The junior member scratched his
head.
Hes a fox. Robby. Can you get
him out Of the room without his
bag?"
Pollard smiled serenely.
II can do better" he said. I'm
going to stick him out the window
while you're doing II. There's an
engine house on the next block east,
Snake. Go west and turn In An
alarm, and get back here, quick"
He laughed in sympathy with the
Snakes bright peal OF II erriment. He
patted the Snake on the back and
watched him fit away again to vio-
late another city ordinance. And
then. minute after minute, he waited
for the first Clang Of the bell, the
first screeching siren-and, waiting
thus. no was astoundcd by Ryan's
heavy:
"Well. whatter you know about the
bag? Whatter you know about tho
bag? Who got it?"
He started at the sight Of the
Snake. who appeared to shoot IN
from nowhere in particular
81 rung in" ne stated.
Upstairs" said Pollard. and raised
the grip.
lie went on a run. too. and they
followed. Just outside the door they
listened. The Snake took the massive
copy OF Capt. Velvct's precious valiss
and stood tense. Pollard. the door
OF their own room opened just
crack. waited through ages.
Until suddenly bells began to clat-
ter and whistles to thrill in the neigh
borhood. They were coming nearer
every second. too. and Pollard turned
with deadly calm to the Snake.
switch 'em when he's out tho
window and I begin to point, Go
straight out when you get II. Take
tho car one block north on the ave- ,
nue.. I'll be with you in two min ,
utes." A siren shrieked fearfully. :
"Now!" said the owner ~ tho master ,
mind. triumphantly
And he dashed into their beautiful Z
suite and into the corridor. shouting: I
Captain Oh. Captain Velvet! Do I
you see the fire? Don't you hear the ,
engine? Open the window. Captain, n
and we'll''-- d
And, having dashed straight into
the middle OF Capt. Velvet's apart n
n ent. he stopped short. G
The wide felt hat was missing from s
The open closet: so was the massive
black grip: so even was tho person OF I