The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-07-25

workin' day and night. SO l gotter
plaster on the makeup. And l gotter
watch that hole to see she don't get
away from me. For when a hole gets
away from an-especially hole
like this one-it amt no easy Job to
get another"
Mr.. Bellman had worked only few
days and few nights when he struck
something with his spade that gave
him Joy.
If this amt vein OF gold bearing
ore.' said Mr.. Britches. III wager
It's the underground part of the Coun-
ty banks underpinnings; and If it's
that, why then it is vein of gold"
He was right. 1t was a portion of
the banks cellar wall. He hastily COW
cred 1t up, hung around until the
whistle blew, then he left and, return
ing later in the evening. brought with
him new set of sharp tools.
I'll get this job finished by morn
Ing" said this night Waterman, "or
I'm Dutchman."
He removed a layer of tar coating;
then layer of cement. Then he struck
the bricks.
Now" he said to himself, III she
amt more than three feet thick I'll
have her through in no time That's
what"
But that wall was blank wall, and
1t had been laid many, many years
before, when there were no trade
unions and no employers associations,
and when cement and bricks were ce-
ment and bricks When the first gray
streaks Of dawn had appeared in the
sky above the subway Britches had
not finished. Rut he judged from the
sound that there was but one layer Of
bricks still to be removed
Tomorrow night" said Britches to
himself, tonight, | mean, why-the
trickll be turned to T. And no mis-
take"
He took a day of and rested up. He
was made of flesh and blood and he
was tired. But that night he started
In, refreshed In mind and body. A
! deep peace was upon him, for he knew
that in twenty minutes he would be
inside the bank. And there was no
man In the whole world who under
stood the inside Of bank as we'll as
Rritches Bellman.
One by one he loosed the bricks; he
was right; il was the last layer Little
by little the hole widened He stuck
his head inside II was dark as pitch.
He was prepared for this; prepared
with dark-lantern.
Now" he finally explained, huge
Joy possessing him. now, here am. >
The hole was just wide enough to
admit his body. and he pulled himself
carefully through and dropped down to
the inside floor.
"Ho, ho!" exclaimed Mr.. Brltches
Bellman, softly, this Is nuts, for fair. >
He didn't want to show light So
he CROPPED his way carefully about
across what seemed to be little
room II was. as he supposed, q coal
cellar. He crossed 1t, and the boiler
room; picked lock and entered still
another room. In this room he walked
into wall and stepped back suddenly
AS he did 80 his heel trod upon some
thing soft. Suddenly the room was
flooded with bright white light
Britches gasped and looked behind
him.
You stepped on my corn" growled
voice In his ear 1t was the voice
OF a very big man. This big mar
placed his hand upon Mr.. Bellman's
shoulder Then Bellman looked II
front OF him. Two other men were
looking on, smoking cigars They
wore blue uniforms and brass buttons
They smiled on Britches Bellman.
Is this the gentleman" said one
archly. who has no use for evidence?'
Eollman gasred a~ain The bank,
said another. has been a-watchin you
! for two days; they wanted to stop you
but we wanted you to go on, until yot
finished the the Job
Gee" gasped Bellman. holding ou
his wrists, Il finished 1t, all right.
Copyright, by Daily Story, Pub. Coz