The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-07-25
ny *
IN ON GROUND FLOOR
BY WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE

nhdlng It impossible to keep an eye on
everybody all the time, had come to
the conclusion that Britches Bellman
belonged to the latter class. In their
hearts they knew that Britches was up
TO many things; but when they came
TO slit even one of these things to the
bottom invariably they found them
selves woefully weak when It came to
evidence.
Evidence snorted Britches; 81
amt got no use for it. l don't want
none of 1t around me. To with
evidence"
Now, Britches Bellman, being q citi-
zen of the underworld, had come to the
conclusion that for a part of the time,
at least, such 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
"Gee!" said Britches Bellman,
knocking himself on the side of the
head, Get down in that hole, just
where you belong"
Now, If Britches hadn't been an ex-
traordinary kind Of man, he never
could have pulled off 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 a
strong-armer. In high hat and a
frock coat he was superb; In a bust
ness suit he was all matter Of fact; In
a SLOUGH hat he could scare the wits
out Of a belated rich old party by just
looking at him.
One day genteel-looking parsonage
called at the office of the subway con-
tractors and announced that the Coun-
ty National bank (Which, by the way,
was backed by the Democratic boss)
had concluded to strengthen its under
pinning just bit. He produced a let
ter apparently on the letter head OF
the bank, signed apparently by It's
president He was courteously re-
ceived, as, OF course, any representa-
tive Of the boss bank would have to
be, and he left bearing with him the
written direction OF the contractor to
the section foreman to permit the
workmen Of the County bank to make
any necessary excavation In the sub
way. This genteel-looking parsonage,
It cannot be denied, looked extremely
like Mr.. Britches Bellman. A day
later rough, honest-looking workman,
wearing a union button and dressed In
toil-stained overalls, handed the letter
to the section foreman, together with
another letter from the bank, stated
casually that he and Sam Parks had
known each other all their respective
lives, borrowed a chew Of tobacco, and
started in to work.
The work he was about to do he had
all planned out on a sheet Of rough
drafting paper 1t was to cut a square
hole four by four from the subway In
to the foundation of the bank.
THE bank" he said to the foreman
amt so much afraid of going as IL
Is of fallin' down. It's pins is weak
or somethin'."
In five hours the genial Mr.. Bellman
had made himself the most popular
man in the ditch. He talked to every
body, sympathized 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 was
making with a pile Of dirt.
Some fellow" he explained to the
foreman, might take a notion to fin
ish up my Job some night and go clean
through the bank, outside and in
The foreman expectorated.
Gee" said the foreman, that's 30
| never thought OF It," He scratched
his head and grinned.
Il s'pose," he added, that | might
take a hack at It myself some night
What dye Think"
Britches Bellman, honest workman
shook his head. II you talk that
way" he said, smiling, I'll have to sci
a plain-clothes man on top OF you.
got to take care of that there bank
and no mistake" He caught the other
by the arm Say" went on Britches
Bellman, its a blamed good thing you
chaps down here are honest If you
weren't-say, think of the whole lot OF
banks here on Broadway-you could
tap the whole lot, almost, and nobody
wouldn't know the difference, not un.
til" he added, mot until they found
out"
And when they found out?" sug-
gested the foreman.
"There'd be a hot time" returned
Britches. He scratched his head again
Now, look-a-here," he went on, that
raises a very nice, delicate, important
question in my mind. 1t seems to me
that III have to get the bank to put a
night Waterman down here to set in
front Of that there hole. 1t won't dc
N have any twoIegged rats a-burrow.
IN, there when I'm away. naturally