The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-10-02

You've got q good, cold nerve, any
way" he commented. "Ive been put
tin II up that when the time came.
you'd throw at o. some sort-whatr
Since you're clothed In your right mind.
we'll get down to business. First. III
ask you TO hand over the key to that
safety-deposit box you've got In Mr..
Grierson's bank" 81
Griswold took his bunch OF keys
from his pocket. slipped the one that
was asked for from the ring. and gave
IL to his captor. ssss
"Of course I'm surrendering II under
protest" he said. "You haven't YET
told me who you are. or what you are
holding me up for"
Brofnn waved the formalIties aside
with pistol-pointed gesture. I'VE can
skip all that. I've got you dead to
rights. after so long a time. and I'm
goin' to take you back TO New Or
leans with me. The only question N.
do you go easy or hard"
Il don't 90 either way until you
show your authority"
81 don't need any authority. You're
the parlor anarchist that held up the
president OF the Bayou State Security
bank last spring and made getaway
with a hundred thousand-whatr
All right; you say so-proye it,
Griswold had taken cigar from the
open box on the writing table and Was
calmly lighting 1t. There was nothing
TO be nervous about. I'm waitidg.i
he went on. placidly. when the cigar
was going. III you are an officer. you
probably have a warrant. or a requisi.
ton, or something OF that sort. Show
II up"
Il don't need any papers to tako
YOU" was the barked-out retort. Broc'
fin had more than once found himself
confronting similar dead walls, and no
knew the worth OF a bold play.
"Oh. yes. you do. You accuse me
OF a crime; did you see me commit
the crime7"
"No."
well. somebody did, I suppose.
Bring on your witnesses. II anybody
can identify me as the man you are
after. I'll go with you-without the
reouisition. That's fair. isn't itY'
II know you're the man. and you
know II. too. d---n welli" snapped
Brofiin. angered into bandying words
with his obstinate capture.
That is neither here nor there:
am not Affirming or denying. II Is for
you TO prove your case. IL you can.
And. listen. Mr.. Brofin-perhaps IL
will save your time and mine IL add
that happen to know that you can't
prove your case"
why can't To-
"Just because you can't" Griswold
/ went on argumentatively. 81 know
the facts OF this robbery you speak OF:
| a great many people know them. The
newspaper accounts said at the time
that there were three persons who
! could certainly identify the robber-
the president, the paying teller, and
young woman. II so happens that all
three OF these people are at present in
Wahaska. AT different times you have
appealed to each OF them, and In each
instance you have been turned down.
Isn't that true?"
Brofiin glanced up. scowling.
It's true enough that you--you and
the little black-eyed girl between you
have hoodooed the whole bunchl" he
rasped. But when I get you into
court. you1l find that there are 9TH
ers."
HNata al AT a I4T
That is a bold, bad blum. Mr.. Broffin.
and nobody knows II any better than
you do" he countered. "You haven't
leg 10 stand on. This Is America.
and you can't arrest me without a war
rant And II you could. what would
you do with me without the support
OF at least one OF your three Witnesses
Nothing-nothing at ALL"
Broffin laid the pistol on the table.
and put the key OF the safety box be
side IL. Then he sat In grim silence
for a full minute. toying idly with a
pair OF handouts which he had taken
from his pocket
"By the eternal grapplesl" he said.
at length, half TO himself, i've n good
mind to do II anyway-and take the
chances"
As quick as fash Griswold thrust
out HIS hands.
Put them onl" he snapped There
are n hundred lawyers In New Orleans
who wouldn't ask for anything better
than the chance to defend meat your
expensel"
Brofin dropped the manacles into
his pocket and sat back In the swing
chair. You win." he said shortly;
and the battle was over.
For a little time no word was spo-
ken. Griswold smoked on placidly,
seemingly forgetful of the detective's
presence Yet he was tho one who
was the first to break the strained
silence.
you are a game fighter, Mr. Brof.
fn," he said, and I'm enough OF a