The Monte Vista journal., 1915-05-15

,jndow Of the Fourth National
lacA ,bo watchman's signal that
II was we'll within. .o
crouching against the wall OF the
ILL.,. Ito building Fred Williams
pp ss"llv methodically upturned his
al .oi,ar and pulled the hat brim
0s '. the unsuspecting Waterman
, :. opened the door, Williams
~. nm close behind him. ramming
ann into the small of his back.
~ Straight ahead!' he grated. Don't
w ~, need to finish the threat. The
lehman marched slowly forward.
c.re,ully keeping behind the fellow
con after he had bound him to the
ss,r gagged him securely. and tilted
=. h.t brim so low his sight was OBJ
aured Williams heaved a long sigh.
IA then swiftly pocketed the re-
,olyer and stepped through the presi,
on,s office to the black vault. A
s,ond he stood before the monstrous,
MIN barrier. then his delicate hands
"ahod n,t and touched the nickel
ombination knobs.
with that chill kiss all thought dis
nneared. every sense was submerged
tho instinct Of the skilled work
man hack at his job after long abb
ence.
Now and then he paused to pare
no tirs of his fingers with a razor
hlade that their sensitiveness might
% accumulated A long whisding
ound came from his chest as the
Enlightened a thin smile upon his
ms tickling sound had told him
IA work was half finished.
Again he bent to the work. He was
wifi he was certain, he was sure.
and then
Then. without Strengthening his
bowed back. he leaped aside, his arms
nstlnctlvely rising to shield his face,
Is Economically twitching face, as he
klared at the man who had interrupted
i'm In his work. the president Of the
ank standing rigidly before him, too
urprised for utterance.
Darius Browns jaws, which had
een loosely opened, clicked shut. The
ound was audible. Williams had not
efore been aware that the same ter
pr which had hurled him back before
he man had put the automatic into
lis hand.
Came the CLINT Of Darius Browns
|lckel barreled revolver, snatched
rom his overcoat pocket. as he leaped
/ the intruder. Williams grasped the
rrst of the man, trying to- unnerve
be fingers that clutched the gun.
For a moment the two men stood
here. silently rigid.
Suddenly Williams felt the older
nan relaxing. He pressed his minute
dvantage. hurtling his knee forward
md up toward the presidents groin.
IN orange squirt of fame, mingling
9TH the deep, thunderous detonation
a revolver split the silence. He
eaDed aside, croucnlng toward the
eapon he had dropped. Again Darius
rown lifted his revolver, his face
sltching convulsively. His knees
owly crumbled under him and he
ing up his right hand, the hand with
le revolver, to recover his balance
Inc motion carried him back a
'aeserlng pace. And Williams cow
req against the wall as, with that
oSement, lurid flame, followed by
fumes OF acrid. biting smoke, ex-
aled itself from the vault door. out
ptO the room.
resident Darius Brown sagged
'Wh-down-sagged within himself
AZ van an old. worn-out accordion
"lillams approached. He was cold
~ passlonless now. There was no
'lns, put he could not forego looking
his work. He touched the hand,
.a"'hs away quickly as rigor mortis
u'eaed the tendons Of it. Coolly he
.Aeu up the package OF securities
.'.n mad dropped from the finan-
e's pocket, turning them over curl
S'' as though they were the most
pO'"ht things in the world to him.
nN, . 'el from his hands as the
m,nss OF the bound Waterman
n.u his ears. Snatching the bun
VI money from his own pocket he
,u nss 1t !, beside the securities. then
VII.
Fled-thro,,.h