Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-10-08

graph operator, and Dorothy under
stood enough OF the Morse code to car
ry on halting conversation with him.
But would the sound reach that little
prison behind the heavy steel doors2
She would try. She found heavy
steel ruler and sent her question to
Tom In heavy blows.
Tom, are you therer
Presently came back the answer,
Yes"
After that 1t was comparatively easy
to talk TO him.
When she finally put the ruler away
she knew that some one had deliber-
ately locked her lover in the vault,
and she guessed that the guilty man
was Billy Brown, for she had seen
him Sinking away from the building
long after he had apparently departed.
Tom had told her there was nothing
to do save wait-wait until the clock
runs down, and that would not DO UNI
til death had overtnken him. Ho had
tapped the name Of man to whom
she could appeal, a man who would
know just what to do, but unfortunate
ly Dorothy could not correctly inter
pref tho name. Wearied at last, she
sat and sobbed helplessly while tho big
clock on tho wall licked away the
hours.
She telephoned home that sho would
be late In returning, and so she sat
there, feeling vague comfort that she
was near her lover and chatting against
hal q hos I'D ,,a
True. she could rush out into the
building and tell some one of Toms
plight, but 1t might be hours before he
was released II In time. She was on
tho point OF appealing to the police
when suddenly the lights In tho office
died out, and there remained only in-
tense darkness.
Some one was fumbling with the lock
Of the door, 1t turned and opened, ad-
hitting men, who spoke In guarded
whispers. Dorothy crept behind the
tall desk In the corner and watched.
A light suddenly flashed, piercing
white ray that searched the office
carefully. Tho electric torch was then
turned ON the door OF the vault
On the reflected light Dorothy saw
two masked men. One by his form
and clothing appeared strangely IA
millar. 1t was Billy Brownl
The other man was a stranger, who
talked In muflied tones and worked
rapidly with many strange tools.
"a burglarr' thought Dorothy, with
strange Joy filling her breast. "A
burglar who can open the vault viii
release Toni oh. could hug the dear
thlngw
The burglar worked with skilled fin.
gers, while his companion lowered over
him I'm an agony Of suspense.
"You viii DO too late, Shorty" he
kept whispering until Dorothy realized
that Billy Brown had repented Of his
dastardly deed and with the aid OF this
burglar was trying to save Tom Dray.
ton from death.
Her heart glowed with gratitude.
shut up" snapped the exasperated
Shorty at last. what made you lock
him up. you little piker1 Is there any.
thing worth taking in therer
Nothing negotiable" groaned Billy.
Hurry up, Shorty"
"Say another word and I'll throw you
outer the winder." threatened Shorty.
After that the silence was unbrokcn
save for Shorty's heavy breathing and
tho occasional clink OF his delicate
tools There was ono important mo-
ment when lie made Billy turn his back
while he applied certain secret imple
ment.
There WIS a sharp click, Il dull buz-
cling and n heavy Jarrlng noise as the
big door swung open. The two men
gathered up the tools and opened the
outer door. Shorty vanished into the
darkened corridor, and Billy went back
to turn the knob Of the inner door and
mike his own escape. or course he
could not face Tom Drayton, dead or
alive
He turned tho knob and set the inner
door aJar and turned TO flee, but no
stared right into the face Of Dorothy
Quayle, who was holding tho chiefs rc-
yolver in her trembling little hand.
Don't 20 yet, Billy Brown" she
quayercd. "lf you've reDented OF your
sin finish the Job by getting Tom out
and helping him home"
without word Billy Brown flung
wide the door Of the vault and found
Tom leaning faint and almost uncon.
scious against the shelves.
He carried Tom into the directors
room and laid him on tho leather couch
and administered rest0rntiyes.
when Tom opened his eyes he found
Dorothy and Billy bending anxiously
over him.
II did II. Tom." said the repentant
Billy.
But Dorothy's eyes flashed n mes
sage TO Toms, and so Toms hand went
out generously 10 the man who had
tried TO inJuro him.
Forget II, Billy" admonished Tom,
who guessed the bookkeeper's secret
love for the unsuspecting Dorothy.
Help me out OF this and let us close
up the place. n you will call taxi wo
will go and get n bite 10 eat together"
In this way Dorothy Quayle and Tom
DraytOn extended forgiveness 20 the
man who had tried TO ruin their lives.
Over that midnight supper In quiet
restaurant tho three comented pact OF
friendship which was 20 endure long
after Billy Brown had got over his love
for Dorothy and married another girl.
The DnytOns and the Browns keep
the secret Of the events Of that Satur.
day night IN the Consolidated Offices,
and Shorty, the professional safe open
or Huu ufltn faronftau at,h N r,..a a..