Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-07

peared round the corner simultaneously
with rattle of the lock OF the bank
door. Williams feNed. crouched. An
ugly revolver glinted in his right hand.
AS the unsuspect!ng Waterman
leisurely opened tho door. Williams
sprang up close behind him, ramming
4 the gun into the small of his back. The
man did not speak. did not leap aside,
though the safe-hreaker could feel a
tremor running through his entire body.
straight ahead" he grated. Don't
turn or I'll-''
No need 10 finish the threat. The
Waterman marched slowly forward.
down the long aisle. turning to the
right into 4 small banking room i'm
mediately off the cages.
For a moment the two men stood
there, silently rigid. They might have
posed for pieces OF statuary. SO silent
they were. But their faces told The
strain of every muscle, every nerve
sinew strained 70 The utmost-and be-
yond.
Like little white birds the gamblers
fingers fUttered. touch here. the
,S,ightest breath of turn there, while
always his check pressed lightly as
moth wing against the steel. his ears
atluned 70 catch the sli Shtcst sound Of
falling tumblers.
Now and then he paused TO pare the
tips OF his fingers with n razor blade.
that their constituencies might he ac-
teitudteu. n long WhlStIlne sound
came from his chest as he straiGhtencd.
thin smile upon his lips. \ ticking
sound had told him his work was half
finished.
Then, without z,-aiEh,sninr his
bowed back NJ lea7=6 aside his arms
instinCtiYe.y rising . shield his face,
his demon!acaNy tw:rcn!nE face a. he
slared a the man VINO had int-rrup.,.d
him in his wcra, the president of the
bank standing rightly before him. too
surprised FOR u,terance
Darius BroNu, Jaws, which had
been loosely opened, CLICKED shut. Tn.
sound was audible. Williams had not
before neen aware tina, the same terror
which had hurled him back before tha
man mad put the automatic into his
hand As he realized II, he uudgad
the wee Jon forward. /, bl, out Of the
pit Of his stomach. threateuingly
Came To" CLINT ~. Darius Browns
nickel barrel!-d revolver, sUatched from
his overcoat pocket IS he l-aped at
the intruder Williams srasped the
wrist OF me man. irFn5 70 unn"rve the
suddenly Williams '+eI;',he Older man
relaxing. He pressed mis- minute adj
vantage. hurting his knee forward
and up toward the Presidents groin.
An orange squirt Of flame. minrling
with the deep 'hunderous defamation
OF revolver split the silence. He
leapcd aside crouchius toward the
weapon he had dropped Again Darius
a. Brown lifted his revolver, his face
fwitching convuisiyely. Then he
whirled upon his heel, light as bal
let dancer. There was an EXPRESSION
( Of child-l!ke wonder and paincd sur
prise upon the face he turned toward
the cracksman, rtproa chful look
( that Aimed from mis- cycs Ills knees
slowly crumo!ed under him and he
flung up his right hand. the hand with
the revolver to recover his balance
The motion carried MIN back a star-
3 Eering pace. And Williams covered
against the wall as with mat move
ment iurid fame. followed ny plnmes
S5of acrid. biting smoK", eyhalcd itself
from Che vault door, out into the room
President Darius Brown saggcd
down--down--sa Within himself
like an old. wOru-out accordian.
Gagged to his knees, wher" no wavered
moment. then slumpcd heavily 10 the
tiled floor, his face narteucd there as
Z though he would thus bury it ,orct ~
{ from the sight Of men.
williams approached. HI Was cold
and passionless now There vas nc
( time, but he could not forcco looj<iur
at his work. He touched rno hand
drawing away quickly as riror morris
4 tauteped the tcudouS OF It, COOL. n.
, picked up the package OF sccuritio,
3 which had dropped from, the imam.
q cier's pocket turning them over curt
6 ousIy as though they were tho mos
. important things in the world 20 him
= They fell from his hands As ,he suufr
) mnEs OF the bound wetchman rcacba,
his ears. Snatching tn" bundle q
n money from his own pocket he dronno,
SIT besides the securities then turnc,
z and fed
!, Continued Tomorrow