The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-04-08

whatever might happen, and they hal
advised him TO leave the diamonds in
the counter. clear the store and let
the crooks try anything. II they dared.
Just back OF US. and around the COT
ner, as we came In, we had noticed a
Limousine which had driven up. Three
faultlessly attired handles had entered
a doorway down the street, as we
learned afterward. apparently going to
a fashionable tailor's which occupied
the second floor OF the old.fashioned
building. the first floor having been
renovated and made ready for renting
Had We been there q moment sooner
We might have seen, ! suppose. that
one Of them nodded 20 a taxicab driv.
er. who was standing at a public hack
stand a few feet up the block. The
driver nodded unostentatlously back
at the man.
In spite OF the excitement, Kennedy
quietly examined the showcase, which
vas indeed, a veritable reasure store
of brilliants.
Slowly the hands OF the clock came
nearer together at noon.
We all gathered about the showcase.
with it's glittering hoard OF wealth.
forming a circle at a respectable dis.
lance.
In deeplunged tones the clock
played the chords written, | believe,
by Handel. Then II began striking.
Nothing had happened.
We all breathed a sigh OF relief.
We'll, Il Is still there" exclaimed
Martin, pointing at the showcase with
a forced laugh.
Suddenly came a rending and crash.
ing sound. II seemed as II the very
floor on which we stood was giving
way.
The showcase. with all It's priceless
contents. went smashing into the eel.
lar below.
The flooring beneath the case had
been cut through!
All crowded forward. gazing at the
black, yawning cavern.
Down below. three men, covered
with smocks and their faces hidden
by masks. had knocked the props
away from the ceiling OF the cellar.
which they had sawed almost through
at their leisure. aud the showcase had
landed eight or ten feet below. shiy.
cred into n thousand bits.
4 volley Of shots whizzod past us.
and another. While one crook was
hastily stufRng the untold wealth OF
Jewels into a burlap bag tho others
had drawn revolvers and werc firing
MP through the hole In the floor des.
perately.
Look out" cried someone behind
us before we could recover from our
first surprise and return the fire.
One OF the desperadoes had taken a
bomb from under his smock. lighted II
and thrown 1t up through the hole in
the floor.
II sailed up over our heads and land.
ed near orr little group, on the floor,
the fuse suffering ominously.
] heard an exclamation OF fear from
Elaine.
Kennedy had pushed his way past
US and picked up the deadly internal
machine in his bare hands.
watched him. fascinated. AS near
as he dared, he approached the hole II
the floor, still holding the thing OF nj
arms length. Would he never throw
ia
He was coolly holding II. allowing
the fuse 70 hurn down closer TO the
explosion point.
II was now within less than an inch
OF sure death.
Suddenly he raised II and hurled the
deadly thing down through the hole.
We could hear tho imprecatIcns OF
the crooks as II struck the cellar floor,
near them.
Leave the store-quick," rang out
Kennedy's voice.
Down below the crooks we're beat.
ing a hasty retreat through E. secret
entrance which they had effected.
THE bag The bar" we could
hear one OF them below.
THE ~bomb-run!" cried another
voice gruhiy.
The explosion that followed lifted
US fairly on our feet.
As the smoke from the explosion
cleared away, Kennedy could b. seen,
the first TO run forward.
Meanwhile Martins detectives had
rushed down a flight OF back stairs
that led into a coal cellar. With coal
shovels and bars. anything they could
lay hands on, they attacked the door
that opened forward from the coal Gel.
lar INTO the front basement where
the robbers had been.
A moment Kennedy and Bennett
paused on the brink OF .he abyss
which the bomb had made. waiting foy
the smoke to decrease. Then thew
began to climb down cautiourly over
the piled'up ~wreckage.
The explosion had set the basement
anre. but the FIRE had not gained much
headway by the time they reached the
basement. Quickly Kennedy ran 10
the door into the coal cellar and
opened It. ~