Gilpin observer., 1916-12-28

latter In their pursuit of the major
portion of the gang, and drew them to
trap-door opening onto a fiat roof,
means Of escape which he had often
used In his unregenerate days.
1t was not to be denied that some
thing of the fearful Joy which attaches
itself to daring crime pulsed once
more in Reilly's veins as he fled with
the hounds Of the law yelping on his
heels. He followed familiar path.
At the end of sloping roof he knew
he would find a raised balustrade
which would check an otherwise inevi-
table descent into the street beneath.
From the fiat top Of the cornice 1t was
possible to spring across an alley to
the roof of the nearest house. and
thence climb, catlike, among forest
of chimneys to n well-remembered fire.
escape.
Reilly was slightly out of condition,
but his nerve was steady as ever, and
he took that spectacular leap through
midair with all his old confidence.
He hung back purposely until the
hand of the nearest policeman was
actually outstretched to clutch him.
He counted altogether on the fact that
the men would balk at that unnervng
jump, because, such is the force of i'm
agination, the average individual will
falter ut spring high up above the
ground which would not demand any
display of courage or resolution If TAX
en- on terra firma.
| In one respect, however, Reillys cal
culationS erred. He had not realized
how thoroughly the patrolman called
on by the valet had organized his
forces to surround the building Not
only We're policemen in overwhelming
numbers stationed ut every exit from
the Hell-cats' headquarters, but We
dettes occupied strategic points on ev.
cry possible line of retreat. So Reil-
| ley's daring leap was noted, and the
pursuit was developed by others who
had not been called on to negotiate
that ugly-looking chasm.
The fugitive contrived to get down
his favorite fire-escape only to find the
pack in full cry behind him. He ran,
the policemen ran, gathering mob
trailed in behind, and so a veritable
mob swarmed around the Settlement
when Reilly dashed through its hos
pitable portal.
1t was now hopelessly out of the
question that he should stop and ex-
plain. He must carry through the pre-
tense to the bitter end, because n hun
dred pairs of eyes would eagerly de-
YOUR every phase of the capture when
he was grabbed by the police, and
hundred tongues retail the astounding
fact that this master criminal had
gone off on the best of terms with the
"cops."
OF course, he was able to gain a
slight respite by reason of his knowl-
edge of the familiar but intricate turns
In the Settlement building. Thus, he
dashed into the office used by Miss
Grace Coe few seconds in advance
of the hue and cry.
The girl looked up with an air of
surprise, since her trusted assistant
was not in the habit of entering so
unceremoniOusly.
he painted brokenly. 'I'll make every
thing clear in minute or two. Hide
me from the police! Tell them I'm
not here. It's all right, miss; it is,
really"
He could say no more. The girl had
to decide in an instant, but she placed
implicit trust in the man, and babe
him enter a closet in which she usual
ly kept a macintosh and some spare
| ri n Of hn
A policeman dashed in and asked
her If she had seen a man whom he
described hurriedly, and who obvious
ly could be none other than Reilly.
"No," she said, on the spur Of the
moment. "He Is not here"
The policeman, however, was Il
logged person, and not to be put Off
his purpose by any woman's wiles.
'T'm afraid I'll have to search,
quick glance around the room, tore
open the closet door.
Reilly's subterfuge was now at an
end. He must either fight or yield.
He might have endeavored to trip the
policeman, and seek new refuge,
when any chance of success in this re-
spect was completely spoiled by the
appearance of other officers.
Grace, however, interviewed. She
placed her hand on the pOlicemans
arm and said earnestly:
81 am sure this man has done moth
Ing wrong. He Is one of my most
loyal helpers"
"Can't help that, miss" said the po-
liceman gruflly. 1--WE caught him on
the job. II he's honest why did he
run?"
The argument was unanswerable.
Reilly was handcuffed forthwith, and
would have been led away in durance
vile had not Burton come in with the
| valet. OF course, John recognized i'm