Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-03-01
o. HENRY
| Stories
CONTINUED FROM PAGE THREE

In half an hour Jimmy went down
stairs and through the cafe. He was
now dressed in tasteful and we'll fit
ting clothes and carried his busted and
cleaned suit case in his hand.
"Got anything on?" asked Mike Do
Ian genially.
"Me? said Jimmy, in puzzled tone.
IT don't understand. I'm representing
the New york Amalgamated Short
Snap Biscuit Cracker and Frazzled
Wheat company"
This statement delighted Mike to
such an extent that Jimmy had to take
a settler and milk on the spot. He new
er touched hard drinks.
A week after the release of Valen-
tine, 9762, there was a neat job of
safe burglary done in Richmond, Ind,
with no clew to the author. A scant
$500 was all that was secured. Two
weeks after that patented, improved,
burglar proof safe in Logansport was
opened like a cheese to the tune of
$500 currency; securities and silver
untouched. That began to interest the
rogue catchers. Then an old fashioned
bank safe in Jefferson City became
active and threw out Of its crater an
eruption of banknotes amounting to
$1,000. The losses were now high
enough to bring the matter up into
Ben Prices class Of work. By compar-
ing notes a remarkable similarity in
the methods Of the burglaries was no
ticed. Ben Price investigated the
scenes of the robberies and was heard
to remark:
Chats Dandy Jim Valentines auto
graph. He's resumed business. Look
at that combination knob-jerked out
as easy as pulling up a radish in wet
weather. He's got the only clamps
that can do it. And look how clean
those tumblers were punched out!
Jimmy never has to drill but one hole
Yes, l guess l want Mr.. Valentine.
He'll do his bit next time without any
short time or clemency foolishness.''
Ben Price knew Jimmy's habits. He
had learned them while working up
the Springfield case. Long jumps,
quick getaways, no confederates and
a taste for good society-these ways
had helped Mr.. Valentine to become
noted as a successful dodger of retri-
button. 1t was given out that Ben
Price had taken up the trail of the
elusive craftsman, and other people
with burglar proof safes felt more at
ease
One afternoon Jimmy Valentine anG
his suit case climbed out of the mai
hack in Gilmore, little town five mile:
off the railroad down in the blackjack
country Of Arkansas. Jimmy, looking
like an athletic young senior just home
from college, went down the board
sidewalk toward the hotel
A young lady crossed the street
passed him at the corner and entered
a door over which was the sign "Tht
Gilmore Bank" Jimmy Valentine look
ed into her eyes, forgot what he wa.
and became another man. She lower
ed her eyes and colored slightly
Young men of Jimmys style and looks
were scarce in Elmore.
Jimmy cOllared a boy that was loaf
ing on the steps Of the bank as if h.
were one Of the stockholders and began
to ask him questions about the town
feeding him dimes at intervals. B,
ing royalty unconscious of the youn;
man with the suit case and went he
way.
isn't that young lady Miss Poll,
Simpson," asked Jimmy, with speciou
guile.
''Naw," said the boy; "she's Annabe
Adams. Her pa owns this bank
10 T
that a gold watch chain? I'm goin
to get a bulldog. Got any NOR
dimesY
Jimmy went to the Planters hote
registered as Ralph D. Spencer and er
gagged a room. He leaned on the des
and declared his platform to the clerl
He said he had come to Gilmore to loo
for location to go into business. Ho7
was the shoe business now in th
town? He had thought of the she
business. Was there an opening?
The clerk was impressed with tt
clothes and manner of Jimmy. B
himself was something of a pattern
fashion to the thinly gilded youth
Gilmore, but he now perceived b
shortcomings. While trying to figul
out Jimmy's manner Of tying his fou
inland he cordially gave information
Yes, there ought to be a good opel
ing in the shoe line. There wasn't q
exclusive shoe store in the place. TT
dry goods and general stores handle
them Business in all lines was fair
good. Hoped Mr.. Spencer would d
eide to locate in Gilmore. He wou
find it a pleasant town to live in al
the people very sociable.
Mr.. Spencer thought he would ST.
over in the town a few days and lot
over the situation. No, the Gle
needn't call the boy. He would car
up his suit case himself. It was rath
heavy.
Mr.. Ralph Spencer, the phoenix tn