Gunnison news-champion., 1916-06-09
they max. such ding. for Ii. proass4

In half an hour Jimmy went down.
stairs and through the cafe. He was
now dressed In tasteful ard well IT.
ting clothes and carried his busted and
Cleaned suit case In his hand.
Got anything ou:" asked Nike Do
Ian genial!y.
~Me:" said Jimmy. In = puzzled tone.
Il don't understand. Tm repr z,enttng
the New York Amalgamated Short
Snap Biscuit Cracker and FrxxIed
Wheat company
This statement delighted Nike to
such an extent that Jimmy had to take
seltxer and milk on the spot. He new
er touched hard drinks
A week after the release Of valen-
tine. 9162, there was 4 neat job Of
safe burglary done In Richmond, Ind.
with no clcw to the author. A scant
$500 was all that was secured. Two
weeks after that patented. improved,
burglar proof safe in Lognnsport was
opened like q cheese to the tune Of
1880 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
5000. 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:
That's Dandy Jim Valentines auto
graph. He's resumed business. Look
Mt that combination knob-jerked out
as easy us pulling up radish In wet
weather. He's got the only clamps
that can do 1t. And look how clean
those tumblers were punched out!
Jimmy never has to drill but one hole.
Yes. guess ! 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 confedernies and
taste for good society-these ways
had helped Mr.. Valentine to become
noted us a successful dodger OF retri-
button. II was given ont 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 and
his suit case climbed out Of the mail
hack In Elmore. a little town five miles
on 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
door over which was the sign '.The
Elmore Bank" Jimmy Valentine look.
led into her eyes. forgot what he was
and became another man. She lower
Ted her eyes and coiored slightly
Young men Of Jimmy's style and looks
were scarce In Elm0re.
Jimmy collared boy that was loaf.
ing ON the steps Of the bank us II be
were one Of the stockholders and began
to ask him questions about the town.
feeding him dimes at intervals. By
and by the young lady came out. look.
ing royalty unconscious Of the young
man with the suit case and went her
way.
isn't that young lady Miss Polly
Simpson," asked Jimmy. with specious
guile.
Nav" said the boy; 'she's AnnabeI
Adams. Her pa owns this bank
Whatd you come to Elmore for7 Il
that gold watch chain? I'm going
to get q bulldog. Got. any more
dimes?"
Jimmy went to the Planters hotel
registered as Ralph d. Spencer and en-
gagged room. He leaned on the desh
and declared his platform to the clerk
He said he had come to Whore to look
for location to go into business. How
was the shoe business now In the
town. He had thought Of the shoe
business. Was there an opening?
The clerk was impressed with the
clothes and manner Of Jimmy. He
himself was something Of 4 pattern Of
fashion to the thinly gilded youth Of
Elmore. but he now perceived his
shortcomings. While trying to figure
out Jimmy's manner Of tying his four.
in-hand he cordially gave information
Yes. there ought to be good open
Ing in the shoe line. There wasn't an
exclusive shoe store in the place. The
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them. Business in all lines was fairly
good. Hoped Mr.. Spencer would de-
eide to locate In Elmore. He would
dnd It a pleasant town to live In and
the people very s0ciable.
Mr.. Spencer thought be would stop
over In the town . few days and iool,
over the situntion. No. the clerk
needn't call the boy. he would carry
up his suit case himself. II was rather
heavy.
Mr.. Ralph Spencer. the phoenix that
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