, 1917-10-18

Adm tneHn. II WAS tne WatCnlnS anu
waiting that played me out. 1t was a
good aim, eh?" and he looked towards
the window, a CLINT Of professional
pride in his eye.
Call the floor officer" directed
Marvel to the cashier. Search him."
he ordered, as a mar in uniform ap-
peared.
Its wasted time" declared Derby
Dan, and SO it proved. Not SO much
as a scrap of paper was disclosed.
Dan blinked and chuckled at Marvel.
"Derelict, no cargo abroad, and I'll
soon sink" he said with a slight laugh.
The officer had taken from his
pocket the one article his clothes con
tained-a watch.
I'll keep that to count the few
hours left me, if you don't mind" said
Dan, but Marvel was giving the time
piece a close inspection. He opened
the cases. l saw him gaze s%earchingly
at the inside of the back case, then at
the outstretched hand of Derby Dan,
and then into Derby Dams eyes. The
hooking smile drifted from the face
of the prisoner.
Have l hit it, DAM" challenged
Marvel, with one movement ripping
the back case from the watch and
handing the denuded timepiece to its
owner
Only you," admitted the prisoner in
a subdued tone. mot that you have
n chance in a thousand OF locating
her"
Think things over, Dan,'' said my
friend, turning to leave the room. You
shall have good nursing. To make it
still better, suppose o help me out
where you CAM"
But Derby Dan shrugged his Ratchet
like shoulders and was dumb. Marvel
spoke an order to the officer respect
ing the disposition of the prisoner.
Then he wen to the teller's cage,
made some memoranda of the informa-
tion received there, and walked brisk
ly towards the broad stairway leading
to the street.
81 suppose you read the oracle?" he
Intercepted, and then as / looked
dubious he produced the one-half of
the watch case. Pasted over it's inner
surface was the photograph of a wo-
Aah ~ "ao tho VI ouSh a
mi as M would expect a man of
Derby Dams character to select
coarse featured, loud eyed, tawdry as
to neck and waist adornment.
Still, a woman; and to Derby Dan
the picture seemed so dear, hat ]
doubted not for her sake he had risked
a shot, to enrich her he had consented
to spend h last poor fragment of his
life behind steel bars.
HE is clear game" announced
Resilius Marvel, land will never
squeal. His hopes. however, must
hinge on a division of the spoil. OF
course it's the woman her pals will
make for sooner or later"
so you must find her"
$50 l shall find her" said Marvel
swiftly. THE raid must have been
timed to a secondhand an inch. Derby
Dan loitered up to that cage. and
knows enough about bank routine to
look over the notations on the pack
ages. Then the red pepper that
missed, a grab, the weighted loot, and
a close calculation that did not miss,
and l dare say a landing directly in
the automobile, where his pals were
ready for the word Co."
My friend had drawn the right pic
ture of an actual happening we found
when we reached the street. The
crossing policeman told of the crash
of glass, a flying object, the whir of
the auto, and a flash to the corner
ahead with a mounted officer in pur-
suit, who lost the trail amid the con-
fusion of too many vehicles, with less
than one-half a mile accomplished.
And then as two of the bank police
men appeared leading Derby Dan be-
tween them, he gave a slight start Of
recognition.
Know him?" inquired Marvel.
Saw him before, that's ALL" was
the response.
"Where?"
Right at this letter box. About
twenty minutes ago. / saw him lean
on it and watch the big clock up in
the Board of Trade. Then he looked
up and down the street. Then he
drew an envelope from his pocket. He
kept his eyes fixed on it for a few
minutes. as If thinking deeply. Then
he lifted the cover of the slot, shot 1t
into the letter box and walked
briskly into the bank"
Marvel whipped about. He was scan
ming the printed schedule for collec-
ton of mail on the front of the box.
He glanced at his watch. His face ex-
pressed satisfaction. l knew 1t be-
tokened that no collection had been
made since Derby Dan had deposited a
letter in the box. Marvel tool a pencil
and a card from his pocket and scrib-
bled a name and a telephone num-
Der.
Phone from the bank" he directed
me. 81 will have to remain here. Tell