Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-11-09

l'thtL iuc one article MS clothes con-
taiued-a watch.
II keep that to count the few
hours left me If you don't mind" said
Dan, but Marvel was giving the time
piece q close inspection. He opened
the cases. saw him gaze searchingly
az the inside of the back case, then at
the outstretched hand of Derby Dan,
and then into Derby Dams eyes. The
knocking smile drifted from the face
Of the prisoner.
Have | hit it, DAM" challenged
Marvel, with one movement ripping
the back case from the watch and
handing the denuGed timepiece to its
owner.
Only you, admitted the prisoner in
a subdued tone. Not that you have
one 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 you help me out
where you CAM"
DAh bSAOy Ian uS6tO MS iObthCA
like shoulders and was dumb. Marvel
spoke an order to the officer respect
ing the disposition of the prisoner
Then he went to the teller's cage,
made some memoranda of the informa
ton received there, and walked brisk
ly towards the broad stairway leading
TO the street
Il 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
man. 1t was the portrait of such a
woman as one 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. that !
doubted not for her sake he had risked
| a shot, to enrich her he had consented
to spend the last poor fragment of his
life behind steel bars.
He is clear game" announced
Resilius Marvel, and will never
sQueal. His hopes, however, must
hinge on a division of the spoil. or
course it's the woman her pals will
make for sooner or later"
so you must find her"
so | shall find her." said Marvel
swiftly. The raid must have been
| timed to a secondhand an inch Derby
| Dan lnifpraA n that nd
knows enough about bank routine to
look over the notations on the pack
ages. Then the red pepper that
missed, q grab, the weighted loot. and
a close calculation that did not miss,
and ! dare say 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 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 I'D in
the Board of Trade. Then he looked
up and down the street. Then be
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 II
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. knew 1t be
tokened that no collection had been
made since Derby Dan had deposited a
letter in the box. Marvel took a pencil
and a card from his pocket and scrib
bled a name and telephone mum
Der
"Phcr' from the bank" he directed
me. 81 viii have to remain here. Tell
| Leslie TO join me at once"
1t was not fifteen minutes before a
post office inspector arrived. He
opened the box after a few words OF
conversation with Marvel. 1t lacked
twenty minutes of ten o'clock, anc
very few letters were mailed in tho
| business section as early as that in
the morning. Some twelve or four
, teen were all the dropping shelf dis
! played Most of them bore return
/ addresses on the corner, and clearly tC
/ be seen were business documents
One. a plain envelope, bore crude
/ handwriting and the direction:
Nancy Wands,
AZ Markham St,
City"
This is what | am after" declared
Marvel. TO make sure-yes." A. a
nod from the inspector he ripped open
the envelope.
| His rapid eye took in the contents
Of a single sheet covered with pen
/ ciled words. He glanced at me and
/ Joined him. We crossed the street and
repaired TO the office of the United
] p,r, la