Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-28
The Daily
Short Story
THE PRECIOUS PARCEL.
By Walter Joseph Delansv

1T represents the best roundun a. =.
department for 10 years. See ana
the keen-eyed, pleasant faced ,,:,..a
tipped over half dozen bundlss -
greenbacks and then rolled them m - =.
three manila paper covering. -
placed the package in front ~ ,su
pretty stenographer employed bv ~ -.
Merchants bank OF Woodvil]e.
What am l to do with it. please,
she inquired.
Just lock 1t up somewhere ma
will call for it in day or two, Th..
his voice dropped to a whisper and ~.
janitor. putting the place in ordsr
failed to catch the import Of the AMI.
dued tones.
The detective smiled, and Mali.
smiled, too. She nodded her head n.
diligently and arose and placed n.
package in a drawer and locked IL
Il will have the cashier place n !,
the safety vault in the morning" n.
said, but her visitor did not seem n
the least anxious about 4 packsss
which, Judging from the contents. ren.
resented large surface value.
1t was after banking hours, but Nal.
lie had some pressing work that Womb
keep her late at her desk. Mr.. Cresory
Vaile and his son, Clinton. had gone n
a bankers convention at the county
seat and would not return until later
Young Mr. Vale told me that vas
to bring you a hot supper from the
hotel when l come on watch duty A
9 O'clock the janitor said.
"Mr. Vale is very thoughtful" mur.
INJURED the young lady.
"And he will call when the /,
o'clock train comes in to see you home
safely, he told me-"
Nellie fluttered and flushed. She
more than liked Clinton Vale. 1t was
a strange circumstance, her present
environment. Gregory vaile, after op-
Grating his old established bank on
hundrum basis for quarter Of cen
fury, had decided to put in plate glass
and marble counters and electric
lights. Of course an up-to-date stem
ographer and typist must follow.
Nellie Lane had been hired from the
city and jewel Of industry she
proved. At the very first Clinton
Yale had fallen in love with her. Now
Clinton feared and Nellie suspected
that the precise and cold-blooded
father would replace her with sue
cessor to break up their budding love
romance.
Not that Mr.. Vale did not value Mel
lie at her true worth. but she was
poor, and his son could take his pick
among choice bevy Of heiresses, and
money was the god Of the old banker.
The janitor pulled down the shades
and left the bank. He was to return
in four hours. Nellie got out great
pile of papers and began to work. She
was fully engrossed in her task, an
hour later, when she started. paled and
stared with a thrill at three men.
Don't scream or stir, or get hys-
terics, little one" spoke their leader
smoothly We're here to do job and
all you've got to do is to keep quiet
She's your special care, Jim" and
TRANQUILITY one of his pals slouched
into seat opposite Nellie, revolver in
hand.
I'VE have three safe hours re-
sumed the leader. Get out the tolls.
OF course the stuff is in the vault. Rig
up the oxyacetylene torch and we'll
burn out the locks"
Nellie was helpless to defy or battle
the cracksmen, but. she thought hard.
She knew that aside from the regular
funds. the bank carried all the ash
tax collections of the district, amount
ing to half million dollars.
What's pleasing you?" projected
the main burglar, as Nellie INDUCED In
a gleesome chirp of a laugh.
Il was thinking you'll waste your
time" replied Nellie coolly. There
are two more doors to get through
and a double safe Toto"
"Crack?" grinned the burglar.
"Yes," nodded Nellie. Besides, you
will spoil the beautiful locks and you
look wicked enough to carry on lot
of stuff belonging to clients and all
that. There's money enough lying
loose outside here to satisfy any rea-
robber."
You're an original one!" chuckled
the admiring craftsman. Il suppose
you'll show US where this aforesaid
money is?"
Il will" assured Nellie, promptly
''if you promise to go away and mol
try to get into that vault
And how much loose change DO you
let us gather up?" propounded inc
fellow satiricaily.
"Oh, about two hundred thousand
dollars. There's a key. Open tna.
drawer over Wonder and be sausneo
with what you find"
The leader took one look 1t w.
package the secret service man ma
left with Nellie.
Fellows. here's a royal fortune.
he shouted deliriously TO his confrete
Little girl, you're a jewel ana eis
with his followers ana ,ns
fortune" in question. And Neuss
with placid smile resumed her WIZ
She wondered how soon the ioos..
would discover that the money ID w
package was counterfeit, just loanu
with a gang the secret service "s'
had broken up. ..u
Nellie called up the police ana to's
her story. She had saved the osaA
heavy loss, that was sure. and 0resN
Vale forgave her for being -
which fact his bright-minded son ~
of by asking Nellie 70
come his wife.
.,a.. -. n,,orort Saturday by Cor