American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-06-06
Something of a
Cold Snap
o0
BY GEORGE L. SURREY
tCopyhgtD


Galveston residents. was paying his
operations.
Satisfied, Mr.. Hickman, eh2"-and
Mr.. Smart, the clever engineer, who
had been sent down to superintend
matters by the big eastern firm which
had the contract in hand. came and
stood at the hotel proprietor's elbow.
Looks all right, | guess"
"All right Why, sir, that safes
a stroke OF genius. though ! say 1t.
It's a revelation. III guarantee there's
nothing Nike II In nll the states-noth-
ing to hold a tallow dip to It,"
Mr.. Smart's professional pride ap-
peared hurt at his clients very made
quate commendation.
Say, ! didn't mean anything" Mr..
Hickman fastened TO explain. 81
have no doubt it's a fine safe. Come
an have n drink"
At the bar Mr.. Smart went through
the complete inventory Of the peculiar
beauties and distinctive merits OF the
cold room.
LOOK dl III ne NHfh fiiAlluNiuNli'
ally. Biggest thing OF It's kind I've
ever struck. T~hirteen-inch walls, solid
concrete; patent flooring, damp-proof,
rot-defylng, finest arrangement of cool
ing pipes ever lald-nnd then, the
door"
"Ah, it's a good door," the owner
assented.
$50 good that no one1l ever have an
other like It. you bet. Firm couldn't
do another at the price.
'To tell you the truth, sir, we're
doing this as an advertisement. Seer
All. you were lucky to get our firm to
handle this job. | can tell you. Why,
there's six inches solid Oregon pine
In that door. and the backing and fac
,ng's the best one-an'-three-quarter-inch
chilled steel plate.
"We brought that door over In one
piece. Takes four men to lift II, yet
II swings on It's hinges MS easy az n
clock pendulum. Seen the lock?"
mo. Anything specially"
II should say II IL. That locks my
own invention, and I'll bet there's no
man In creation can pick II, II he
works all night.
Nothing short OF dynamite can
hurt 1t. Automatic, self-fastening, no
trouble to turn, an strong ms n mig
gers love for watermelon. That locks
a daisy, she u.s."
Mr.. Smart turned east with a four
figured check In his pocket, and Jn-
cob Hickman started In to enjoy his
new possession and the envy of all
other hotel keepers In the %nelghbor-
hood.
He came to love that safe-it was
the pride and Joy of his life, Also, II
became the dearest aversion OF his
friends and acqualntances, and OF
everyone who came within earshot OF
him.
No matter where he might be or
what the subject OF conversation, he
inevitably managed to steer II around
10 the safe,
Once when he had talked his com
panions almost TO the verge OF lnsnn-
ity, old jeremiah MacLaren openly
informed him that, In his opinion, the
safe was a snare of the devil; that
MIR, Hickman's pride In It was nothing
less than sinful, and that sooner or
later he'd be visited by some terrible
judgment In consequence.
Hut Jerry MacLaren was n Scot, and
a rival hotelkeeper to boot; so II may
have been jealousy, and not mere plety,
which instigatcd his remarks.
One day when Jacob Hickman went
downstairs 10 pay n of his numerous
daily visits to the safe, something hap
pence.
lie unfastened the door, stepped In.
side, and feeling n slight drug on the
ioose alpaca jacket he was wearing
gave a sharp Jerk, The action, II un
thinking. was n perfectly natural one
Three seconds later there was a smari
ellen
Swinging around Jacob Hickman
faeed the safe door, II had closed be
bind kz.
THs door opened outwnrds. Tha.
stght berk which had released hi
@ekst-caught. probably, In the doc.
knsA-Aad set the heavy door In mo
iiop upsn It's well-olled and nicely nd
tOstsd ~hinFes-and the patent auto
matte Nck had done the rest.
HfskRan was n stout man II wns
very bet day and his forehead wa
covered with drops of Precipitation
whe1 ~ entered the safe.
Hh paralyzed brain suddenly awok
and asserted itself. and he started &
yell Hke a drunken Indian.
upthinklng, he yelled and hammere,
at The door with his bare fists until h
was exhausted and his knuckles wer
bruised and bleeding,
by and by his breath came back. an
he began TO think with some mea:
IRE of conference and to realize tn
horrsr OF his position.
Here he was a prisoner withou
means Of escape or hope OF RELEASE
True, the key of the door was In hi
pocket-he had taken II from IN
lock when he opened the safe. Br
that didn't help him any.