The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-23

BY Albert M. CIusIey

~&so "Cli hhoW tihb W IhO oLnl -
That's lot of money" gasped
the boy, who was only twenty.
1T will mean lot to us If 1t
gets away from you" said the New
York member of the firm.
A nervous chill passed over the
boy. 1t confused him.
'T'll die first" he blurted.
The man laughed. Don't die,
Burton" said the manager in low
tone. This is test of your effici-
ency."
When he had prepared for the
night he tied the package with a
strong cord securely to his waist.
Curling over it in his berth he slept
fitfully. People rubbing against the
curtain startled him so that he was
wide awake.
Once he dreamed. Mr.. Collins,
the Chicago manager, was meeting
him at the station. He opened the
bag for the package Of jewels. 1t
was gone. When he finally awoke-
it seemed years-the reaction from
apprehension to relief, as he felt
the package under him, was almost
worth the nightmare.
Finally he was conscious of the
dreaded hand touching him. With
jump he grabbed the wrist of the
porter who was prodding- him.
"Seben o'clock, sub"
AS he neared Chicago that night
he studied the photograph of the
manager, Mr.. Collins, who was to
meet him. Burton had never seen
him. He was shooth-faced, had
quite a large Roman nose and was
nearly bald.
Walking down the platform to-
ward the gate where many people
were gathered to meet arrivals, he
looked earnestly among the faces
for the duplicate of the picture.
Soon he spied a man who seemed
to answer the description.
The man was peering from be-
hind a group, his head twisting this
way and that, as he sought to get
a look at every face. He gave Bur-
ton the same keen examination, but
his eyes turned toward others.
Studying him again, Burton de-
cided that the man was Mr.. Collins.
Passing through the lane of people
and around behind him, he pulled
his sleeve. "Mr. Collins?"
The man turned his head i'm
patiently and, half looking, blurted:
Huh"
81 am Mr.. Burton"
Almost savagely the stranger
whirled about, exclaiming: well,
what of it," His voice was heavy
and rough.
81 have the package from Brown
& Berkeley"
Immediately the man became at
tentive. He took hold of the boys
arm just above the elbow and
stared at him.
How much of it is there?" he
said.
Don't you know" said the boy.
Are you Mr.. Collins?"
With a grim smile the man an
swered: Eyes, I'm Collins"
"Show me your card, please"
ooh, that's all right, boy; I'm
Mr.. Collins"
'"Then show me your card!"
Reaching into his pocket he pro-
duced one of the firm cards, Brown
& Berkeley. jewelers., New York and
Chicago" with the name "Mr. Col
Inns" in the lower corner
Putting his arm through the boys
he moved across the station. Let's
60. Wen take a cab"
mo one tried to hold me up"
Burton said jokingly, as they were
stepping into the carriage.
"Of course not" said the man.
"There amt no particular danger"
Amt! The Chicago manager,
and using bad grammer? A creepy
feeling like paralysis, sole over the
lad. He thought rapidly. Of course
it was possible that the Chicago
manager might be illiterate, but
what if"
The man chatted Familiarity about |
business. The bay sat up straight,
his heels raised from the floor like
a Splinter on his mark; he clutched |
the bag resting on his knees.
If he only had that picture at
hand. He'd like to take another
IL A.