Gunnison news-champion., 1920-01-30
Something of a
Cold Snap
Observation-Disclosures
CCoyyrSksl
By GEORGE l. SURREY

HICKMAN 'ar iENfElFIhE u lALal Idli'
tluI summer hr-'elry 50 well known 10
Galveston residents. was paying his
~ .-ut's'h daily visit 20 the scene OF
np-rHt"r..
Satisfied. Mr Hickman. eh7"-and
Mr Smart. the clever engineer, who
had hecu sen, down 10 superiurend
matters by the big eastern firm which
had the contract !n hand. cane and
stood a, the hotel prUpr,et"r's elbow.
Look. an right suess
All right Why. Ir. that safes
a .troE- o., genius. though say Il.
It's revelation. I'll guarantee there's
nothlu. Ike T. ln AT the siates-nOth-
lng 70 hold tnlInw dip TO H."
Mr Smart's professional pride np-
peared hurt at his clients very made
gUa'e comm"udation.
Say. didn't mean anything" Mr.
Hickman hastcnsd to explain. 81
have no doub, It's a fine safe. Come
ar have drink"
A. N. bar Mr. Smart went through
the complete Inventory Of the peculiar
beauties and distinctive merits OF the
cold room.
Look a, it." he said enthusiastic.
ally. biggest thing ot I'- kind ~"
ever s'rurk. ThIrre,.'l. Inch walls. solid
concrete patent flooring. dnmI-prOo'.
rot.d.fylng. fines, Arrangement Of cool
ing plp-.s ever la!i-nnf then. the
door"
Al. It's good door" the owner
assentci
so good that no one1l ever have an
other Ike IT, you bet. Firm couldn't
10 another at the price
TO r.,i you the truth. sir. we're
doing this as an advertisement. Sec7
Al. you were lucky To get our firm 20
handle this Job. | can tell you. Why.
there's six inches solid Oregon pine
In that door, and the backing and fac
ing's the best one-an '.thrce-qua rter-Inch
chilled steel plate.
I'VE brought that door over In one
piece Takes four men TO lift It. ye.
I, swings on It's hinges rs easy as
clock pendulum. Seen the iockT"
"No Anything speclnlF"
Il should say II is. 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 ~ Automatic, self-fastening. no
trouble to turn, an strong as a mig
gers love for watermelon. That locks
a daisy. she Ia"
Mr.. Smart turned east with a four
figured check In his pocket, and ia
cob Hickman started in to enjoy his
neyr possession and the envy Of all
other hotel keepers In the neighbor-
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 anunintnnces. and OF
everyone who came within earshot Of
him.
No matter where he might he or
what the subject OF conversation. he
inevitably msnaged to steer It around
TO the safe q
Once when he had talked his com
panions almost to the verge OF insan.
Informed him that, In his opinion, the
safe was snare Of the devil: that
Mr.. Hickmnns pride In II was nothing
less than sinful. and that sooner or
later he'd be visited by some terrible
Judgment In consequence.
But Jerry MacLaren was a Scot, and
. rvai hotelkecper to boot: so II may
have been jealousy, and not mere piety,
which instIga,ed his remarks.
One day when Jacob Hickman went
downstairs to pay one OF his numerous
daily visits to the safe. something hap
penei.
He unfastened the door. stepped In
side. and feeling a slight drag on the
loose alpaca jacket he was wearing.
gave a sharp Jerk. The action. II un-
thinking. was perfectly natural one
Three seconds later there was a smart
click
Swinging around Jacob Hickman
faced the safe door. 1t had closed be-
hind him.
The door opened outwards. That
slight ssrk which had released his
tacket-caught. probably. In the door
'kBob-had set the heavy door in mo-
'tion upon Its well-oiled and nicely ad.
ijusted hinges-and the patent auto
matte lock had done the rest.
Hickman was a stout man: 1t was a
very hot day: and his forehead was
covered with drops of perspiration
when he entered the safe.
His paralyzed brain suddenly awoke
and asserted itself. and he started to
yell like . drunken Indian.
Unthinking. he yelled and hammered
at the door with his bare fists until he
was exhausted and his knuckles were
hYuised and bleeding.
By and by his breath came back. and
be began to think with some meas
ure Of Conference and to realize the
horror Of his position.
Here he was prisoner without
means of escape or hope Of release.
w. eh> hav ~ tho dn0r xras In hls