St. Tammany farmer., 1921-11-26
Gerald Foils
a Holdup
By MALCOLM BROWN.

i Copyright 1921, w eStern Newspaper Union.
"It's nervy thing to ask you to do,
Alling," spoke the chief clerk Of the
Empire National bank.
TIN willing to take the risk" smiled
Gerald Alling quietly, ''for two allur-
Ing reasons
"Would it be impertinent for me to
ask what those reasons might be?'
'You are so good friend" replied
Alling promptly, that I am glad to
tell you. First reason: hail with de-
light any variation in my humdrum
work Of counting money In screened
cage. Second reason: am In love
with Mr.. Wards daughter, Lucy, and
would like to make a good impress
sion on her father, who, to tell the
truth, rather frowns on my matrimoni-
oil aspirations"
81 see. Very good" laughed the
chief clerk. II hope this new expert
ence will lead to consummation OF
! your wishes all around"
The coin transmlssions were made
in wagon guarded by special officers.
Mr.. Ward disdained such protection.
With his money satchel handcuffed to
his wrist, he had carried hundreds OF
thousands of dollars across the city.
One day his good luck missed him.
AS he was passing an open area way
two men hustled him down it's steps.
| Two others stationed below seized him.
He was knocked senseless and when
he recovered consciousness the men
and satchel were gone.
Fortunately the amount of currency
in the satchel was small, but over $5O,-
600 in bonds had been secured by the
bold fOotpads.
Out of this had grown sugges-
tion from the chief clerk of the bank.
Ward was to carry the money as be-
fore, only to distribute it about his per-
SON. He was to proceed on his mis-
sion secretly from a side exit OF the
bank. Gerald was to carry the satchel
empty.
1t was the second day of the new
program when Gerald was returning
from his mock cash delivery to a
bank that bright-eyed old man ac-
'costed him and walked nlong with him.
messenger service. eh, Mr.. Alling?"
he questioned.
eyes," assented Gerald.
"Thought that loss Of theirs would
stir up the bank" observed his COM
panion. "Say, ! guess shall never
be 4ble to thank you enough for that
situation you found for me-"
"Oh, l was glad to be Of service to
you," declared Gerald, heartily.
.I'd like to show you a new wrinkle
I've devised to make the bank messen-
ger absolutely immune from loss," the
old man told Gerald.
Nothing of sensational character
had happened because Of his carrying
the empty money satchel. One day,
however. the bank detective came to
I him,
'You needn't know 1t except to keep
firm grip on your nerve, Alling," he
said, .'but you are being followed"
.Is that so?' inquired our young
hero.
"I feel sure Of It. I have noticed
two suspicious looking characters ap-
parently on your trail for three con-
secutive mornings now."
That evening Gerald went to visit
his friend the inventor.
That night the inventor showed his
gratitude to Gerald by proving that he
had done some thinking in his behalf.
When Gerald left the inventors room
he carried a fair-sized package which
he took down to the bank with him.
When he got ready to start on his
decoy route next morning he went to
a secluded corner Of the bank and
placed the package in question: care
fully inside of the satchel.
A jam Of vehicles near crowded
court, jostling mob around him, two
men close up to him.
.Give me that satchell" ordered one
of the men.
"Take it!'' retorted Gerald accom-
modatingly, and he let the loop slide
from his fingers
Bang-bang!
Ding-ding-d ing-ding-
A frightful alarm Of sound echoed
from inside the satchel-two revolver
shots, the sharp rasplng Changing OF
half a dozen bells.
The dismayed and discounted loot
ers stared at the satchel and messen-
ger. Before they could turn and run
the bank detective was at their side
Gerald saw them led to patrol
wagon, went on his way and after
banking hours was called into the
private office Of the president OF the
Institution. He found the bank de-
tective also there.
'Now then, young man, observed
the money magnate, pleasant but Gu
rious expression on his face, explain
that young noise wagon Of yours-the
sntchel.'
And then Gerald told Of the ingenu-
ity of his friend, the inventor, In pro-
ducing device which 'went OFF, the
moment he let 60 Of the handle Of the
satchel.
Il sent for you," said the president,
.'to tell you that through the arrest
Of the men your clever alarm call baf-
fled we have recovered the stolen
bonds. Our officer here will share
ro1.,ord nf 1S 0n0 With Won And vn11