Evening star., 1921-08-07

their eyes showed between their hat
brims and the handkerchiefs lenotted
at the back of their heads.
The one who had spoken ranged
oyer and tapped Burton for his gun.
Come here!' He motioned the
banker over and disarmed him.
Next" The cutter approached and
received similar attention.
':Now we'll all line up ag'in' the
wall over there" commanded the
bandit, "'c.pt you. Nick" He chuckled.
"You loop off in that corner where we
can plug you if any Of you boobs make
a break. Tell 'em, Nick. to be good for
your sake!
"And say, gents" he amplified as
the scared company f1uttered to do
his bidding. pass round the table as
jewelry on it! And don't hold out a
thing."-his guns juggled menacing-
ly-"'cause we might have a friskin'-
bee-and God help the guy that don't
come clean! Step lively, gents, one at
a time-don't crowd"
They stepped lively! Throughout
the performance. which didn't take
cursed in flowing, inelegant, inartistic
style. but always with discreet modu-
lation. He had his suspicious about
the stick-up. He figured Conny Kie-
ly's hand was in it, and he was right.
The spokesman for the bandits vir-
tually admitted that, as he gathered
up some twenty-eight thousand dol
lars and sorted out the rings and
pins with stones from the heap of
jewelry.
got, Nick" he jeered. "We'n have to
come again to make it pay. And we
aim to come again. Nick. SO long as
life, gents" he said to the gaping
lineup, though his eyes spiked Bur
ton, "for them as plays at Nick Bur
toms. Think it over and pass the
word"
He motioned to- his three fellows
and they backed to the door. They
faded out. but he remained to make
another speech.
ITS the same old bunk I'm handing
you" he added jocundly. about meb
! be we're gone and mebbe we amt
, We might be right back Of the door
waitin' for some fish to stick hii
head out and holler! Tell 'em how
| it is. Nick. We amt in . hurry-se
don't be too brash about trailin'!
l WIS q COhCcuhIoI6u VI 0oSA
Of relief as he slipped backward
through the doors.
Who's got gun?" rasped Burton
| No one answered. They wanted nt
gunplay.
you have. Rothmann," barket
Burton. He jumped over to the man
a diamond broker. who was sweating
held out the chamois package OF loos'
at0neS in hia vest pocket
"They amt gone!" chartered Roth
mann.
"Gimme" shouted Burton, ant
Rothmann gave.
Revolver in hand. Burton ran to {
window. The cutter scurried from an
and Eurton threw up windows. Al
automobile stood at the entrance t.
the house. thirty feet away. A mai
was sprinting for it. They fired.
| From the machine came the rata
tat of an automatic, The, cutter
dropped his gun, Topped on the sill
with head and arms hanging, thel
pitched out altogether.
The sprinter was in the car. 1T
engine accelerated with no more thai
a purr. The window beside Burtol
shattered, and he drew back. Whel
he looked again. the machine ha'
turned the corner.
| Nick Burton returned TO MS pa
irons, who were excited1y retrieving
the watches and other articles whicl
the bandits had rejected as not wortl
taking. He damned himself for hi
futile effort. All he had succeeded
In doing was to make matters worse
Look at Fred. out there on the walk
\ Police sticks were rapping an
whistles blowing Windows were go
ing up-the whole street was stirring
"come on" he snarled. Lets se
how bad Fred is. Lets get him In
side"
The doorman end the banker wen
with him. The others were In rusl
to ret away before the police came
/ M ~>~oAn<a hfA rftfRAnR the,