Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-09

spar for wind. And Boston, with
desperate instinct, took the cue.
Yes" he quavered: even achieved
something like grin. "Oh. yes, it's
right enough. In fact, quite c'rect"
But the strangers next casual
phrase knocked him cold again.
"Ninety-two thousand?"
| Boston could only gasp, for ninety
two thousand was the exact sum he
had just estimated!
Not that I blame you for making
| sure" continued this amazing young
man. abstractedly.
| NO" said Boston. "Oh, n-o-o!'
| Because you'd naturally get the
hide skinned off you to make up any
shortage"
ooh, naturally - naturally" said
Boston.
But you'd get skinned anyway IL
1 told on you for stopping to light
this fire."
Would I, thought
why, it might have been spotted
by anybody. you idiot" explained the
stranger from his condescension.
$50 it might" agreed Boston.
Besides, you've kept US all wait
ing"
oh I have"
And his nobs is in an awful stew
awful! I've been back twice to re-
port because you didn't show up.
Never mind. Only you'd better get a
hop on you now
To Boston. schooled by the imperi-
Gus tyranny of events, came no
thought of resistance. Obediently, he
began to get a hop by stuffiing' the
money back where 1t belonged
kings salary to every fistful.
Watch out for that barb wire"
warned his guide.
They had been climbing through
the dark of an upland pine grove for
some minutes. In clearing at the
top of the rise. dim against the even
ing sky. bulked a house. Boston
needed no one to tell him that the
pile they approached was the rude
summer camp of a millionaire, with
twenty-five bedrooms and a cold
storage plant in the cellar. 1t seemed
deserted enough now Doors and win
dows had been boarded up; the wind
piped thin in its chimneys. But when
they turned a sudden corner they al
most stumbled over a pea-green rae
ing auto. with shaded lamps, purring
quietly there on the drive.
X x
BOSTON would have hung back.
u Too late. The able young man
merely took his elbow, thrust him up
a side porch, whisked him through
some invisible sally port. and-all
with the gesture of oonjuring-
landed him. confused. breathless and
bedazzled. inside-in the main hall
ION deck. chief.
Three or four high-powered port
able electrics in the shape Of hand
lanterns were ranged to strike out
details of the room with sharp shafts.
| By the telephone box stood man.
fat and silken, whose opened over
coat displayed impeccable evening
i dress. On divan spread with the skin
Of a polar bear sat a girl in the
snappiest of leathern automobile
togs-yellow haired. dewy-eyed, ap-
petizing. a perfect pip. Perched on a
tale was an ugly little chap. whom
Boston distasted at first sight as you
distaste something noxious-fragile
and precise, with no hair at all. He
|
toadstool. But he presided. A virtue
went out from him-or lack of it
and when he held up a white finger
the others attended as at a ritual.
En- You've got it. And time. too,
should say. Here. come along with
! that He scarcely glanced at the
new arrivals. Look alive. my man.
Let's see What you've brought"
Poor Boston stood blinking and
| hesitant while there descended on him
the compulsion that held the whole
room. With a sigh that came from
his heart roots. he yielded. tabled his
treasure, turned back the lid, and
once more exposed to common view
that incredible and ecstatic spectacle.
Promptly. .noiselessly. the others
closed up about their chief. The girl
produced pad and pencil, the fat man
came forward to do the accounting,
the young fellow who had guided
Boston stood by for orders.
"Ninety-two thousand exactly, sir.
Corresponding with Number Sevens
latest report"
This should clear up the SPRING
field total"
ITO a dollar. I should say. SIR"
Number Seven carried the odd sum
with him the day we were raided,"
contributed tho girl from her notes.
He was unable to reach the safe, you
remember, sir. But he had receipts
by the morning mail in his pocket
three hundred and forty dollars. You
afterward allowed him that amount
for petty cash and expenses"
Did he forward a voucher"
Eyes, sir-he did" said the fat man
unctuously "And we are now enabled
to strike a balance to the very min
ute of your order closing all ofices.
dated $40 am, october g."
Very we'll. Richard"'
Eyes, sir" responded the guide.
you will take temporary charge Of
this suit case"
Right, chief"
Mr.. Hendry. have you raised that
telephone connection yet?"
mo, sir" returned the accountant.
ITS a very small ONCE. I have an
idea she may be frying herself an
egg or something"
IAN egg, Mr.. Hendry?" The chief
considered him severely. IAN egg?
Is this a jest?'
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