The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-07-14
I Ridgeley Had
a Hunch
BY CHARLES E. BAXTER

stick 'em up quickI"
Ridgeley, the cashier Of the Operi
tive Trust company, looked OF
through the grille of his cage into tn
wicked muzzle of an automatic.
Behind the automatic was the fac
OF man who had been inquirin
about check a moment or two be
fore.
IL was the noon hour In the office
OF the trust company, and the plac'
was quite deserted No better tim,
could have been chosen, and no bet
ter occasion, for the trust company
had $4,000 ready for shipment to the
bank at Menopee, and the robber had
evidently been aware of this.
Carefully covering Ridgeley, the
man moved round the cage and
opened the door.
'You git back therel" he ordered,
motioning with his automatic toward
the big safe In the corner. "And If
you move a finger or let out a sQueal
you're gonep'
Covering Ridgeley with his right
hand, he swung open the till with his
left, scooping up a few packages of
ones and twos. Growing, he crossed
TO the safe.
"Open !" he ordered
Ridgeley. shaking, obeyed him.
'.Now stand against that doorl" the
robber ordered "And keep 'em upl'
And. shifting the automatic into his
left hand, and keeping the muzzle
pressed against the cashiers waist
coat, he began to pull open the In
terror compartments OF the safe with
his right.
1t was. like hideous nightmare to
Ridgeley. 1t was a Saturday morning
and he had been about to leave town
for the weekend. On a peg hung his
overcoat., On the floor was his trav-
cling bag. His hard hat, which had
been denied from some conclusion,
seemed to grin knowingly at him.
He waited In a cold sweat while the
man, uttering growls of dissatisfac-
ten, went through the compartments.
But the safe was practically empty.
Where Is lit" demanded the rob-
Der, turning on Ridgeley with saw
age snarl.
1--WE shipped it an hour ago."
Ridgeley answered.
Damn you, you're lyingl" shrieked
tine other.
Ridgeley shrugged his shoulders
Through the grille he saw the blonde
head Of Miss Baker, the presidents I
secretary, as the girl came up the
steps. He saw her stop, saw her eyes
contract-then she was gone.
you scum" roared the robber, los
ing all self-control. "Tll croak you If
you don't"
Footsteps sounded outside. He hesI-
tated, turned, whirled out of the cage
as the porter came running toward
him. There was a report, spit of
Ore. Olesen fell, got up again, and
stood looking with scared gaze at
his left hand, which was running
blood.
The robber turned and ran. Shouts
he sounds of a confused struggle
Ridgeley's ears. There was 4
more shooting.
MY Godl" said Ridgeley feebly.
And, suddenly nerving himself. he
topped and opened his travelling bag.
was crammed with packages of
ills. Hurriedly Ridgeley began shov-
ng them into the safe. 1t was not =
Intil the last one had been restored
hat he desisted from his frantic move
nents. Then he leaned back against
he door of the safe and wiped the
weat from his forehead.
MY God!" he whimpered again.
Only ten minutes before, with the
Welve thousand dollars safely slowed
way In his travelling bag, he had been
flight.
He had laid all his plans with the
tmost skill, and in few hours would
ave been safe from pursuit. And he
40 not dreamed how heavy a loy' =
y on his conscience. -
Now 1t was as If a terrible by uaon
10 been removed from hip ha
eathed freely again. ssr ne
me president, the secr.t ,rv and
% policemen came rum ,,n,. n W
Did he get it, Ridge. levy Tho mos
ant shouted. 1ies : Tue pres
! door 81 ~ 0 .geley swung open 4
Their n1aaa " 4fe, showing the bills
~ ano ent shouted in his de- III
Low oo, OH boyl" he yelled. 1.-THE Il
n IN clean away, but wen have n
mi "a few hours. We've got the II
.Ie.so his car. But-you opened
for him?"
w d." smiled Ridgeley, but I'd -
Nen the packages out and put them I
at cupboard behind the CORE
~ dence paper. IL had sort of
oh something would happen"
Essential Assumption. A
"WhV don't Won 90 ont haforo x,o,,r 4