San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-18

III had taken months to collect all
necessary information and make
preliminary arrangements, but
moment had arrived at last. At
enty minutes to twelve on a Fri
morning, 1 descended from a
Their shabby Ford car exactly OPP
Eite Bailey's grocery stores at the
tner of Norwood Road, in one OF
northern suburbs Of Leeds. 1t
neighborhood of six-roomed
Use and long, cobbled streets, a
bghborhood teemin. with men and
men when the great factories close
hand are empty; but at this par
ular hour of the day, when the
Irsss are at school, and The men,
ID many of the women, are still
the mills, it shows signs of some
ng approaching desertion. There
s q handsome gray touring Ian
nlette containing two passengers, a
in and a woman, drawn up on the
her side of the way, apparently TO
ke advantage Of the shade of some
Il billboards while the chauffeur
led I'D with petrol. Otherwise
careful glance up and down the
Feet convinced me-not a soul was
sight.
L walked along hot asphalt path
ID turned the corner into what was
own as the Boulevard, almost I'M
ticed. On my left was a stretch of
ste-ground, black and with mai
brous refuse, empty tins and bot
IS abandoned even by the children
an undesirable playground. On
right were more houses in course
erection, but today deserted be-
Use of an opportune strike amongst
masons. The only inhabited edi-
g was the one where my business
A brass plate upon the door
Heated that this was branch of
owns Bank, planted out here in
S uncomely spot for the convent
be of the huge factories which
minated the neighborhood.
with my hand upon the swing
br glanced around. Ny luck was
rtainly in, for there was still not
en a child to be seen. Inside, be-
bd the counter, both the manager
ID his clerk, were busy counting
b bundles OF treasury-notes. They
Pked up inquiringly as l entered.
rangers in such a place, Imagine,
re rare. Such a stranger as l was
rarity which they were never like
| to experience again in this world.
ply plans were cut and dried to the
1t detail. 1 wasted no time in any
/ ly attempt to hold the place up,
II brief though the seconds were,
was amazing how my brain
ronciled a most Of varying impress
\ns. l saw the bland smile fade
BIN the managers lips; / saw the
ISJn OF suspicion in his eyes, the
am Of terror followed by the
assn of pain as I shot him through
right shoulder-blade. His as
liant had not the courage of a
bbit- Whitehead, gasping for
ercy, he stood there with his
ad and his knees shaking. I am
nvinced that If I had left him
bne for another five seconds, he
build have collapsed hopelessly
thout any interference on my part.
was not able to take risks, how
Eer; so, leaning over, 1 struck him
the point of the jaw. He fell in
Iumpled heap behind the counter.
then helped myself to seven thou
hid odd pounds in bank and
easury notes, and in about a min
and a half after I.had entered
Ee bank, l strolled back again the
Iy / had come.
lat the corner of the street, ]
bked back. There were no signs of
about the bank, no one apparent
on his way towald it. There were
few children playing about the I'M
|cupied houses and behind the win
WIS of the cottages in the street
here l now was, were women in
/ ht upon various domestic duties.
he woman was scoldipg her child
! st outside the door. She glanced
/ me only in the most perfunctory
shion. My Panama hat was pulled
I'll over my head, reasonable pre-
luton, with the sun Mt its greatest
wer. A man was berding over
e open bonnet Of the car which 1
Id left at the corner. l passed him
without a glance and stepped into
u gray touring car behind. The
CINE was purring gently; the
auffeur's fingers were upon the
lar handle as 1 appeared. l took
h place by the side of Janet, I'M
Ecognizable beneath her motor-veil,
Id we glided off northwards. There
IRE nszsigns of any disturbance as
h. hot 'into the broad main street.
e gathered speed up at the Chapel
wn Hill, and very soon we were
icing for Scotland.
Janet passed me a silver flask soon
tier we had passe- out of the sub
lbs. ] shook my head.
You know that I never take any
ling until one o'clock" 1 reminded
|r. ~Why should / drink in the
|ddle Of the morning."
l fancied that l caught through
n r veil a CLEAN of that almost wor-
iping fidelity which had led me to
/ist buio Woludh as hdu tiuotSu
other in my life.
|"What a nervei" she murmured.
|"I have no nerves. L rejoined /;
heither have / any fear. By this
ne you ought to realize it."
All went smoothly" she asked.
Absolutely according to pro-
am. A chance customer would
h I've been the only possible disturb
bee, and the position of the bank
ndered that unlikely
F"What happened?"
81 shot the manager through the
oulder-blade," / tod her. "The
tars would probably have been
/, fer, but the blinds Of the bank
pre- all drawn to keep out the suns
hd my Panama was as good as