Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-15

policemcn's revolvers struck his
shoulder and whirled him dizzily to
the floor. A tap upon the head from
one Of those heavy nightsticks rem
dcred the teller hors de combat.
And almost before the daZed bank
employees could think of Offering re-
iistance they were disarmed, beaten
unconscious, or shot.
Sacks appeared from beneath the
blouseS Of two of the invaders. These
two stepped into Keelers cage. His
assistant, covered by a revolver, had
no opportunity to resist. More than
100000 in bills were swept, in less
than thirty seconds, into the sacks
carried by the counterfeit policemen
Seventeen Of them. including their
leader, and reinforced by the six hand
cuffed men in business clothes, herded
those of the bank employees and Gus
toners who still were conscious into
an inner room. the private office of
President Dana. A telephone in the
y.
Dana was seized and searched From
his pockets were removed keys; one
of them fitted the lock Of his pri-
vate office, and the door was fastened
upon them. From the uniformed por-
ter the key to the outer door had
been taken. The great doors swung
open on to Broadway.
Attracted by the closing OF the
doors. the porter's police whistle and
the noise of the shots was a great
crowd Of excited people. They set
up a yell of exultant fury as the
policemen descended the bank steps
hustling the handcuffed men toward
empty taxicabs that happened to be
standing at the curb. The spectators
could guess that a robbery had been
attempted, and that the bandits had
been captured. After all that the
papers had been saying about the in
competence of the police department,
1T was good to see with your own
eyes proof of the falsity Of the news
paper charges.
That is, 1t was good until you hap
pened to read the afternoon papers.
X y
ct TELL you, Jerry" said Jimmy
Pelham positively, tits the Gray
Ghost"
Jerry Tryson shook his round laid
head. Also. his shoulders moved with
mirth
Mr.. Pelham, you're as crazy as /
was ten years ago"
Were you crazy, jerry" asked
Pelham, mildly.
The red face Of the former police
man-now one of the most success
full private detectives in Now York
took on a deeper shade.
You know what 1 mean: every
thing that happened. I said Gray
headquarters, the papers. the public,
and every one"
Except me-" insinuated Pelham.
Tryon's eyes lowered in embarrass-
ment. Don't think I've ever forgotten
1t, the way you encouraged me. backed
Only. Mr.. Pelham,
the Gray Ghost is dead"
"And ten years ago every one said
that he had never been alive" smiled
Pelham.
The square blue chin Of Tryon set
stubbornly; his lower lip protruded pug
naciously. But. Mr.. Pelham, we cor
nered the Gray Ghost aboard your yacht
ten years ago. He Jumped overheard a
couple Of hundred miles from land. You
can't get behind that, Mr.. Pelham.
IT never saw his dead body; did
your" asked Pelham.
But how could he have escaped?
cried Tryon.
Pelham shrugged. what differ
ence does that make? I couldn't an
swer that offhand. But he might
have caught a rope hanging over the
yachts side, pulled himself aboard,
and slowed himself away. Or. what
IL more probable. he might have kept
himself ahoat. You know It's not
easy for boats crew to find 30 small
an object as a mans head in the
waves Suppose that he was picked
up by some trading vessel?"
He'd have been turned over to the
authorities At the first port" said
Tryon scornfully. "rhe whole world
knew of him and Of his leap from
your yacht"
"But you know. Jerry, the Gray
Ghost might have had in his pockets
Jewels worth thousands. All the loot
that he stole was not recovered. It
might not have been difficult for him
to bribe a whole ships crew to keep
silent about his rescue"