The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-20
BEGIN HERE TO-DAY


pose of a box Of jewels which he
stole from the White Eagle, a crook,
Ainsley was overheard by Swcde
Thomassen, brutal murderer in
hiding.
Thomassen comes to Ainsley's
apartment, covers him with re-
volver, and demands half of the loot.
He orders Ainsley to go and get the
jewels from the safe deposit box
downtown. Then he drops down on
a bed in Ainsley's apartment and
goes to sleep, confident that Ainsley
will not cross him. Ainsley is fear
full of exposing him to the police
because then he himself would be-
come involved in the answering of
many unpleasant questions.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
With a groan dismissed my plan.
l could not give up my liberty. The
shame of exposure was more than l
could endure. Yet to permit Thomas
sen to escape, to aid him in his es-
cape, was to endure a private shame
as hideous as any public exposure.
l was caught between the devil and
the deep sea.
And then inspiration came to me,
as it must come to anyone caught
between the devil and the deep sea,
unless he would perish.
My guest would not awaken. So l
went to my own chamber-he was
in the room next the living room
and from my bed took sheet. OF
it, and two pillows and several books
to give the thing weight, l made a
clumsy effigy of a man. l wrapped Il
dark overcoat around the figure, but
toned it, tied string about it to keep
it in place, and went quietly to the
window. I raised it and looked out.
The window opened on a vacant
area in the rear of the building. Be-
low its sill, good four feet below
it, was a ledge perhaps two feet
wide. l lifted my effigy through the
window, lowered it and placed it
carefully upon the ledge. 1t was
quite heavy; l had placed several
books inside it.
1t would not balance truly upon
the ledge, but fastening it with Il
string to the handle on the inside of
the window, whereby it was raised,
the bundle or effigy would stay in
place. And when l closed the win
, dow the dark Irvine was not notice
able inside the room. drew the cur
, tain to make sure that the Irvine
would not be observed by Thomas
sen.
Of course dwellers in the distant
buildings might see my bundle when
| light came with the morning. But
New Workers. are injurious about
their .neighbors. Strange things can
occur without arousing questions.
And anyway, this was chance | had
to take. And having taken it, went
: to bed.
Thomasscn awakened me in the
morning. He was ravcnously hun
CRY, and / was forced to prepare him
a breakfast. l marvelcd at his nerve
as he ate. am fairly composed my
self, but I only ate in order that his
suspicious might not be aroused. For
l must seem to him reconciled to his
presence and his purpose. The man
was like wild beast. If he became
suspicious, he would kill.
But he thought that he understood
me. l was philosophic enough to
make the best of bad situation, he
reasoned. He let me leave the apart
mcnt, to fetch the jewels from the
safe deposit box, with hardly re-
minding threat to force me not to
play him false.
Cautioning him to keep away from
the windows, and to answer no rings
at the doorbcll or telephone, left
him.
you're more scared than l am, "
were his last words to me. "And I'm
facing the chair, while you've got
nothing to be afraid of but Sing
Sing"
I confess that I shuddered as he
son up the Hudson. l feared death
less than did capture by the police.
Indeed, l was going to prove the
truth of what have just said. For
l was going to risk death.
l had procured week before, the
number of the telephone installed in
the furnished house which, under
the imposing alias of the Due de
Montarlier, the White Eagle had
rented early in the winter. Trem-
bling with excitement, from telc-
phone booth in drug store on Am
sterdam Avenue, called up this num-
Der.
The chances were a hundred to
one that the White Eagle no longer
resided here, His servants had been
let go, and his bags had been packed
in preparation for hurried flight on
the night that he had robbed Ander-
son. But the fact that had relieved
him of his booty might have changed
his plans. The White Eagle was dar-
ing. He knew that it was unlikely
that Anderson suspected his loss
And when the millionaire sailed fol
South America, it was obvious that
the theft had not been discovered
There was no reason, then, why Ar
mand Cochet should not continue
living in the house off the Avenue
A less bold thief would be certain te
flee, but the White Eagle was one
in a million. 1 prayed that he would
answer the telephone.
He did so. I recognized the men
acing tones. And wasted no time II
preliminaries.
"Cochet, this is friend. The 9th
er night you were robbed"
A lesser man would have given
way to excitement, but the White
Eagles nerves were of steel. could