The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-08-07
che BLACK GANG

uOu mean you any nArIn. Line VOICE
paused for moment, and then went
on again. "You understand that, Mar.
tin. We don't mean you any harm
unless"-and once again there came o
pause--"unless you try any monkey
tricks. You are to do exactly as
tell you, without question and at once
If you do you will receive fifty pounds.
If you don't-well, Martin, l have
ways of dealing with people who don't
do what tell them"
There was silence while Ginger Mar.
tin fidgeted about, looking like
trapped animal. "What do yer want
me to do, guv'nor?" he said at last.
"Open safe amongst other things"
answered Drummond. "Have you
brought your tools and things?"
s'Yus-Pve brought the outfit" NUT
tered the other. "Where Is the safe?
'Ere?"
mo, Martin, not here. Some dis
lance away in fact. We shall start in
about an hour. Until then you will
stop in this room. You can have a
whisky and-soda, and my friend here
will stay with you. He has q gun,
Martin. so remember what said. No
monkey tricks"
With fascinated eyes the crook
watched the speaker rise and cross to
an inner door. Standing he seemed
more huge than ever. and Martin gave
a sigh of relief as the door closed be-
hind him.
The entrance to Number 5 Green
street proved easier than Drummond
had expected-so easy as to be almost
suspicious. No lights shone in the win
dows above: the house seemed COM
pletely deserted. Moreover, the door
into the street was unbolted, and with
out a moments hesitation Drummond
opened it and stepped inside, followed
by Martin and Ted birmingham. The
long black cloak had been discarded;
only the black mask concealed his
face, as-the three men stood inside the
door, listening intently. Not sound
was audible, and after a moment or
two Drummond felt his way cautious
ly through the downstairs office to-
ward the flight Of stairs that led to
the rooms above.
In single file they crept up the
stairs, Drummond leading. The door
at the top was ajar, and for awhile
they stood in the carpeted passage
above listening again.
"Along this passage are the clerks
Offices" he explained in a low voice
to the other two. "At the far end is
another door which we shall probably
find locked. Beyond that is the inner
office, which we want"
"Well, let's get on wiv 1t, guv'nor,"
muttered Ginger Martin hoarsely.
There's no good in 'anging abaht."
Drummond switched on his electric
torch, and flashed it cautiously round.
Doors leading off the passage were
open in most cases. and all the rooms
were empty; it was obvious that none
of the staff were about. And yet he
felt an indefinable sense of danger,
which he tried in vain to shake off.
Somehow or other, he felt certain that
they were not alOne-that there were
other people in the house. But Ginger
Martin had no such presentiments,
and was rapidly becoming impatient.
To open the door at the end Of the
passage. if it should prove to be
locked, was such child's play as to be
absolutely contemplate. He wanted
to get on with the safe, which might
take time, instead of fooling round in
a passage listening for mice.
Without sound, the craftsman set
to work; his coarse features outlined
in the circle of the torch, his ill-kept
fingers handling his instruments as
deftly as any surgeon. A little oil
here and there; steady pressure
with short pointed steel tool; faint
click.
There you are, guv-nor," he NUT
tered, strengthening up. Easy as kiss
yer 'and. And if yer waits till I find
me glove I'll open it for yer; but Gin
ger Martins finger-prints are too we'll
known to run any risks"
Still no sound came from anywhere,
though the click as the lock shot back
had seemed horribly loud in the ST.
lence. And then. just as Martin eau
tiously turned the handle and pushed
open the door, Drummond stiffened
suddenly and switched off his torch.
He could have sworn that he heard
the sound of voices close by.
Only for second-they were In
stantly silenced; but just for that
fraction of time as the door opened he
knew he had heard men speaking.