The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-08

annual Belllng Crip, things peg
 On the way from the station to his hotel q truck rammcd his taxi against an elevated pillar. Mir Richberg, only slightly stunned, emerged from the wreck grimly gripping tho square black handbag which held his S25O,000 stock in trade. Refusing urgent offers of assistance, he resumed his journey in another cnb.
 [ That afternoon, ns he was on his way to keep an appointment with a buyer, n woman Htrolllng along the street just ahead of him suddenly staggered, swnyed against him and breathed request that he help her to n handy drug store Mir Rlchberg, tightening his hold on the black bag, assisted her with one arm only, and was surprised at her lack of gratitude.
 Somewhere about 3 o'clock the next morning the telephone woke him and m excited girls voice in- formed him that the hotel was on fire. Two minutes later MT Rich- berg, wearing topcont and pajamns und carrying the black leather bag, was trying to convince a startled elevator boy that he wasn't fleeing from his keeper.
 As q consequence of all thls Nifty Joe Madden was inclined to bo scornful whom he addressed n txio of elegant gentleman In n south side apartment the next afternoon.
 Can't be taken?" he sneered. "Sez you Maybe not be lot of c.. laa !. fa st.,a ULA xsAus0nUa.-..n hltnA man could Btnll you off.--but--"
 "This guy ain't bllnd, protested Curly Blake. "And he aint deaf md ho amt dumb. Try to tako him yourself, and Beo."
 "That's Just what I'm going to do," declared Nifty Joe.
 So when a thunderstorm trap. pod Mr Richberg In Q downtown doorway l0to that day, it was not long before Nifty Joe, in sober raiment, joined him with m um- brclln and m offer to share 1t. In the two blocks to tho diamond brokers hotel Nifty Joo steerod tho conversation to n subject of com mon interest 50 absorbing that they agreed to continue their discus. sion at dinnor. Later in the ove- ming they parted on the friendliest of terms, and Nifty Joe journoycd to the south side to make certain 
 Hnlf.pnst ten next morning found Nifty Joo carrying q largo leather chair in c corridor on the ground floor of Richberg's hotel. Botwocn his chair and m angie In tho wall was e duplicate of Rich. borg's square black hnnd-bag. Ob. tained by the exercise of discretion md some ingenuity, it had been artincinily aged overnight and hnd boon judieiously weighted with in- nocent articles.
 Tho corridor, which led from tho elevators to the lobby of the hotel, was cool and dim. Save for Nifty Joe and n tubby whlte-hntred mnn who doyed in another deep leather chair dingonnlly across from him, it was appropriated.
 NIFTY JOE SERENEI.Y
 AWAITED HIS VICTIM.
 AB he serencly awaited his vic. tim, Nifty Joe congratulated him. self on having selected Bo favor able n spot Tho presence of tho white. haired man asleep or awake, gave him no concern. Ho could bo diverted without suspicion whom tho proper moment came. AN long as Curly got his timing reasonably right, tho job seemed to offer no difficulties.
 It was not many minutes before he saw Richborg BtridIng down tho corrldar, tho black bag swinging at his sido. Nifty Joo raised q casual hand.
 Morning, MT Richberg. Got minute to Bpar0Y"
 Richberg halted. recognized him, and smiled faintly.
 "Icr--helio. I'm in rather hurry just now, what is it?"H
 Nifty Joe waved persuasive hand toward tho chnir beside his.
 "sit down, won't your" Just for n moment"
 Browning slightly, Richberg put his bag on the floor and sat down.
 Here's that stone was telling you last night" continued Joe ns ho took from his finger m orante ring in which was set rather large diamond. Like to take look nt 1t"
 Richberg's frown vanished be- fore this appeal to his professional instinct. Ho reached for the ring, lowed the diamond broker--his arm dropped over the side of the chair and touched tho duplicate studied the stone a moment, and looked up in annoyance.