The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-02-24

the fundamentals of behavior in
the presence of bandits. But II
only he could recognize one of the
robbers
The collection was finished and
the two men with the loot left the
restaurant. The man at the rear rose
from his stool, held his pistol in q
pocket and joined his companion al
the door. The latter tried to reach
the cash register, on a shelf back
of the counter, but failed.
"Come here, Chef" he called
Hold your hands together, dow,
in front Of you. Open this ma
chine"
Tony walked toward him. He
heard one car back from the curl
and move off. Furiously his mino
sought some means Of twartine
these remaining bandits. But there
appeared to be no help. Angrily he
pressed the mo Sale" key and the
cash drawer opened.
The man. with the glasse.
reached for the bills, leaning fal
over the cigar counter. His face
Tony thought, was not one III
knew. The other man stood will
his back to the restaurant, a hant
on the doorknob. Tony though
of the telephone, and glanced a
it over his shoulder. The glanc'
was not lost ON the cash drawei
looter. He murmured something
to his companion.
The man at the door drew from
a pocket and handed over an ex-
ceptionally large pair of pliers
The man with the spectacles
reached across the counter and
snapped a phone wire with the
cutting edge of the tool. Tony
stiffened, as If he had had physi-
cal shock.
The robbers went out, with a
parting admonition. There was
the sound of the second car pull
ing away.
With a sob, Tony ran around
the end Of the counter to the door
"I1l get the cops!' he called back,
and dashed out. needless of the
weather. Racing down the street
to the police station, two blocks
away, he fought for composure.
welcomed the wind chilling his
hot face. .,.
He recognized the pliers.
The police sergeant and two
patrolmen. routed from the comfort
of the station house, found the Dog
Wagons customers quite recovered
from any fright, but the thrill
remained and a tornado Of talk was
In progress.
After futile few moments the
sergeant conceived the idea OF
pursuit along the bandits automo-
bile tracks in the fresh snow, ano
the patrolfnen set out in their car
returning soon, however, to re-
port that the tracks had all but
disappeared by reason Of the vino
and continuing snow fall and
anyway, they were found to min.
gle with other fading tracks or
the main highway.
The sergeant meanwhile, having
sent out such alarms as occurred
to him and which he relayed by
various messengers to the police
station, began the tedious task OF
listing the money and articles
stolen. He was somewhat ham,
pered by the fact that genera
conversation continued at hig.,
speed. frequently including ever
the person whom the sergeant was
trying to question. Fortunately
no individual loss appeared tc
have been great Several persons
had been robbed of watches, all
had lost money, from small.
change to SO or SO. Someone re-
marked that the robbers should
have waited until Saturday
night, when wallets would have
been full.
1t was the arrival of the first OF
the milkmen's hour customers
which caused the sergeant to adj
journ the questioning to the police
station, and he ordered all con-
cerned, excepting Tony, to follow
him.
Didn't recognize any Of the
guys, eh, Tony?" the officer asked
as he started out.
"Never saw any of them before
far as I know" Tony replied, hop
ing his voice was steady.
"Well, I'll see you later. when
I've finished with these" said the
sergeant, motioning the company
to Join him.
All Of the Stagecraft group
went out. still talking excitedly
exchanging constantly revised
notes on their reactions. Tony
turned to the new customers.
The new customers wanted Il
know all about 1t. Tony gave thu
first of a series of recitals tina
was to continue, as other custom.
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