The Safe Breakers' Gang — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

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Madam, what is your name?” The safe-breaker turned once more to his work. It was She had risen and stood leaning against the desk. Her nearly two o’clock. There was no telling how soon some- face was very pale, yet there was an invincible light in thing might happen to interrupt him. her beautiful eyes which the speech of the great safe- He had done too much to leave the treasure now. Not breaker had seemed to kindle. | that he cared so much to possess the money which he, “I am Olive Winthrop, wife of Edgar Winthrop, wh knew the vault must contain; but he was chiefly reluctant is the cashier of this bank!” she declared, her voice low to depart and have it published on the morrow that Jules | and firm. Jepworth had failed. “ Wife of the cashier—I see! And where is the cashier “T have never failed!” he uttered from betwixt his shut himself?” pursued Jepworth, upon whom a strong sus- teeth. ) ‘picion of the startling truth was already beginning to He swung the door of the vault open wide and placed a dawn. chair against it. As he did so he looked again at the cat. “Gone!” was her answer. The animal alighted from the desk and was sniffing and | ‘Skipped ?—ran away 2” purring in a peculiar manner about a large linen duster ‘‘He has fled from the city. He will never return that was thrown carelessly, probably by the cashier, over; “If he can help it, you mean. And drawn a few years’ a chair in a remote corner of the room. salary in advance, I dare say ?” “What is the meaning of that?” Jepworth asked him-| ‘He used some of the bank’s funds in private specula- self. ‘tions, and lost. It is the old story—and he was an honest A few swift strides brought him to the chair; in a flash ‘man at heart !” he had thrown aside the duster; alow, feminine cry of; ‘“So am I—at heart '? smiled the safe-breaker. dismay broke the silence! “But he did not intend to take the money without While a revolver seemed to leap into the hand of the returning it, with every penny of the interest.” burglar, he yet felt no alarm, nor did his eyes falter as | “IT gee! Well, I never intend to return any money that they met those of the beautiful young woman who rose I take, and I make it a point to advertise the fact, so I am ee | shrinkingly from her place of concealment. | honest, though in another way. If I pretended that I “Snare me!” she uttered, in a low, tremulous voice. ‘opened safety-vaults for pleasure, and that I didn’t want “And why should Idoso? You would have shut me the money they contained, I should be dishonest, since I into that vault to die a miserable death !” would be hiding my real motives. I mean to accumulate a “No, no!—I meant to release you !” pia fortune in my own way. Your husband and I belong “To fall into the hands of the police.” to the same class of honest gentry, only we pursue differ- “No, not that.” out methods. See?” “Do you expect me to believe that you shut that door, .“ Yes.” when you knew I was inside, and did it merely as a joke?” | And Olive Winthrop, the wife of the absconding cash- “I did it to give myself time. Believe me, I had no ier, shuddered, while the invincible light in her eyes grew thought of betraying you to the police. How could I[ have stronger. done that without telling them that I was here?” “Jf your Edgar has had the first pull on that vault, “And so you don’t care to have the police know that ‘then I’m afraid that I will have a pretty slim show for you were hiding under a linen duster in the bank, and at’ my pains.” | midnight! Well, come to think of it, that might not be! “No, he has taken none of the bank’s money with him,” an agreeable confession for a pretty young woman to; “How is that?” make in court !” “ He lost all in his speculations. To-morrow the annual The thin lips of Jules Jepworth curled in a satirical examination of the bank will be made by the officials, and smile as he spoke. And the eyes of the young woman fell | his trouble will be discovered.” under his penetrating gaze. “When did he go?” She knew in that moment that he read an inkling of her; “Four hours ago, on an express train.” secret, At the same time he quietly put up his weapon,| “And he didn’t take any money with him?” for which he evidently anticipated no further need in his| ‘‘He did not have fifty dollars in his pocket.” dealings with her. “Fool that he was, then! Why, if he was going to clear fe Madam,” he exclaimed, and there was the ring of steel! out, didn’t he put enough in his pocket while he was in his tones. “Let us understand each other. The night- about it, so that he would not have to give himself up to watchman and a policeman are waiting at the rear the authorities to keep himself aud you from starving? entrance of this building. The officer is a very kind man, | And with a pretty young wife, too!” and will give me considerable time to accomplish od Olive Winthrop’s eyes glistened. business which brought me here. Still, even his patience, “That is what I said to him!” she exclaimed, in a husky may be exhausted, and then he would be compelled to whisper. interrupt us. So it is best we talk and act while we may. | “You told him that, did you? Good! Well, did you I do not know what brought you bere, but I know that overcome his scruples ?”” you are as anxious to escape discovery aslam. Youknow “Yes. 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