The Safe Breakers' Gang — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

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The order was uttered more sharply this time, and the ~ mot taken wholly by surprise. tough could see that the hand of the other clutched the The two ruffians, who flung themselves upon him, were! revolver more tightly while his forefinger lightly pressed Soth powerful men, and much heavier than himself. One | the trigger. had a sand-bag, and the other brass knuckles, and being) Out came the reluctant hands. At the same time the thus equipped in genuine thug style, it was no wonder) owner of them cast a backward glance at his comrade, <i that they thought themselves sure of their man. who still lay upon the floor where he had fallen under | - But they counted upon giving him a complete surprise. | the swift blow of Quimby Hall. ‘* , - In this they were so thoroughly mistaken that the sur-| “@Goin’ to pull mein? Lord t_bhut what have I done to * q prise was visited wholly upon themselves. ‘have them things put on me—hey? Can’t ye stand a bit met] | Bi The man with the brass knuckles aimed a deadly blow at) of a joke from a couple of young chaps as has been takin’ Opie the detective’s face. But the face was not there when the a sup of somep’n as makes ’em feel uncémmon good %” 1 | blow arrived, and in consequence tke assailant was} Click !—wenit the handcuffs on the wrists of the thug. thrown against the door by his own momentum. “T’m just returning the joke, in my Own way, my L The other assailant swung his sand-bag aloft simul-| daisy !” smiled Quimby, as he bent over the other ruffian a | taneously, and brought it down with terrific force. to perform the same office for him. | 7. ee? x But the agility of Quimby Hall eluded that also, and| “Be ye goin’ to pull us in?” ft 1 ig the unexpected forward movement of the first ruffian| ‘That depends.” | brought the latter into nearly the same position as that; And the blue eyes of the “ sandwich” of “three H’s” | originally occupied by the detective. again met the shrinking gaze of the sand-bagger. 7 | As aresult, the one with the brass knuckles received; “Ye think we’ve been doing somep’n out the way ?” | the partially spent force of the sand-bag on his own right} “TI think you meant to lay me out in regular shape !” 4) | | | Sy te > bs » +" hp 7 ~ > a 4 hs See a ae » Ne" . tl a> 3 te Ty S Soot Avge ale -_- . = ss, *'s ~ * * a - NET oy —~ —_— = ° 2 —~ 4. * ‘ et a —~ yy a he eS a nee se ae. ~ it~ a sy ~ In — —_ a, out ce ae [aw 2 ee arm, bringing to his lips a yell of rage and pain. “ But I’m telling of ye, that was only a bit of fun!” | i Thus resulted the tirst attack of the two ruffians, par-; “You meant to kill me!” persisted Quimby Hall, in an te tially disabling one, and placing both at a temporary dis-|invincible tone. “But you tackled the wrong chicken. F advantage. Now, you are pining for a show at begging off. Let me a Quimby Hall was not the man to miss the opportunity | tell you, I think I can fetch both of you to electrocution ! thus gained. You area pair of thugs of the worst sort, and your busi- A lightning like blow from his left hand stretched the ness is killing !” 7 man with the brass knuckles upon the floor, effectually | ‘‘Lord bless ye—you’re too hard on us! Why, I ain’t putting him hors de combat. And before the other could but nineteen, and Jimmy there is only twenty.” i : gather himself for another blow with the sand-bag, he} ‘‘You’ve got to do some talking, if you want me to let s3 found himself looking into Quimby’s revolver. ‘up on you. Mind, I’m not going to promise anything. q “Think twice before you strike!” warned the “sand-' But IH merely give you a chance to win a bit of mercy. if wich” of the ‘‘three H’s,” as he met the threatening gaze | My heart is as hard as flint, so you will have to come 4 and attitude of the sand-bagger with his unflinching eyes. down pretty mellow, if you would make an impression | fi ( “Drop the bag!” he added, as the other seemed de- ) on it.” f termined to face him out without yielding. | Quimby had begun in a bantering tone ; but now he be- | And the brutal implement fell with a thud ,upon the came almost fierce in his earnestness. i | floor. | He did not expect to get a great deal of truth out of a “You tackled the wrong innocent that time, as it were !” ‘these ruffians; yet he knew that they would be willing to ee Quimby continued, reaching back and locking the door to’: eqame to almost any terms rather than stand trial upon | make sure that no reinforcements should steal in upon | the serious charge which he could bring against them. | him from the rear. “What can we do, boss? We’re willin’ to be fair wid ,. “Tt was alla joke, boss! We wouldn't really have hit) ye, if only ye’ll let this little scrap go for a joke. Fun is | ye! Weare a rough set here, and we plays rousin’ jokes, fun, boss, and we never thought we'd be bavin’ a fly-cop but we don’t knock out any men! So put up yer gun {| onto us for it.” 3 | | It’s all right, boss, and don’t yer forgit it!” “There is just one thing you can do which will egret a Y “Yes, my daisy, it’s all right, and you may gamble on| me consider your case before turning you into the station. | it,” drawled Quimby. “And what be that, boss?” | ote “Then put up yer gun, won’t yer?” “You can tell me why you made this attempt to lay me d P “In just a moment, my daisy, only don’t get impatient | out?” fi about it, for I won’t shoot unless you try some shenanni-| “It was a joke, boss i gins, in which case I’ll agree to shoot quick and straight.| ‘Hold on!” the “sandwich” broke in. And the other ie = «=, te >. d . ‘\ owe tn,” att “~*~ r Ld P ~~~ EP» ay Ve. heat, 0) Pabhee a ree Wht é ‘ arr , ; re - iy " ae, ee: uw ; aathon Wy ; -c j . , . ie ae “YY . re -h a" > mae , « ° " : ~ gg gt Tt i * ~ + er. ~ _ an | ippers, and be lively about it.” aused. 3 ee fe te is had See steel bekcatote coats to put them P “T want the truth, without any adornments. Who hired , s oe on the wrists of the ruffian. you to lay me out? You wouldn’t have taken the risk for a: Bae ee The latter hesitated. There was a Bienen ee - wine and I know you could have had no personal a } . he detective knew that it would be) grudge. | oe Bois Se ig back upon him for an instant. : “Would it be easier for us, if I told ye who put up the ey Besides, it was more than likely that there were others | game on ye?” | | iw within calling distance, who would be prompt to respond| “It will be harder for you if you don’t tell. It may not to a signal from either of the thugs. go very easy with you in any case.” Ret aoe a“ ms = cae x — =~ . Cx ne RoR oom Ae ~ os a - ewe * Ff ‘ -. aT os ae iain at +r e aie ae = nae, a ree “a4 dy > - + ’ a me ere oe eye, . : es STA i EP <a 3, hy bare = » ie Int on ad rag x ~ ha oes 7 vn cies ° . ~ = < on «~ Se ee ** —t a et — oe ; yo — Et sage ae Set y as-3 Ts a) | AR*) 4 LM Lh ; | C = 1 Gr oe Aa } J *, é ; co