Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, October 1, 1916, Page 24

“The Grip o THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: OCTOBER 1. 1916. f Evil”’ oL £ NS Autbor of “The Wings of the Morning,” “The Pillar of Light,”’ “The Terms of Surrender,” “Number 17,” Ete. LOUE TR ACY Novelized from the Series of Photoplays of the Same Name. Released by Pathe. Copyright, 1916, by Louis Tracy. Twelfth Episode:--Into the Pit CHAPTER XXIIL | The Hell-Cats. ‘When, if ever, the biography of John Burton, tenth marquis of Castle- ton, & written, his adventure with the gang of notorious criminals known to the police and to newspaper reporters as the “Heli-cats” will probably bulk large In that interesting and exciting record. In the first place, it was through their instrumentality that he had met Grace Coe, an event fraught with the utmost significance L his future life; secondly, he contrived to get himself marked down for the gang's signal vengeance, with resuits which nearly proved disastrous on more than one occasion. The affair began o quietly that no one could have suspected ile oxtraor- dinary cutcomé. One morning John was seated in his study, going through some business papers, v hen his valet announced that a poor \voman wished to see him. Burtun at once gave an emphatic refusal. He had learned long since that philanthropy, if it would \b> reasonab.y su cessful, must act along business lines, and all ap- peals for his assii ce were straight- way referred to a trustworthy secre-- tary, wao either inve:ligated them in perscn or made inquiries through one of the many charitable associa- tions in the city. By this means the young milllonaire vas suved, at lewst, 3 the room became evidint taat the would-be visit r refused to be denied. She had crored ta¢ hull 2nd was striving to eni the fwudy without Aurther announ it, Moreover, John had ‘ieard a soft, well-spoken voice eaying tearfully: “I am sure if conly Mr, Burton would come #nd :eée my mother he would help h There 18 no one in all this large cily more deserving of ce." ;. Bitter experience should have taught Durton that the more plausi- ble the story the greatér chance there ‘was that it might be bised on deceit But he never could refuse the pppen) of a woman so. ¢han ring lis' mind he bade the v luw the applicant to enter. Yet, «oms cezree of pru- dence having been forced on him by events, he no sooner suw that the new-comer was young and good look- Ing than he 1ade a cecret sign which warned the servant (. remain within ea t. R The. girl, who w very poorly dressed, and seemed to be i a state of uine misery, toid him that her name wis Blanche Griffin. “My mother has been broken down by anxiety and iliness,” rhe explained. “Father died two years ago, and my brother is in a hospital, haying been serlously injured while at work in a munition factory. We have ' really tried hard, Mr. Burton, to keep body but my mother to have our ttle family trouljes investi- the ladies who coine around they term ‘slum work.! It our fault that we have to live slums, and it is hard on broken- jown working people that they should classed with outcasts simply be- ‘sause poverty had overtaken them.” The plea was nothing new to John, He ha &nonh ln:a'n'n th; d’lrzfl.t w"unl ong 3 on and Industrious »’;':or. and one of the chief difficulties | charity)has 1o conquer t about A i pride to its suf- : ewhat attracted, r the girl's manner and appear- ‘e % 1 g at e *\fmm foufid" he engagem: of importance . The weather was fine, et named by the girl was t, so John decided to her, and, a® his car was y out of commission, they “’T ether on foot. mt e vilet happened to be an ly observant man. He was Il acquainted with his mister's ent, and regretted the softe impulses which seemed to Into 8o much trouble. formed a somew o: of Bluu:;u Grg- A wn:‘h rags and ready L HM ecelve him at all. He that the girl was well nourished, her hair been tinted, and u‘gmu bore traces of make- n his master and the crossed the avenue and into a side street, they were by @ stocky, overdressed man who seemed to have been wal their appearance. At 'lay rate, for some reason which the et himself could hardly ex- plain, this latest escapade of his mast- er rendered. him uneasy. Above all else, he did not like the name of the mmy lven by the girl as her moth- ble THat decent working.cloes poopie ent working class people would live there at all. . 80, deeming it best to satisfy these doubts, he took his'hat and fol- ? Burton and Blanche. On turn- ¥ the first corner he saw them walk- about two hundred yards ahead. an /interven! street corner he ‘was surprised to find the flashily dressed man in conversation with a . certain Bllly Reilly, whom the valet Bowemployed setiment Tk by 0] n settlement wor y o Miss Grace Coe, only daughter of local banker. The valet, who sym- with rescue work, had looked i at the settlement once or twice, and - had up & sort of acquaintance with ly, and he had no hesitation mow In approaching him. By the time drew near, Reilly had parted from and was watching the ous eyes as the man 5 ly down the street after and his companion. “Who is that fellow, Bill?" inquired 5 fl a tough known as ‘Two-Gun " sald Rellly. “He's one of the -men among the Hell-cats, told me that they have tow. nstantly grew very wide indeed. i he just mean by a 17" he inquired. K they're puttin’ up some gfl‘ oung fellow who has far d W Blanche Griffin." you know h.r, too?” sald the ughly startled. Bhe's their decoy. comes near the wet- d heavens, ma ' my master, Mr, John onaire, and that young our house with a yarn m!flmf"e‘me ‘the address, and Bill, g his new-found re- ‘swore softly upder his ’M the ng< lace where out,’ hl; mut‘t’orod at once,” sald the et o) 8 find a cop, an’ tell himn just what you | have told me. There’s no use in him and you coming &lone. He must ring| up the station house and get the re- gserve squad along. And, hurry!| When the Hell-cats mean business they put in quick action!™ | Meanwhile, John Burton was heing entertained by Blanche to a moving | story of hardship and distress, un- alleviated by a solitary gleam, of hope | or happiness. Had John been wiser | he might have been rendered cautions | by this very fact. The poor are not| unhappy. 7They make light of their privations: having few wants, they| have equally few desires. The mere | habit of living from hand to mouth entails a careless juggling with fate which is by no means indicative of wretchness. It Is almost safe to say | that there i= more real joy &nd con- | tent in many a hovel than in a king's| palace. Be that as It may, John was soon | undeceived. His companion led him into a tumble-down tenement. After traversing rickety stairs and dark, evil-smelling passages he found him- self in a large and very well-lighted room. His quick ears caught the click lof a lock, and he turned to ask the| girl why she was thus securing the| door, when he became conscious that | several men had entered through | other doors, apparently leading to| bed-rooms or closets, 1 ‘Gne giance at the nearest ruffian| told Burton how Youtrageously he had | been swindled. Without a spolen word he leaped toward the 8oor and | endeavored to open the lock, believ- | ing that if he could only gain the nar- row passage he might be able to fight his way out. | To his surprige, the door opened in | bis face, und Two-Gun Jake entered. | The gun-man took in the situation in | v second, and flung himself at Bur- ten's neck. John was momentarily | staggered by this unexpected assault, | Before he could recover himsgelf he twas grabbed by a dozen hands und pinned againstia wall, He had never before set oyes on such a loathsome crew as the men ‘nto whose clutches he had fallen, Zuch face bhore the fmpress of crime and drink. The low forehead, the wolf-like jJaw, the receding chin, eyes baleful with lust and avarice—these | were the features common to the Hell-| cats, who, Indecd, must have been named by an artist in criminal homen+ clature. Two-Gun Jake relinquished his hold when his assistants were able to se- cure John without his help. “80, you are the wise guy who goes around flashing dollar bilis for the benefit of the deserving poor?” guffawed loudly “Wel), 1 there's no cne more in need of your kind . help than this yer crowd. We're goin’ to trouble you, Mr. Burton, for ten thousand plunks. That's our price —not a cent less, take, you're goin' to pay and keep a | shut mouth afterward, or we'll in- crease your weight by several ounces of good solid lead. Now, what's it to be? A friendly settlement, or the other thing?" i Burton did not reply at once. He was trapped and knew it. He looked almost [compassionately at the ‘gir] who had decoyed him to this den, and she flushed violently under his plere- ing gaze. He noticed that a wizened | 0ld hag was now gtanding by Blanche Grimn's side, and” apparently gloating over the success of the stratagem which brought t.&ll rich prize within the toilh bit Jolin had-& esting 1 pression that the girl was secretly u)&nmed tg her ghare in the work. He endeavered to temporjse. “It fg\l ‘!illow" have & . he sald, “‘you must know quite well that even a man reputedly wealthy does not carry large sums of money in his pocket. Moreover, if 1 Send to my bank for any such amount as that which you demand, there will certainly be an ‘Investigation before it is handed over to your messenger. Now, if you will be reasonable I am willing to help you—even by yurchas- ing my freedom If you Insist on put- ting it that way—but I must warn you that you are simply courting disaster by asking for such a pre- posterous flgure.' “You can chuck that here and now, broke in Jake, flercely. “All you've g to do, mister, is to sign your check, or send for your check in your pocket. ¢ ¢ ¢ him!" he went on, wi! #ign to the othel Le merning an' he'll soon be glad to get it here.” A ferocious grin on the man's face showed that he meant exactly what he said, He would stop short of no vile means to enforce his demands. Of course, Burton should have ylelded forthwith and trusted to the law to avenge his wrongs, but his gorge rose at the notion that these ruffians should be able to plunder him with Impunity, and he risked everything on a new and desperate effort to free himself. 'hysically, he was a match for any three among them, but it was a fool- ish thing to tackle a dozen des- peradoes, any one ‘of whom might have put a summary end té the af- fair by knife or. pistol. Two-Gun Jake was evidently afraid that something of the sort might hap- pen. As John we t down under a combined attack hc¢ heard the lead- er's warning yell: “Tie him up, the swine, but hurt him too much. Hé¥s nothin’ dead.” CHAPTER XXXIV. The Vendetta. The fight had ended and Burton was lying on the floor, helpless in the grip of his assailunts, when the gang was startled by an imperative knock on the door which communicated with the main entrance. Whoever it was that thus demanded admittance, he or she was not only in a great hurry, but knew the Hell-cats' secret code, §0 the door was thrown open without :my hesitation, and Bl Rellly rushed n, “You've got to quit, boys!" he shouted, "an’ be quick about it, as the cops will have this place surrounded in just ten seconds.” Now, Reilly's past record was bad enough, or food enough, according to the point of view of the hearer, that warning from his lips should be ed to with respect. It was true he not been seen of late in his accustomed haunts, but it was nothing new for a member of tie gang to re- tire from society for several months, or years—for such perlod, in fact, os & judge might determine—and then nj:lu the circle as though time were no But Two-Gun Jake was not minded to let his holgnrl disperse without making good his threats against Bur-. ton. 'The man was noted for the cal- lous brutality with which he would wreak spite on any victims who dis- appointed him in the matter of money. He had been known (o leave for dead an unfortunate bank messenger whose wallet produced only eighty dollars in- stead of the eighty thousand which the thief had expected. He drew a knife now, and stooped over the prostrate Burton. “You hear?” he growled vindic- tively. “The cops are comin’; you've Just got five seconds to decide what u mean to do, or this knife will be ‘;nu in you!™ ‘on't worth he | guess | An' make no mis-| He, to ) v cofmmbn | ihdér Qm.‘ unlted Witack of four or | | “IHIS WOMAN LURED ME INTO THE TRAP,"” EXCLAIMED BURTON. X’hlrton would probably have re- garded the man's threal as a sheer bluff, but BIll Rellly knew better, und realized that if the young millionaire’s life was to be saved he m act fi lessly, and at once. Rushing at Two- Gun Jake, he spun the man off his feet with a very eifective upper-cut. This assault com ng from such an unexpected quarter, momentarily stupefied the Hell-cats, and the men holding Burten relaxed their grip. As a resuit, John regained his feet, and was thus able to heip Reilly In the furious struggle which ncw breke out, because Jake was the first to under- stand Reilly’s strategy, and promptly called on his associates to put- the traitor “out of business.” - “He's only playin’ for time,” he yelled. *Go to It, boys, an' get both of ‘em! The marvel was that revolvers were not used; possibly some sense of real and Instant danger withheld the gang from creating more nolge than was absolutely neceesary. They put forth every effort, however, to overcome the two men, and Burton could only see Lout. of ithe of his eye that his uns known rescuer was making a gallant fight against overwhelming odds. 0, was about to collapse again i five men, whenithe door was burst open, and a number of police in uni- form appeared. The fight stopped then and there, of course. The sole intent of every ras- cal among the Hell-cats now was to save his own skin, so the room emp- tied as though by magic except those who had been gripped by the officers of the law at the first onset, Burton noted in a dazed sort of way that the man who had taken such risk in order to help him had disappeared with the rest. This fact puzzled him. He could not understand it at all. He yet had to learn that if Reilly were Seen to be in active collusion with the olice his life would undoubtedly be orfelted, since the Hell-cats would strain every nerve to punish him. Rellly's only chance of safety in the future Jay in convincing. his former criminal assoclates that he had really meant well by them in bringing a warning of police intervention, and that he had attacked Two-Gun Jake merely to put an end to a foolish and untimely argument. In order to de- celve the Hell-cats he must also evade the police. In addition to this he did not wish the police to think he had fallen from grace. So he delibarately headed off the latter in their pursuit of the major portion of the gang, and drew them to a trap-door opening onto a flat roof, & means of escape which he had often used in his unregenerate days. It 1s not to be denied that some- thing of the fearful joy which attaches itself to daring crime pulsed once more in Rellly's veins as he fled with the hounds of the law yelping on his heels. He followed a familiar path, At the end of a sloping roof he knew he would find a raised balustrade which would check an otherwise in- evitable descent into the street far beneath, From the flat top of the cornice it was possible to spring across an alley to the roof of the nearest house, and thence climb, cat-like, among a forest of chimneys to a well- remembered fire escape. Rellly was slightly out of condition, but his nerve was steady as ever, and he took that spectacular leap through midair with all his old confidence. He hung back purposely until the hand of the nearest policeman was actually outstretched to clutch him. He'counted altogether on the fact that the men would balk at that unnervin jump, because, such is the force ol imagination, the average individual will faiter at a spring high up above the ground which would not demand any display of courage or resolution if Of coursé, he was able to gain a slight respite by reason of his knowl- | edge of the famillar but intricate turns in the Settlement building. Thus, he dashed into the office used by Miss Girace Coe a few seconds in advance; of the hue and cry. The girl looked up with an air of surprise, sinceé her trusted assistant was not in the habit of entering so unceremoniously. “ “Don't ask me to explain now, miss,” he panted brokenly. “I'll make everything clear in a minute or two. Hide me from the police! Tell them I'm not here. It's all right, miss; it is, really!" He could say no more. The girl had to decide in an instant, but she laced implicit trust in the man, and ade him enter a_closet in which she usually kept a macintosh and some spare clothing)in case of bad weather. A policeman dashed in and asked her if she had seen a man whom he described hurriedly, and who obvi- ously could be none other than Reill , “No," she,spld, on the spur of the thomebt AR He ot atert The policeman, however, was a dogged person, and not to be put off his purpase. by Woman's: wiles, .. “I'm afrafd I'll' have to search, miss,” he sald firmly, and, after a quick glance around the room, tore open the clofbt door. JReilly's subterfuge was now at an end. He must either fight or yleld. He might have endeavored to trip the policeman, and seek a new refuge, when any chance of success in this respect was completlv spoiled by the appearance of other officers. Grace, however. intervened. She placed her hand on the policeman’s arm and sald earnestly: “I am sure this man has done noth- ing wrong. He is one of my most ioyal helpers.” “Can’'t help that, miss,” said the po- liceman gruffly. ‘““We caught him on the job. If he's honest why did he run?”’ g‘he argument was unanswerable, Reilly was handcuffed forthwith, and would have been led away in durance ‘vile had not Burton come in with the valet.. Of course, John recognized immediately the man whose valiant intervention had saved him from seri- ous injury if not from death itself. “Why,” he cried in amazement, “this chap is on our side. He helped me at a critical moment. If he had not fought with the utmost courage I would have had a knife between my. ribs." The police looked surprised, as well | they might, but 'Burton explained matters so lucidly and Grace Coe's tribute to' Reilly’s character was so convincing that they had no option Dbut to release the prisoner, . They saw, too, that they must not cite him as a witness, because his up- pearance in behalf of the authorities ‘would practically condemn him to death, His testimony was not really needed, since they themselves had caught the gang while actually en- gaged in a kidnaping outrage which might easily have eventuated in mur-| der. So they went away having taken | full details of the affair from its in-| tended victim, and Reilly slipped out of the office soon afterwards in order to change his clothes and remove from’ his face and hands the evidences of that breathless struggle. Burton was therefore left alone with Grace Coe, the valet having gone witl the police. It was the first time thc two had met, and John, finding him- self in the company of a charming young woman whose life was devoted to philanthropic effort, expounded the theory which possessed him like a nightmare. “I do not agree with you Mr. Bur- ton,” she answered. ‘‘My experience of life leads to a directly opposite con- clusion, It is nothing new to me to hear such views, however, because my own father holds that it s impossible to reform a criminal, but I am cer- tain that this terrible verdict on man- kind is both unjust and unwarranted by the facts. Why, you owe your life today to Bill Reilly, a notorious bur- glar who has committed numerous crimes and has served several terms in the penitentiary!™ John was decidedly taken aback by the girl's vigorous defense of her pro- tege. He smiled, and did not reply at once. Looking around the trim of- fice, with its businesslike equipment and practical air, he decided to in- vestigate Miss Coe's theories. “l amn interested in settlement work,” he said at last. “I have seen something of it already—under dif- ferent conditions—and would like to learn your methods. May I come occasionally and help you?” Grace blushed prettily. Not every day did she receive offers of assistance from young and good-looking million- aires. “We are always glad of the co-op- eration of earnest-minded people,” she said simply, and John liked her all the more that she did not accept his services too readily. Oddly enough, Grace's convictions were tested severely that very night. Infuriated by the failure of his at- tack on Burton, Two-Gun Jake re- solved to break into the Coe's home and rifle it of money and Jjewels. Blanche Griffin was his tool. When he had forced a window and seen that the coast was clear he helped his con- federate to enter Grace's boudoir. The girl was actually collecting a number of valuables when she upset a vase, and was surprised by Grace, who walked in from her bedroom and switched on a light. Instead of screaming for help she | caught the would-be thief by the arm, spoke to her kindly, and soon brought tears to Blanche's eyes. Jake, witnessing this scene from the garden, was so astounded by it that he neglected his own job and was grabbed by a patrolman, who straight- e DrBenaFBanze SANATORIUM Lo Tt This institution is the only one in the central west with separate buildings situated in’ their own ample grounds, yet entirely dis- tinct, and rendering it possible to classify cases. The one building being fitted for and devoted to the treatment of non-contagious and non-mental diseases, np others be- .|| ing admittéd; the other Rest Cot~ tage being designed for and de- voted- to the exclusive treatment of select mental cases requiring for a time watchful care and spe- cial nursing. LU Rl AR R TG i LR Lt P TR TR TR T T TR U L T way brought him into the lighted room. Grace, however, was true to her principles. She denounced the police- man and literally dumfounded Jake by declaring that Blanche was her maid! The result was that Jake was set at liberty, and Grace kept the dis- credited Blanche in the house as her guest. Blanche Grifin was so over- come by this treatment that shé prom= ised to reform and undertook to cut herself adrift from the Hell-cata forthwith. Thus far things had gone well, but the day's doing had sown the seeds of future mischief, and John Burton was destined to recelve further and very bitter proof of his theory that humanity was in the Grip of BEvil, even)as his meeting with Grace Coe had /brought to him the realization that there was something of good in the world, (End of Twelfth Episode.) Referring Front Lace Corsets If you wear front lace corsets, ask for and in- sist on seeinga Redfern. They are unusual models of the rare qual- ities that have made the name Redfern the standard of corset style, whether back lace or front lace. Gowels- B0 LSS IRARI L SSR T LTINS B34 IS TR ST ALITELO ] SPTVSE G SRA CYLOTI AT PO TR R SRSV SR LA T T RS $3 and up at_high class stores. (The Protecting Tongue E and the Soft Top Clasp) i M| Oldest Bank in Nebraska. ' The United States National Bank of Omaha; Capital Stock, $1 ,000,900.00 Surplus and Profits, $880,837.00 Total Resources, $19,757,533.00 taken on terra-firma. In one respect, however, Reilly caleulations erred. 'He had not resi- ized how thoroughly the patrolman called on by the valet had organiz his forces to surround the bulldin Not only were policemen in over- whelming numbers stationed at every exit from the Hell-eats' headqudrters, but vedettes: occupled strategic points on every possible line of retr.at. 8o Rellly's daring leap was noted, and the pursuit was developed by others who had not been called on to negotiat: that ugly-looking chasm. The fugitive contrived to get down his favorite fire escape only to find the pack in full cry behind {um. He ran, the policemen ran, a gathering crowd tailed in behind, and so a veritable mob swarmed around the Settlement when Reilly dashed through its hospitaille portal. It was now hopelessly out of the auestion that he should stop and ex- plain. He must carry through the pre- tense to the bitter end, because a hun- dred pairs of eyes would eagerly de- vour every phase of the capture when he was erabbed by the police, and a hundred tongues retall the astoundi fact that this master criminal a gone off on the best of terms with the “cops.” g WILLIAM E. RHOADES, Vice President. SIXTEENTH AND FARNAM STREETS UNITED STATES DEPOSITORY OFFICERS GURDON W. WATTLES, Chairman of the Board. @®ILTON T. BARLOW, President. JOSEPH C. McCLURE, Assistant Cashier. CHARLES F. BRINKMAN, Ass’t. Manager Credit Department. ; DIRECTORS MILTON T. BARLOW, President. GEORGE BRANDEIS, President J. L. Brandeis & Sons. EDWARD L. BURKE, President Kent & Burke Co. SAMUEL 8. CALDWELL, of Coal Hill Coal Co. EDWIN A. DUFF, President Duff Grain Co. THOMAS A. FRY, President Drexel Shoe Co. GEORGE E. HAVERSTICK, Vice President. GEORGE H. KELLY, President Adams ‘& Kelly Co. GURDO‘;‘}C;V.PPVGVkT?rT;:hS., & C. B. 8t. Ry. Chairman of the Board, President Omaha & C. B. St. Ry. Co. CASPER E, YOST, President Nebraska Telephone Co. CHARLES W. LYMAN. EDGAR M. MORSMAN. ABRAHAM L. REED, Presdient United States Trust Co. Established 1856, Accounts of Banks, Corporations, Firms and Individuals Solicited. GEORGE 'E. HAVERSTICK, Vice President. ROBERT P. MORSMAN, Cashier. GWYER H. YATES, Assistant Cashier. WILLIAM E. RHOADES, Vice President. BENJAMIN F. SMITH, : of Smith Bros., New York & Omaha, WILLIAM A. SMITH, Deposits in the Savings Department draw Interest at the rate of 39%-—compounded semi-annually. ONE DOLLAR WILL OPEN AN ACCOUNT Safety Deposit Boxes in the Safe Deposit Department for the storage of securities and valuable papers Three Dollars per year upward. I ~ b