Part 47 (1/2)
”S'pect you're right,” assented Grayson ”He's probably one o' the and cohty fine place to hide jest now, too
”And say, speakin' of banks,” he went on, ”what'll I do 'bout sendin'
over to Cuivaca fer the pay tomorrow Next day's pay day I don't like to send this here bureaser no better, an' I can't spare none of my white men thet I ken trust”
”Send him with a couple of the ested the boss
”There ain't no sich critter,” replied Grayson; ”but I guess that's the best I ken do I'll send hi with Tony an' Benito--they hate each other too o I reckon they'll hev a lovely trip”
”But they'll get back with the et 'em,” replied Grayson
CHAPTER X BILLY CRACKS A SAFE
BILLY BYRNE, captain, rode into Cuivaca from the south He had made a wide detour in order to accoht it wise to do so In his pocket was a safe conduct froenerals farther south--a safe conduct taken by Pesita from the body of one of his recent victims It would explain Billy's presence in Cuivaca since it had been intended to carry its rightful possessor to Juarez and across the border into the United States
He found the military establishment at Cuivaca small and ill commanded
There were soldiers upon the streets; but the only regularly detailed guard was stationed in front of the bank No one questioned Billy He did not have to show his safe conduct
”This looks easy,” thought Billy ”A reg'lar skinch”
He first attended to his horse, turning him into a public corral, and then sauntered up the street to the bank, which he entered, still unquestioned Inside he changed a bill of large denoiven him for the purpose of an excuse to exa tie
All the time his eyes wandered about the interior while he ht prove of moment to hiarette
He saw that the bank was roughly divided into two sections by a wire and wood partition On one side were the customers, on the other the clerks and a teller The latter sat behind a sh which he received deposits and cashed checks Back of hie safe of American manufacture Billy had had business before with similar safes A doorway in the rear wall led into the yard behind the building It was closed by a heavy door covered with sheet iron and fastened by several bolts and a thick, strong bar There were no s in the rear wall Fronable to silent assault
Inside everything was pri hoeek passed without seeing a bank robbery in the town Possibly the strong rear defenses and the aruard in front accounted for it
Satisfied hat he had learned he passed out onto the sidewalk and crossed the street to a saloon So at little tables in front of the bar A couple of card gah the open rear doorway Billy saw a little gathering encircling a cock fight
In none of these things was Billy interested What he had wished in entering the saloon was merely an excuse to place himself upon the opposite side of the street froht inspect the front fro purchased and drunk a bottle of poor beer, the tehty since it left the bottling departnorant, he sauntered to the frontand looked out
There he saw that the bank building was a two-story affair, the entrance to the second story being at the left side of the first floor, opening directly onto the sidewalk in full view of the sentry who paced to and fro before the structure
Billy wondered what the second floor was utilized for He saw soiled hangings at the hich aroused a hope and a sudden inspiration
There was a sign above the entrance to the second floor; but Billy's knowledge of the language had not progressed sufficiently to perh he had his suspicions as to its uess was correct
Returning to the bar he ordered another bottle of beer, and as he drank it he practiced upon the bartender soh not without considerable difficulty, that he ht upon the second floor of the bank building
Much elated, Billy left the saloon and walked along the street until he caeneral store of the town After another heart rending scrie of Ferdinand and Isabella he succeeded inseveral purchases--two heavy sacks, a brace, two bits, and a keyhole saw Placing the tools in one of the sacks he wrapped the whole in the second sack and