Part 12 (2/2)
Bob saw her to her home and then hastened to his own humble domicile.
When he got there he found the sidewalk in front of the tenement piled up with furniture. Two families were being ejected for non-payment of rent--$9 each. The landlord was there directing the officers. Bob looked on for a few minutes, and then quietly handed a ten-dollar bill to each of the two mothers, saying:
”Go across the street and get rooms. You can get 'em for $8 over there.”
They both sprang up and showered blessings on his head and curses at the landlord.
One day a week later Bob received a tip from Gertie Clayton that Rock Island shares were going to be cornered. Bob saw Fred about it and they watched Rock Island. Pretty soon they saw it advance. Then Fred ordered 15,000 shares bought for the firm. The next day a man called and asked them to lend him $10,000 on a good stock worth double that amount. Fred asked to see the stock. It was K. & T. Fred took the stock to Mr.
Allison for his advice, and the bookkeeper denounced the stock as a clever forgery. When the man heard that he made a s.n.a.t.c.h for the paper, missed it, and then made a break for the door. Fred darted across his path and upset him near the door. He fell heavily, striking the plate gla.s.s and shattering it.
”I'm a dead man!” he gasped, rolling over on the floor, the blood spurting from a cut on the side of his head.
CHAPTER IX.--The Doctor and the Young Banker.
When Fred saw the red stream spurt from the man's neck he sprang back and exclaimed:
”It was the gla.s.s!”
Bob ran out from another room. So did the clerk, and Mr. Allison came around from behind the cas.h.i.+er's desk. Others who heard the gla.s.s rattle down on the sidewalk ran in to see what had happened.
”The man is bleeding to death!” cried some one. ”Send for a doctor!”
”Call an ambulance!” said somebody, and both were summoned.
But ere either could get there the man was dead. The broken gla.s.s had cut a jugular vein and his life ebbed away inside of three minutes. A policeman ran in when he saw the crowd before the bank.
”How did it happen?” he asked.
”He fell against the gla.s.s and it cut his neck,” replied the clerk.
”Did you see it?”
”Yes.”
”Then I want you to go with me and tell the story to the coroner.
”We'll all do that,” said Allison.
”Did you see it, too?”
”Yes.”
”Then I want you, too.”
”Very well.”
The doctor who had been summoned came in and examined the wound.
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