The Wire Devils

Chapter XVII: A Hole in the Wall

-XVIIA HOLE IN THE WALL T HE wound was healed-partially, at least. If the Hawk had unduly shortened his period of convalescence, he was perhaps justified, and not wholly without excuse r He stood now in the black shadows, hugged close to the wall of the roundhouse. And now he moved stealthily forward, until, from a crouched position, he straightened up against the wall at the side of one of the few windows which were lighted. Lanson had strolled aimlessly across the tracks from the station some ten minutes before, and, five minutes later, MacVightie had followed Lanson-to their chosen spot for secret conferences, this little Slcubbyhole" of a turner's office in the roundhouse, as the Hawk, from more than one experience in the past, had very good reason to know. They were in there now, and, as the Hawk was likewise exceedingly well aware, the events of the next few hours, and incidentally his own particular movements, depended very pertinently upon the movements of MacVightie and Lanson. Lanson's voice in quietly modulated tones reached the Hawk: 262 A HOLE IN THE WALL ~6S- "Yes, both trains are on time to the minute; I've taken care of that. And so far there doesn't seem to be a hitch anywhere, and with your men boarding the trains west of here at different stations along the line, and mixing quietly with the passengers, I don't see how anyone could be the wiser on that score. Yes, it looks as though everything were all righteh , MacVightie?" "I don't know; I hope so," MacVightie's deep growl came in reply. "Anyhow, we've carried out instructions from Washington, and it's up to the Secret Service crowd as to how it pans out." "Na, it isn't I" declared Lanson, still quietly. "It isn't up to a soul on earth except those of us who have got the responsibility of this division on our shoulders I I believe the plan is a good one, but because it came from Washington doesn't let us out-not for a minute! What about Birks; has he shown up yet ?" "Not yet," MacVightie answered-and swore suddenly under his breath. "And I don't mind ad· mitting that the crowd down there in Washington make me tired r It's over two weeks ago that I put it up to them. They said they would take the matJ ter under consideration, and in any case would send one of their men, this Birks, out here to make an investigation. But nothing doing! Then, as you know, I wrote them again a week ago, when we knew this Alaskan gold shipment was coming through, and you know their reply; they outlined a plan for us, and stated definitely that Birks would ~64 THE WIRE DEVILS be on deck to-night. Maybe he will-in time to tell us what we should have done I" "The Secret Service isn't a police force," said Lanson tersely. "The only excuse they would have for acting at all would be if your pet theory were correct-that the Hawk and his gang, apart from their systematised murders and robberies, were also the ones who have been flooding the country with those counterfeit ten-dollar notes. You had no actual proof to offer, and Washington evidently hasn't felt quite so sure about it as you have. However, there's no use discussing that to-night. If Birks shows up, all right; if he doesn't-well, I don't see that he could make any difference one way or the other now." There was silence for a moment, then Lanson spoke again. "What worries me as much as anything," he said slowly, "is the express company making a shipment of money at the same time-forty thousand dollars in the car's safe. Of course, it's logical enough with a half million to guard anyway, but it's an added incentive to those devils, that's all. A half million in raw gold isn't any easy thing to pick up and walk off with, and there's more than an even chance that the Wire Devils might pass it up on that account; but with banknotes alone in so large an amount--" "If they know about it!" interrupted MacVightie brusquely. "And it's not likely they do I...