With a second yell Tony dodged behind the safe and besought
Mary to protect him.
From above Benito peered through the hole into the blackness
below. Down the hall came the barefoot landlord, awakened by
the screams and the shot. Behind him came Bridge,
buckling his revolver belt about his hips as he ran. Not having
been furnished with pajamas Bridge had not thought it necessary
to remove his clothing, and so he had lost no time in
dressing.
When the two, now joined by Benito, reached the street
they found the guard there, battering in the bank doors.
Benito, fearing for the life of Tony, which if anyone took
should be taken by him, rushed upon the sergeant of the
guard, explaining with both lips and hands the remarkable
accident which had precipitated Tony into the bank.
The sergeant listened, though he did not believe, and when
the doors had fallen in, he commanded Tony to come out
with his hands above his head. Then followed an investigation
which disclosed the looting of the safe, and the great hole in
the ceiling through which Tony had tumbled.
The bank president came while the sergeant and the landlord
were in Billy's room investigating. Bridge had followed
them.
"It was the gringo," cried the excited Boniface.
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