Sedrovitch, glad to get away, took
McCool’s car and raced off along the narrow
mountain road until he came to the first
telephone. In a few minutes he was talking
to Constable Nelson.

“All right, all right, don’t get excited,”
Constable Nelson returned, “just get back
there and keep an eye on the fellow and
be sure he is still in the roundhouse. I'll
be right down.”

A short time later Constable Nelson
arrived at McCool’s store. Mr. McCool
gave him all the details about Van.

“He's still at the roundhouse,” the store-
keeper said, “Ill get some men and we'll
help you to arrest him.”

“Thank you,” Constable Nelson returned,
“T don’t think Ill need any help. Il
handle it alone. That’s my job. You've
done your part well.”

The officer then donned a suit of cover-
alls. He slipped his revolver and handcuffs
into the pockets of the garment and then
spoke to McCool.

“He'll think I’m a railroad man if he sees
me come into the roundhouse.”

McCool and Sedrovitch watched the
Constable leave the store and go towards
the roundhouse. They saw him enter the
door and were awaiting the crash of gun-
fire. If, they told themselves, Van ever
suspected that this man was a police officer
determined to arrest him there would be
trouble. A man who had shot and killed
three people wasn’t likely to surrender to
a single man without putting up a deter-
mined fight for his freedom. The store-

With Compliments to the
'B. C. POLICE

Port Alberni
Social Club

PORT ALBERNI, B.C.

Page Twenty-eight

keeper and his clerk were nervous, as they
might well be.

Constable Nelson, however, wasn’t of
the nervous type. He was a policeman
sworn to uphold the law and he didn’t
expect half the town to help him. He wasn't
much impressed by Van’s fearsome reputa-
tion. He'd met a lot of these so-called
“tough babies” and had learned that they
were tough only under certain conditions.
Give them all of the breaks and they would
be hard to handle. Get them on even ground
and they were no worse than other men.
The fact that Van had shot and killed three
people made no difference. Constable Nel-
son was ready to shoot it out with him
if it was necessary, but strategy would be
used if possible.

The officer walked slowly into the sha-
dows of the roundhouse. He stood there
a moment looking around to enable his eyes
to become accustomed to the changed light.
He acted just as if he were a workman. He
started to walk towards the boiler room and
as he did so he saw the figure of a man
seated with his back to the wall. The fellow
appeared to be asleep but that might be
only a ruse to throw anyone off guard.
Nelson wasn’t taken in. He evinced no
interest whatever in the seated figure. He
noted that the man’s long arms were folded
across his propped knees but his hands were
close to the short barrelled rifle which pro-
truded from the straps on a_ packsack
beside him. It would take only a second to
reach that rifle.

Constable Nelson made no hasty moves.
It would have been posible for him to make
a sudden leap and pinion the man’s arms
to his side. But that would have given him
a chance to reach his gun. This, Nelson
decided, would not do. There was the risk
that the man was only feigning sleep; that
underneath the brim of that hat were a pair
of keen eyes watching his, Nelson’s, every
move.

The boiler draft was humming. The
sound softened Nelson’s footfalls as he
neared Van. He still appeared to be ignor-
ing the apparently sleeping figure. He acted
as if he were a workman inspecting the
machinery. He moved closer and closer to
Van.

There was still the chance that Van was
playing possum. The officer was now

BLOEDEL, STEWART & WELCH LTD.

Manufacturing

PACIFIC COAST FOREST PRODUCTS

Port Alberni, B.C.

standing in front of him. Nelson made 4
swift decision. His hand moved toward
his pocket. It closed on cold metal, his
handcuffs. No dramatics for him. It woul
have been easy to whip out his gun and
order the man to surrender; very effectiy
but a triffle melodramatic. Suddenly Nelso,
acted. His handcuffs were out. In a quick
movement he had snapped them around the
wrists of Van, who now came alive ing
hurry.

“George WVandervich, you are unde
arrest,” was all that Constable Nelson said

After his arrest, the prisoner requested
that he be sent back to the United States fq
trial, and Constable Nelson and Emmof
escorted the accused to the Internationg
Boundary and handed him over to Sherif
Ripke.

That was the ignominous end of
criminal career that had snuffed out thig
lives in a few minutes and had threatengi
the existence of many others. One offices
who knew his business, and not afraid
a reputation acquired by means of a git
had taken a prisoner who had proven #
he was cunning and possessed of incredi
endurance. But like all other killers he lit
made the mistake of underestimating tt
police, especially those who look after the
law in British Columbia.

For the assistance and information give
to the Police, which led to the capture om
desperate character, Joseph Sedrovitch afi
Forest Ranger Clem Mercer received
special thanks of the Department.

Tourist Headquarters

ARLINGTON
HOTEL

A. A. Ercolini, Manager

HUNTING AND FISHING
INFORMATION

Phone 231

P.O. Box 39
Alberni, British Columbia

Sawmills:
Port Alberni, B. C.
Great Central, B. C.

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