The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-08-12


''It's none of your business"
81 presume not But as there are no
witnesses to this interesting converse.
ton will venture an opinion that you
robbed the bank"
The young man took a step forward,
but Pony stood his ground, using the
interval to light another cigarette.
II will also venture an opinion, Mr.
Rowell, and say that the money came
as honestly into my pocket as it did
into yours"
THAT wouldn't be saying much for
it. have the advantage of you, how
ever, because the nine points are in my
favor. have possession"
''What are you following me for? To
give me up?'
"You admit the robbery, then?"
81 admit nothing"
at won't be used against you. AS
told you, there are no witnesses. 1t
will pay you to be frank. Where did
you get the money!"
where many another man gets it.
Out of the bank"
II thought so. Now, Forme, you're
not such fool as you look-or act.
You know where all that sort of thing
leads to. You haven't any chance. All
the rules of the game are against you.
You have no more show than you had
against me tonight. Why not chuck
it before it is too late?"
cit is easy for you to talk like that
when you have my money in your
pocket"
But that simply is another rule of
the game. The money of thief is
bound to go into some one elsc's pocket.
Who ever enjoys the cash ultimately?
He never does. Now if you had the
money in your pocket what would you
do?'
81 would go back to Mellish's and
have another try"
81 believe you," said Rowell with,
| for the first time, some cordially in
his voice. He recognized a kindred
spirit in this young man. 'Neverthe-
less it would be fool thing 10 do. You
have two chances before you. You
can become sport as am, and spend
your life in gambling-rooms. Or you
| can become what is called respecta-
BILE business man. Bnt you can't be
both. In a very short time you will
not have the choice. You will be found
out and then you can only be what
am probably not as successful as
have been. If you supplement bank
robbery to your other accomplish
ments, then you will go to prison or,
what is perhaps worse, to Canada.
Which career are you going to choose?"
Come down to plain facts. What do
you mean by all this talk? IL say I'll
quit gambling do You mean that you
will return to me the thousand dollars
and call the other thousand square2'
IF you give me your word of honor
that you will quit"
"And if don't, what them"
"Then on Monday l will hand over
this money to the bank and advise
them to look into your accounts"
And suppose my accounts prove to
be all right what then?"
Rowcll shrugged his shoulders. "ln
that remote possibility will give the
thousand dollars to you and play you
another game for it."
II see. Which means that you cheat
ed tonight"
''If you like to put it that way"
"And what if l denounced you as a
self-confessed cheat?''
1T wouldn't matter to me. wouldn't
take the trouble to deny it Nobody
would believe you"
You're a cool hand, Pony. I adj
mirc your cheek. Still. you've got some
silly elements in you"
"oh, you mean my trying to reform
you? Don't make any mistake about
that. II is Mellish's idea, not mine l
don't believe in you for moment"
The young man laughed. He reflect
ed for few seconds, then said: IN
take your offer. You give me back the
money and / will promise never to
gamble again in any shape or fc, M"
"You will re turn the cash to the
bank, if you took i: from there?"
Certainly. will put it back the
first thing on Monday morning"
"Thcn here is your pile" said
Rowell. handing him the roll of bills.
Forme took it eagerly and. TIA nding
where the light struck down upon him,
counted the bills, while Rowell looked
on silently with cynical smile on his
lips.
Thank you," said the young man;
you're good fellow, Rtwcll."
'I'm obliged for your good opinion.
l hope you found the money correct?''
"Quite right" said Forme, flushing
a little. 81 hope you did not mind my
counting it. Merely a business habit,
You know"
"Well stick to business habits, Mr..
Forme. Good night"
Rowe II walked briskly back to Mel
| lish's. Forme walked toward the
depot and found that there was train
for Chicago at four in the morning.
He had one clear day and part oil
another before he was missed, and as
| IL turned ont ALI trace of him was lost