The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-12
FOR. M.HGGIEJ J.AKE
BY FREDERICK UNITE

much about him, and he realized that he
must move on. Something, however, IN
his self-reliant nature made him resent
being forced to go.
What are you people bounding me
for?" he asked, vindictively. Wasn't
cleared yesterday, and where's any other
charge against me?''
"Oh, come off," replied the other.1''What
is the use of tryin' to bluff it off? You
know the old man, and you know he don't
talk for nothin'. You get clear Of the
town before this time tomorrow, or he'll
fix you sure
s'Huh!" snorted the officer, sinking lux
uriously into an armchair and casting his
helmet upon the table.
Conscious Of his power and rather en-
joying the authority invested in him as
en1issary Of the old man, he was not
averse to a little argument for he knew
that in the end he was bound to come out
ahead. ...-
Huh" he said, with an exasperating
smile. II suppose you hate to leave that
girl of yours. Would myself. Say, but
she's a pretty slick article; almost make
you believe she was tellin' the truth. You
are In luck, young Teller, to get a girl
stuck on you like that
Shorty's face lad grown very white.
You keep your tongue off Of her. he
said angrily. -
The officer chuckled. He was pleased to
have hit upon a sore spot, He was not
naturally cruel, but his contact with GRIM
inals had hardened him He, failed to
credit them as class with any real feel
ing save that of personal gain, and he
Numbered hopelessly in his estimate of the
man before him. -
Its wonder to me- he went on, how
you fellers always get a good-looking girl
to stick by you. Now, that girl Of yours
Leave her alone, I, say Shorty broke
in delibera tely
He was dangerously quiet, but the lines
| about his mouth were deepening and his
fingers gripped the back of chair behind
him.
law, come OFF,! exclaimed the other
contemptuously. You're maxim g. big
fuss about nothin'. We all know what
crooks woman is
The chair behind Shorty seemed to leap
through the air i'll half circle, crashing
down upon the unprotected head of the
| man by the table.
Shorty's 1.-THE body followed the chair,
his fingers searching for the slanderous
| throat. But there was no work for his
| hands to do. The officer half sat, half re-
clined. in huddled heap.
To Shorty, standing there with nervous
| ly tWltchirg fingers, he seemed to have
|. slipped down inside his coat.
!. Those embems of authority-shield and
| buttons-Were futile now. AS a source of
| immediate danger the man need not be
| considered.
l. Shorty drew deep breath. It seemed
long time since he had breathed at all.
He realized fully what he had done, and
| he felt no regret. He knew that the blow
meant not only Punishment for him. but
utter effacement if he wished to retain his
liberty and perhaps his life. The man
might be dead. Well, if he were it served
him right The blow had been struck fol-.
Maggie's sake; that was the main thing.
He had struck with all the might of his
body and all the rage of his soul, and he
had shown how she stood with him. After
) that-what mattered?
Shorty's first thought had been for the
girl. According to his lights, he had done
. what he could for her. Now he must
!, think for himself.
There was only one thing to do-to get
away as soon and as secretly as possible.
He could act quickly and coolly in an
4 emergency. That was a necessary re-
quirement in his business.
=. He stepped to the side Of the injured
man and examined him carefully, He
i still .breathed, but how badly he was hurt
Shorty could not tell.
Perhaps he was only stunned. At any
rate, he could afford to take no chances
. With a rope he bound the inert figure fast
. to the chair and tied a towel about the
lower part Of the face. His enemy could
not move or cry out If he did recover con-
| seriousness. -.
From a hiding place in the chimney he
} produced a number of peculiar looking
tools, and these, with a few clothes, he
quickly packed In a stout valise.
He counted what money he had about
him, nearly s100, and burned a number
of papers in the crate.
Then he was ready to 60
| He put on his overcoat and hat and
walked over to the door.
He wondered how much time he had
They would send around before long to see
why the policeman had not returned, per-
haps in an hour, perhaps not so soon
L Possibly the man had stopped to deliver
his message before going on duty. Then
it might be several hours
= Shorty looked about: the room that ha q
been his home for so long. 1t had meant
much to him. this ROOM Here he had
, spent hours and days with his books il,
t quiet, respectable enjoyment. Here he
had dreamed his dreams of an honest fu-
ture. And now he was going away for
ever, with kit of burglars tools land
leaving a wounded, perhaps dying. man
behind him. He felt a great pity fol-
himself. and what he considered his hard
luck = --
l But it was not only himself. Magsie's
face came before him. In her eyes was
the same beseeching. frightened look thai
hao d1sa rmed him last night For he1
t sake he must CO.. if she wanted him to.
Should he be caught it would NEAR
more trouble for her.
g. Shorty took a last look at his room ig-
E noring the trussed-up figure in the chair
2 Then he quietly stepped into the hall an6
81 locked the door on the outside