The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-04

a partnership with you. We< can do
this. You go down to the island of
Swat, for instance. I'll show you how
to get there. You stay there for, say
six months or So. You'll be known
everywhere as O'Keefe. You'll get all
you can out of the island-gold and
everything else. It's Gods own coun-
tray down there. Then you'll come
back and I'll go down. In this way
you can escape the police. In the Sec
ond place. I can always have hold
on you, because you are Smith; and
in the third place. both of us will get
richer and richer; and there being two
of us, there won't be so much monot
ony; about it. What do you say about
your keeping close in this house day
or two and then sailing away to be-
come the Akoond of Swat, the king,
eh z"
g Now Smith was no chicken. And
there was just a suspicion of insin-
certify about O'Keefe's manner that he
did not relish. But as he thought the
matter over and as he contemplated
O'Keefe, he concluded that O'Keefe
was sincere after ALL 1t was rather
strange proposition to come from
man who had been shanghaied. but,
after all. there was likelihood that
he was telling the truth, and if. he
WERE then it might be considered from
all sides as a good, sound business
proposition. The more he thought
about it the more he liked 1T. He
knew perfectly well that he could not
escape from Monroe, or from the
United States. He knew that O'Keefe
or one of his men had merely to call
up headquarters and the game would
be up. He knew that he had nothing
to lose and everything to gain. And
O'Keefe seemed to be honest. And If
1T was some kind of a game he would
know it surely before he started off,
Time was essential to him, anyway
time and opportunity. If he refused
he knew what would happen. His
end was near at hand. He could see
his finish"
If he acquiesced-if he accepted the
proposition, then he would have time
and a chance of escape if the worst
came to the worst: and if it did not,
and O'Keefe was square, he could live
for a time safely in obscurity upon the
Isle of Swat. He held out his hand.
"Tll go you" said Constitutional
Smith to Ellington O'Keefe-
Ellington O'Keefe smiled. On the
surface of this smile was one of ex-
IRENE good nature. Actually it was a
smile of the most sardonic kind.
You're a wise man, Smith," he re-
nothing less. That's just what the
Island of Swat is-Gods own country
for fair
From which it may be inferred that
upon this occasion in particular Mr..
O'Keefe had determined to push An
anias in the annals of mendacity close
for first place.
"That being settled continued
O'Keefe, "we'll discuss the details"
They did for upwards of an hour. The
more Smith learned of the scheme the
better he liked it.. Smith, the strong
arm man and swindler, was being taken
in but he did not know it. With dan
ger at his heels, safety before him, and
the dulcet tones Of Mr. Ellington
O'Keefe in his ear, he became an op-
timist-his way seemed clear. Mr.. Bill
lington O'Keefe was overjoyed He
was stalking his future worldly happi-
ness upon the accomplishment of the
object now before him. He knew that
he could not lay his head upon his pill
low before he had put in operation his
great scheme for revenge
Finally. when it was well into the
night, he rang bell A man ap-4
peared.
Bring up bottle Of old port and
bottle of brandy and siphon Of car
bonic," he commanded, I've got some
glasses here" He had. Behind him on
a mantel there stood two good sized
glasses. He had taken care to place
them there with his own hand. He had
surreptitiously kept his eye upon those
glasses. Each at this juncture was
apparently empty.
The port and the brandy arrived.
Mr.. Constitutional Smith was a mod
crate topper. So was Mr.. Ellington
O'Keefe.
Port or brandy?" said Ellington
O'Keefe.
Both answered Smith with alac-
rity, port first; brandy afterwards"
Good said Ellington O'Keefe. He
poured out a glass of port and handed
it to Smith. Then he filled his own.
Smith took a sip of wine.
Great Scott!' he exclaimed. this is