Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1910-03-03

the man waited, Lnen voice, a crack
ed old voice, said grumblingly-
Come IN"
Still the man on the landing waited.
"Oh, come In, JIMMY know We"
Cautiously the man outside stepped
through the entry into the light and
faced the old man, who, arrayed in a
wadded dressing gown, sat In a big
chair by the fre-an old man, with
white face and a sneering grin, who
sat with his lap full OF papers.
The visitor nodded friendly greet
ing.
las far as / can gather" he said
deliberately, 1--WE are just above your
dressing room, and IL you dropped me
through one of your patent traps,
Reale. I should fetch up amongst your
priceless china"
Save for a momentary look Of alarm
on the old mans face at the mention
OF the china, he preserved an imper-
turable calm, never moving his eyes
from his visitors face. Then his grin
returned, and he motioned the other to
a chair on the other side of the fire.
place.
Jimmy turned the cushion over with
the point OF his stick and sat down.
"SuspiciousT'-the grin broadened-
suspicious OF your old friend, Jimmy?
The old governor, Ell? ~
Jimmy made no reply for moment.
then
You're a wonder. governor, upon my
word you are q wonder That man in
armor-your idea?"
The old man shook his head regret
fully.
Not mine entirely, Jimmy. Ye see,
there's electricity in 1t, and don't
know much about electricity. never
did, except"
Except suggested the visitor.
"Oh. that roulette board, that was
my own idea; but that was magne-
tism, which is different to electricity,
by my way of looking
Jimmy nodded.
I'VE got past the trap?" The old man
had just the CLINT of admiration in
his eye.
Yes, jumped It,"
The old man nodded approving1y.
You always was O. one for thinkin'
things out. I've known lots of 'em who
would never have thought Of jumping
II. Common, and that pig Massey, they'd
have walked right on to 1t. You didn't
damage anything" he demanded sud
denly and fiercely. IT heard somethin'
break an / was hoping that it was
you"
Jimmy thought Of the marble statue,
and remembered that 1t had looked val
liable.
Nothing at ALL" he lied easily, and
old mans tense look relaxed
The pair sat on opposite sides of the
fireplace, neither speaking for fully 10
minutes: then Jimmy leant forward
'Reale," he said quietly, how much
are you WORTH"
In no manner disturbed by this lead
lively satisfaction the other replied
instantly
1.-TWO millions an bit over. Jimmy.
Yexrn rvrk tH1s tcwssv~ e..
onin' furniture ami the things in this
house at their proper value. two mil
lions, ana forty-seven thousand and
forty three pounds-floatin', Jimmy,
absolute cash, the same as you might
put your hand In your pocket an
spend--a million and three-quarters
exact"
He leant back In his chair with a
triumphant grin and watched his Wis
ttor.
Jimmy nad taken 4 cigaret from his
pocket and was lighting 1t, looking at
the slowly burning match refiectively.
"A million and three-quarters," he
repeated calmly, us lot Of money"
Old Reale chuckied softly
"All made out OF the confiding pub
lie. with the aid Of me-and Conner
and Massey"
Massey is pig!" the old man in
terjected spitefully.
Jimmy pulled a cloud of tobacco
smoke.
ssWrung with sweat and sorrow
from foolish young men who backed
the tiger and played high at Reale's
Unrivaled Temple of Chance, Cairo
Egypt--with branches at Alexandria,
Port Said, and Suez."
The figure In the wadded gown
writhed in paroxysm Of silent mer-
riment.
How many men have you ruined.
Reale?" asked Jimmy.
'The Lord knows." the old man an
swered cheerfully; "only three as I
knows of--two Of ems dead, one OF
'em's dying. The two that's dead left
neither chick nor child; the dying ones
got daughter"
Jimmy eyed him through narrowed
lids.
sswhy this solicitude for the rela-
tives--you're not going"
Az he spoke, as II anticipating Z
question, the old man was nodding his
head with feverish energy. and all the
while his grin broadened.
What q one you are for long words,
Jimmy! You always was. That's how
you managed to persuade your swell
pals to come an try their luck! Solici-
tudo! What's that mean? Frettin'
about EN- dye meant Yes. that's what
I'm doin'--frettin' about I'm. And I'm
going to make what dye call it--you
had II on the tip OF your tongue .
minute Or two ago2"