The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-03-03
other moment. and Jerking the door

other moment. and Jerking the door
wide open, sprang backward.
The interior of the room was for a
second only in pitch darkness, save for
the flicker of light that told of an open
fireplace. Then the visitor heard a
click, and the room vas flooded with
light. In the darkness on the landing
the man waited; hen a voice, a crack
ed old voice, said grumblingly-
Come in"
Still the man on the landing waited.
"Oh, come in, Jimmy-I know ye."
Cautiously the man outside stepped
raced the old man., who, arrayed in a
%added dressing gown, sat in a big
chair by the f1re-an old q with
White face and a %sneering grin, who
sat with his lap full OF papers.
The visitor nodded a friendly greet
ing.
"As far as 1 can gather he said
dressing-room, and If you dropped me
through n 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 he 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.
"Suspicious?"-the grin broadened-
suspicious Of our old friend, Jimmy?
The old governor, chg"
Jimmy made no reply for a moment,
then
You're a wonder, governor, upon my
word o are a wonder. That mar in
armor-your idea?"
The old mar shook his head regret
fully.
know much about electricity. I never
did. except"
:'Except?' suggested the visitor.
"Oh. that roulette board, that was
my w idea. but that was magne-
tism. which is different to electricity,
by my way of looking"
Jimmy nodded.
Eye got past h trap?" The old man
had just the CLINT of admiration in
his eye.
Yes. jumped It,"
The Ole man nodded approvingly.
You always was a n for thinkin'
things out. I've known lots OF EN- who
would never have thought Of Jumping
it. Conner. n that pig Massey, they'd
have walked right on to 1t. You didn't
1 AGtltlA6S ally IulIlS liz EuSI11d1luCO SuU-
denly and fiercely. 81 heard somethin'
break an I vas hoping that 1t was
you"
Jimmy thought of the marble statue,
and remembered that it 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, chow much
are you worth?"
In no manner disturbed by this lead
lively satisfaction the other replied
Instantly
Two millions an a bit over. Jimmy.
I've got the figures in my head. Reck-
house at their proper value, two mil
lions. ana forty-seven thousand and
forty-three pounds-floatin', Jimmy,
absolute cash, h 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
Jimmy had taken a clgaret from his
pocket and was lighting 1t, looking at
the slowly burning match refectively.
repeated calmly, lis a lot Of money"
Old Reale chuckled softly
All made out Of the confding pub
lie, with the aid Of = Conner
and Massey"
Massey is a pig!" the old mar in
terjected spitefully.
Jimmy pulled a cloud Of tobacco
smoke.
"Wrung with sweat and sorrow
from foolish young men who backed
the tiger n 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 a paroxysm Of silent mer-
riment.
How many men have you ruined,
Reale?" asked Jimmy.
1.-The Lord knows" the old man an
swered cheerfully;. "only three as I
knows of-two of EMS dead. Of
EMS dying. The two that's dead left
got a daughter"
Jimmy eyed him through narrowed
lids.
why this solicitude for the rela-
tives-you're not going"
AS he spoke, as If anticipating 4
question. the old man was nodding his
head with feverish energy. and all the
while his grin broadened.
What a n 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! Solicit
about EN- dye mean? Yes. that's what
I'm doin'-frettin' about I'm. And I'm
going to make what dye call it-you
had it on the tip of your tongue 2
minute or two ago."
CONTINUED Next Weekly
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