Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-01

MS Is TOO SOOu- put III
Here, look here" He indicated the
picture on the wall. who is that as
big as life there? It's been staring us
both in the face ever since you've been
here"
Doyle went to the photograph. THAT
was on Feb. .. 19O6-why, yes. the
photographer even dated IT"
rs this you?" Doyle pointed to one
of the fgnres in the group
well. look at it. II this Valentine
was in prison that must be me. You
said yourself that Sing Sing doesn't
allow boarders to go visiting"
Doyle stepped back in front of Val
entine's desk.
You can alibi yourself into hell.
Valentine but you can't get away
from that scar on your left wrist"
Doyle had reserved this telling shot
for a critical moment.
81 never had a scar on my left
wrist" the other returned jubilantly.
lets see" the detective snapped
unbelievingIy.
But that proves nothing" Valen-
tine drew hack as he spoke He ap-
peared unwilling TO permit Doyle 10
make an examination Of his wrist
Let me see. ] tell you. It's got TO
be shown sooner or later. Delay won't
ger you anything" Doyle was forcing
the lighting now. He was certain that
he had Valentine cornered-
The assistant cashier thrust his
hands behind his back.
Don't you realize he said trium-
III
toned method of Identification: Don't
you know that since the introduction
Of a horsehair in sewing wounds
there is never a SCARF" He smiled ir-
ritatinEly ut Doyle.
As a reply the detective bent swift
ly across the desk. seized Valentines
arm and drew his left hand toward him.
Gould an old sea- be opened and
sewed with horsehair and disappear"
he asked daZedly as he saw the wrist
was unmarked 10y any indication OF
scar
! don't know; I presume so" in
differently.
Doyle was silent. This last denoue-
ment disconnected him more than had
anything else An idea came to him.
He lungcd forward. clutrhing Va;en.
tines right hand in his own, and jerk,
ed il across the desk Was II the eft
wrist that was Scarred:' he cried.
He pushed back the emf. but the
surface of the right wrist was as
smooth and as unbroken as the other.
Anything else ] can do for your"
asked the assistant cashier calmly as
Doyle let 20 his hand.
BY -. that's funny murmured
Doyle. He looked across the room to
the picture on the wall. He drew a
maCnifying glass from his coat pocket
and stepped before the handsomely
framed photograph once more. He
passed the lens up and down and
across, over the face of the photo
graph. then wheeled about and faced
Jimmy Valentine
Mr.. Randall he said apologetical-
ly, you must excuse my mistakenly
most unfortunate mistake-and / trust
that you will overlook my ungentle
manly manners. ! now realize that I
have been making insinuations against
an entirely innocent man. You of
course realize the difficulties Of nv
professionalism in dealing with tie
we cannot avoid making errors at
times. but'-his face gIowed pride
81 will say in justice to myself that
This is the first mistake Of the kind |
have ever made"
quite true-quite true. l am sure,
my dear sir" commented Jimmy Val
entine cOndescendingly Il can see
that you are exceptionally able in your
line. Some day if we ever have a loss
here through thievery l shall be most
glad TO recommend you to the direct
OTIS, and 1 am sorry that you feel so
embarrassed at your error regarding
me-"
"Oh, cut that. Don't worry about
me-" said Doyle vengefully. Wait
till / put the bracelets on the real
Jimmy Valentine, then save your SYM
pathy for him. He'll pay for this
days work. It's all through him that
| made a sucker out OF myself today.
Mr.. Randall, and when / get him he's
going to come through which means
confess" Doyle paused for breath
and concluded, I'm on the biggest
job of my whole career, and when /
finish il I'll have the real Jimmy Val
entine sewed up in a little stone jug
8 by 5. without light or fresh air, and
what he'll get TO est would make pit
bull terrier turn vegetarian"
Valentine in spite Of the danger that +.
attended his situation could not resist /
the temptation TO continue the con .