The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-01-27


ION your desk
"Oh. yes. Avery here?''
Hes waiting outside"
Lets have him"
Hes a tough old boy, this Avery"
commented Doyle. but he's my one
best chance in trying to get the goods
on Valentine
The secretary brought in Bill Avery,
whose gray hair. ashen face and stoop-
ing figure indicated that prison fare
was not rejuvenating. although there
was strange sharpness in his eyes,
in his glance that long career of fur
tive watchfulness had developed.
You're finally out, eh?" greeted the
prison master. You've done nine?"
Eight years ten months. sir
Treated pretty well. weren't your
Avery gazed intently at Smith. then
he replied to his questioner:
you've never heard me complain.
have you?"
NO, and it wouldn't have got you
much"
Il saw that the first day in"
"Well, now what? Going to turn
square?' Handler sneered as he spoke.
The released convict looked the ward
en- squarely in the eyes.
You know / am. sir"
Handler laughed uproariously.
Il know: they all say so. Oh, here's
an old friend of yourc tvorx-v Tho
speaker pointed to Doyle
81 don't remember him." replied the
old man after a searching suspicious
inspection of the detective.
You don't remember mech. Rill?"
Doyle laughed
Avery suddenly exclaimed:
Il got YOU now. You're Doyle-still
a "copper""
still a copper, Bill"
"4ou amt got anything on me to
hold over me when get OUT
That's true. Bill Anyway. this
time I'm your FRIEND" said the detec.
tive in earnest manner.
Avery threw his head back.
"My friend:" he exclaimed in aston
ishment.
The warden could barely suppress a
grin.
Yes; think l know where / can
get you pretty good job" went on
Doyle engagingly.
Nobody wants me-" said Avery de-
spondently.
Il think | can arrange it,"
"A job in a laundry. eh?" snapped
the ex-prisoner. I've been a wash
woman here
There are lots Of jobs where you
don't have to know trade. Can't Bill
sit down. warden?'
why. certainly" responded Han
dler.
Avery. voicing his thanks, seated
himself at the warden's table.
Doyle came close to the old man.
There's one thing you want to do,
Bill. above everything else-keep out
OF bad company" he warned.
Avery hesitated He glanced from
the detective across to the warden.
Pm getting out of bad company to-
day." he replied briefly.
Doyle started forward.
lies. and its IL good thing you are,
for you're getting away from Valen-
tine
'Nalentine:"
yes insisted Doyle at doesn't
do you any good to know a man like
that. l suppose you know he killed
Cotton so he wouldn't have to divide
the swag with him" The other shook
his head decisively
Il don't know anything about it,"
The detective now spoke sharply,
And what's he got against you?
He sent out wCrd that'-the question
er suddenly shifted-"what message
did he give you to take out TOTO
Avery drew back involuntarily.
He didn't give me any message"
he cried out i'll positive tones.
Then both the officials noticed that
the ex-convicts eyes slowly dropped
and became directed to the floor.
Il could do you a good turn-if you
trailed along with me-" suggested the
detective.
The released criminal brushed aside
the invitation. He rose stittiy from
his chair.
I'm on to YOU. Doyle. If you're to
be my friend | know that I've got to
be stool pigeon. Ell? Well, I'm old,
and l don't know where I'm goin'
when | leave here. But I'll take the
river out there" pointing over his
shoulder with his thumb. "for mine
before play that game. l tell you
the old mans voice rose to an indig-
nant pitch-"it's only fly guys like you,
Doyle. that's too lazy or too ignorant
to do their work themselves that has
to have stool pigeons on your staff to
do your work for you. Why, you
couldn't nab Il twelve-year-oId dip if
you didn't have some poor nerve bro
ken sucker of a stool to 60 out ahead
and make the job easy for you"
Both Doyle and the warden. enraged
at the old man. lunged viciously at
him to wreak vengeance upon him for
his denunciatiOn.
CHAPTER II.
y YITH an agility surprisingly