Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-17

desk, crumpling the fatefui telegram
in his hand, and gently led the girl to
the door. Remember he said, Il
have an engagement with you in a
half hour"
Il viii remember"
Unconvinced, mystifed and thor
oughly agitated by his nervous man
ner, Rose Lane went out OF the office.
Valentine, smiling as best he could
under the circumstances. closed the
door behind her He crossed to her
chair, sank into it and fattened the
wrinkled telegram before him Again
he read it from end to end:
Look out" he read. Doyle VIII be
in town this afternoon at 4 to see you
about an important matter"
The assistant cashier dropped his
chin into his palm and stared vacant
ly at the opposite wall.
Doyle" he muttered George
Doyle He said he'd get me If 1t took
ten years-a lifetime Well, perhaps
he can; then, again, perhaps he can
not At any rate, he can probably ruin
my career. my hopes, my standing here,
where I have friends who believe in
me-"
Valentine leaned back meditativeIy
in his chair. The fatal telegram drop
ped unheeded to the floor. His mouth
set determinedly. A new FIRE blazed
in his eyes, the FIRE that had consumed
him and had spurred him ON when in
the days and nights of the past he had
ventured forth on a desperate enter
prise.
He would give George Doyle a race,
that he would. He would match his
wit against that of the skilled sleuth.
He already had laid the basis for what
now must be his course of procedure,
and he believed that 1t would with
stand even the cunning and force of
George Doyle. At any rate, he could
try.
Valentine leaned forward and press
ed button. A clerk entered. The as
sistant cashier hesitated a moment,
then spoke quickly.
Tell the Waterman to come here
he directed.
The clerk nodded and went out in
search of Red Flanagan-yes, Red.
none other than the one time accom-
pltce Of Jimmy Valentine. whom the
latter, true to his word, had taken
with him in his attempt to ''go it
straight"
Flanagan must be told of the com
ing of Doyle, who was his sworn enc
my also. In addition, Red would have
TO assist the assistant cashier. now
known as Mr. Randall, in the maneu-
YER which the latter was about to ex-
ecute.
Then there was Avery-old Bill
Avery. From the day that Valentine
had sent him away from the hotel in
Albany Avery had been making heroic
efforts to live ION the square"
The three years that had elapsed
since No. 1899 had advanced Avery,
long ''yeggman" of the most desper-
ate type, the price OF railroad ticket,
had made Il revolutionary transforma-
ton in him. Today he was married,
had a growing business and had per
formed for Valentine a service that
was TO render the vengeful efforts Of
George Doyle much more difficult and
somewhat less effective than the de-
tective would relish should he ever
learn the truth.
Avery had been in communication
With Valentine on various occasions in
1 secret manner. So carefully conceal
ed, in fact. had been his moves that
not even Red Flanagan had obtained
The slightest knowledge of them:
True. Red was aware that Valentine
had received various puzzling COM
from one Mr. Cronin,"
but how was Red TO know that Mr.
Ironin was Bill Avery unless the as
sistant cashier was pleased so to in
form him. which he was not?
At first Valentine had had the belief
hat some friend was responsible for
he sending of the warning telegram,