The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1911-01-13

almost M astonished NJ Rose NJ the
denouement and he quiet
IL insisted that she say nothing more
about the subject and calm herself
80 far as outward manifestations
were concerned. the girl followed this
advice fairly well. but her heart
pounded uncontrolledly. her pulse
throbbed correspondingly. and wave
Of deepest pity surged over her as she
realized the horrible lot 10 which had
been condemned the hero OF the one
great adventure Of her life, the gal
liant Prince Charming Of the only real
romance in which she hnd ever played
. part.
Tho lieutenant governor addressed
the prisoner:
"IIow do you do. sirr'
Valentine swung around and faced
the speaker. He realized that he
could no longer conceal his features
from the spectator. He pressed his
hands ncrvously together and looked
his questioner squareiy in the eyes
"How do you do, sir2" he said in a
low voice.
Handler was watching the exchange
Of greetings with keen interest
Met before. governor, have you"
he asked ingenuously.
mo-" responded Fay. But I'm glad
to see you have some types here diff
ferent than Dick the Rat and
"Yes," broke In the warden. Here,
Jimmy, there's something gone wrong
with the oflco safe. Open 1t for me,
will your"
Fay fastened a pentrating gaze on
Valentine.
The prisoner turned his face away
and toward the warden.
"I'll do so very gladly If can.
What il the combination"
"Combinationl'' exploded the ward
en-, staring at the prisoner.
Valentine was a. cool and as insist
ent as though he were an employer
talking with one Of his clerks.
Eyes, the combination. How can
you expect me to open the safe with
out it7 Why. Mr.. Warden, you must
be Joking with me-"
Rose Lane smiled complacently ints
the lieutenant governors face.
Handlers face became red-n deep
red that threatened any moment u
merge into a rich grape purple hue.
"You go at that safe and open n
Just like you need the coinw he
| shouted.
Valentine made deprecstory gcs-
ture.
"You 1atter me-" he answered. and
he smiled a most aggravating smile
that caused the now thoroughly arous
ed prison master to pound his desk
and hoarsely cry:
"Flattery be Id! You do as sey
or III give you tho
Handler caught himself just in time
he suddenly remembered that the
lieutenant governor was present.
"Say, Valentine" he substituted for
his intended threat of the struitjnclet,
"you're fouraushing because there's u
gallery present, eh?"
No. 1880 turned and surveyed the
visitors present. His gaze passed
from the lieutenant governor to the
two members Of the Gate Of Hope so
ciety. Then In the background. half
crouched into one Of the uncomforta-
BILE wooden chairs that adorned the
warden's Office, he saw girlish fig
ure. He leaned forward involuptarily.
for he saw face and pair Of large
brown eyes fixed steadfastly upon
him. He recognized the girl as the
one he had saved from the remorse-
less clutches Of Billy Cotton-Cotton,
whom he had thrown to his death
through the window Of transconti.
mental fier. But only for a moment
did Jimmy Valentine falter. With
masterful control he wheeled to face
the warden. "You are wrong again. :
he said evenly to Handler. you
know am. not what you would have
these people think am"
Now the grape purple began to show
IN the warden's face. The thick veins
in his neck began to thicken still
more and to crowd his low collar foI
space.
''You better do as I ask, Valentine
he warned.
Il know that every one here know
that but
you're doing ten for opening banI
safe and you can't open al old SAT-
like miner The wardeA was sneer
ing.
Il never opened that bank safe
You know that"
"Yoh'rs going to pose, eh! We'll
I listen, you go and cop that gopher Q
I'll give you solitaire for a month.
: Handler was now at his WORT
= month Of "solitairer' A month, thiI
ty days, thirty nights, alone, save 70
the rats and the river tides that seer
ed between the stonesI
: 1T IL an impossibility for any on
: to open a safe without the combins
. ton. regret cannot do a. 20
!" ask"
: Handler forgot the presence Of th
!. lieutenant governor and Of the ladies'.
''Get out Of here, you"--
Mra Webster stepped forward pr
: testingly.
!. Fay determined to take Z hand.
= "You're losing yeur temper. war;
i, en-" be began when hs saw the pri
!. oner step to the door through whic
y be had come "Just moment" Fa
: said commandingly to ths convict
!. forgot your name"
= The prisoner halted. He saw thi
!. ths speaker had como acroas to 4