Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-03-17


Kasped. tits bad news tor you-ver
bad" she went on. Il must know"
Valentine. undergoing pronounce
shock owing to the contents Of tn
message which he held In his hant
was almost completely unstrung b
the interruption of the girl he loved
Was 1t not fate that prompted her t
appear before him at the very momen
when
"Oh. It Is nothing" he said weakly
"Merely a little business tangle-tha
ia ALL"
He stepped out from behind hi
desk. crumpling the fateful Telegram
in his hand. AMI gently led the girl t.
the door, Remember" he said, "
have an engagement with you in
half hour"
II will remember"
Unconvinced. mystif1ed and thor
oughly agttated by his nervous man
ner. Rose Lane went out of the office
Valentine. smiling as best he couIt
under the circumstances. closed thu
door behind her, He crossed to hel
chair, sank into it and 6attened the
wrinkled telegram before him. Agar
he read it from end to end:
Look out" he read. Doyle will b.
in town this afternoon at 4 to see yor
about an important matter"
The assistant cashier dropped bis
chin into his palm and stared vacant
~ at the opposite wall.
Doyle" he muttered - George
Doyle. He said he'd get me if it 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 have friends who believe in
me-"
Valentine leaned hack meditatively
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 q desperate enter
prise.
He would give George Doyle 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 it 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
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-
plice 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. 1850 had advanced Avery.
long "yeggman" of the most desper-
ate type. the price of a railroad ticket.
had made Il revolutionary transforma-
lion in him. Today he was married.
had growing business and had per-
formed for Valentine 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
earn the truth.
Avery had been in communication
with Valentine on various occasions in
secret manner So carefully conceal
I'd. In fact. had been his moves that
lot even Red Flanagan had obtained
he slightest knowledge OF them.
True. Red was aware that Valentine
had received various puzzling COM
from one MIR. Cronin."
)ut how was Red to know that Mr.
Cronin was Bill Avery unless the as
'istant cashier was pleased SO to In
orm him. which he was not?
At first Valentine had had the belief
hat sour' .riend was responsible for
he send,iI. If the warning telegram,