Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-04-05
romance in which she had ever played

eAN ~ AFChNA~
How do you do. sir"
Valentine swung around and faced
the speaker. He realized that he
could no longer conceal his features
from the spectator. He pressed bis
hands nervously together and looked
his questioner squarely in the eyes.
How do you do. sir?" be said in a
low voice
Handler was watching the exchange
of greetings with keen interest
Met before. governor, have your
he asked ingenuously
NO" responded Fay. But I'm glad
TO see you have some types here dit
ferent than Dick the Rat and
Yes" broke in the warden. Here
Jimmy. there's something gone wrong
with the Office safe. Open it 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 Is the combinations"
Combination" exploded the ward
en-. staring NJ rhe prisoner.
Valentine WAS as 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 it? Why, Mr.. Warden. you must
be joking with me-"
Rose Lane smiled compacently into
the lieutenant governors face.
Handlers face became red-a deep
red that threatened any moment TO
merge into Il rich grape purple hne.
you 20 AT that safe and open IL
just like yOu need the cOinr he
shouted
Valentine made deprecatory ges
ture.
You hatter me-" he answered. ana
be smiled most aggravating smile
that caused the now thoroughly urous
ed prison master to pound his desk
and hoarsely cry:
"FlatteIy be ID! You do as / say
or III give you the
Handler caught himself just in time
He suddenly remembered that tie
lieutenant governor was present
Say. Valentine" he substituted for
his intended threat Of the straitiackpl.
you're fonrHushing because there's
gallery present, eh?"
No. l2S9 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
crOuchcd into one of the uncomfortn.
ble wooden. chairs that adorned the
wardens office. he saw Il girliSh fig
ure. He leaned forward involuntarily
for he saw II face and pair Of mrgr
brown eyes fixed steadfastly uEon
him. He recognized the girl as the
one he had saved from tae remorse
less clutches Of BilIy COtton-CottOn
whom he had thrown to his death
through the window of transconti
mental tlier But only for II moment
did Jimmy Valentine falter. with
masterful control hp 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 for
space
"You better do as ask, Valentine"
he warned.
"a know that every one here knows
that. but
You're doing ten for opening a bank
safe and you can't open an old safe
like mine% The warden was sneer-
ing.
81 never opened that bank safe.
You know that"
iOu lS S'iuS W pOSe, Ell Nell
listen. you go and cop that gopher or
I'll give you solitaire for MONTH"
Handler was now at his worst. \
month Of "solitaire!" a month, thir-
ty days. thirty nights. alone, save for
the rats and the river tides that seen.
ed between the stones
ut is an impossibillty for any one
to open safe without the combina.
ton. | regret | cannot do as you
ask"
Handler forgot the presence Of the
lieutenant governor and Of the ladies'.
Get out OF here, you
Mrs Webster stepped forward pro.
testlngly
Fay determined to take a hand.
You're losing your temper, ward
en-" he began when he saw the pris-
oner step to the door through which
he had come, Just a moment" Fay
said commandlngly to the convict. II
forgot your name"
The prisoner halted He saw that
the speaker had come across to the