Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-04-15

"You mean that's from the girl?"
"She is coming back. Red. and
there's nothing on this earth or in h-l
that can make me go wrong. You
said a minute ago that If you thought
l had a chance you'd stick"
II said it"
"Then hold you to that"
"Good Godw exclaimed Avery.
you're not goin' to turn square, too.
RedT
I'm going with Jimmy. If I'd do
bit for him l got to go IT. he asks
It,"
"what am goin' to doY asked Av-
cry plaintively.
Valentine drew close to him.
1--WE got you a job, Bill, a good
one" he announced.
me a job! WhereT'
Valentine read from a note Mrs.
Moore had left with him.
Listen" he said. "'This will in
troduce the man you promised the po-
sition as watchman of one Of your
grain elevators. The wages at $3.50
day are satisfactory to him"
Intense disgust spread over Bill Av-
ery's face.
"Two-fifty a day" he sneered. "a
man can't live on that"
Valentine laughed.
ut costs 81 cents a day to keep
man in Sing Sing" he reminded the
thief.
II don't want a job" snarled Av-
cry "0nly the suckers work for
living"
"Yes. you do want one" returned
Valentine, "and this is just your kind,
Avery. And let me tell you something
that you think | don't know. You're
tired of being a crook-tired to death
knew that when we were inside
But you are afraid of what a lot of
old pals will say. Well. let them say
What they got2 Did you ever see
crook with anything? What do they
amount tor They haven't the stand
ing of house dog You're tired Of
1t, Bill, and ashamed of the years
you've lost, and | know it. Now
here's your chance, your day of sal
vation. There's the letter and here's
the coin to get there" He handed
Avery some bills. ITS way out west
where no one knows you, and you've
got chance. Just think. back to a
mother and then ahead to-
The hardened look began to fade
from the thief's face.
"Glve 1t to me-" He clutched the
money in his hand "I'll try, by God.
I'll try" Tears trickled down Av-
ery's prison paled cheeks
That's the talk-that'S the heart
spoke Valentine sympathetically
"And If fail I'll end it," said Av'
cry,
You won't fail ITS only the suck.
ers that fail Make the next train
beat Doyle. Get away"
Avery turned toward one of the en-
frances
"GoOdby. Jimmy. GOodby, Red" he
cried, and he was gone.
II tell you. Red" said Valentine,
looking after him, "there isn't crook
you know who wouldn't go straight If
he could"
God" exclaimed Red feplingly,
but you know whats inside of a
man"
81 know what's inside of me. and |
dare face It."
Jimmy Valentine crossed 10 win
dow and peered out into the street
No one In sight that he knew. vet he
had lost all doubt that Rose Lane
would return Her message had calm.
ed his fears. and. more than that. II
had come in time to save him from
thrusting aside the one chance in the
world to redeem his lost Yeas
Another thought rose strong within
him as he returned to the sofa, seated
himself and saw Red standing discon.
solately near the table. Something
had to be done for Red-that was Ger.
tain. Red Flanagan was young bare
~ twenty he had many char.
acteristlcs that were nor at all bad
Valentine was convinced that his
friend would remain loyal to him II
he could take him with him and that
he would become a maR OF honor and
integrity II he received the proper en-.
couragement he felt Il his duty to
do this much for Red-giye him
chance, the chance that would turn
square half the thieves In the prisons
IL they could but obtain it.
And SO be resolved that he would
take Red with him wherever he went
IL possible TO arrange 1t. Together
they would hew way out OF the
morass of degradation and misery into
which they had been plunged,
Red had been unfortunate in his
Early environment. Here lay the ransel
- l,k..