The Stanford interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1911-1912, 1911-05-09
CHAPTER VII.

Flanagan. Come out from behind
the curtain. The coast is clear for
you. How did you know I was here|
Red came forth "Oh, leave It to
me, Jimmy, to keep track OF an old
pail lie held out his hand, which
Valentine listlessly shook.
Red could not understand his for.
mer companions Indifferent manner
whats wrong" he asked.
Nothing"
cav. cut It out. Somcihin's got you
gucssin'. an 50 don't try 10 Kid me-
The released convict looked medi-
tatiyely at Red Then he spoke.
cred, did you ever do bitY"
"Sure-Jollct.'
"And you have been I'm one OF those
rotten holes and still think les good
gamer
you've wcakcnod-ch?' sneered
Red
Eve turned square,
You're crazy"
"No; it's only the man who thinks
ne 'dh bt'il int itlN W ip tidHgs Sdlu
Valentine.
You'd a won out If it hadn't been
for that Cotton. who blew on you be
cause you beat him out Of a dame"
Valentine turned and clutched him
by the arm.
You rat, don't you ever speak OF
her again or I'll murder you" He
threw Red roughly away from him.
Now, get out of here and forget
you know me-"
Good God. Jimmy" exclaimed the
other. Il wouldn't say anything to
hurt your feelings. Why, I'd do any
thing for you; I'd a done your bit II !
could have. Why, I'd go to HI for
you"
"Will you turn square with me!
That's all want OF you now. Let's
you and | start now and from this
minute ON 90 square, IL We starve In
the streets. VIII you DO that. Red?'
Valentine spoke In intense earnest.
ness.
Red hesitated. zone job TO get
stake and I'll go you" he said eager
ly.
Valentine appreciated the character
istic unwillingness of Red to leave his
lifelong vocation-that OF rifing strong
boxes and safes deemed by their man
ufacturers TO be fire and burgla'
proof" True, the flames were some
times foiled by the thicknesses OF met
al and asbestos, but rarely had Red
Flanagan been foiled by mere mani
mate metal or time locks-rarely. In.
deed, when accompanied by No. 1859,
the man who. as Warden Handler de-
scribed him. opened safes solely by
the sense Of touch. Valentine knew
the hold that the unlawful life he.
too, had followed invariably secured
on its votarles. and he was not sur
prised when Red hesltated to leave it
for the dubious rewards of N"going
straight"
NO." answered Valentine; nothing
for me but work from now On-work.
honest work, hard manual labor If
necessary. I've quit the old game for
keeps, Red"
Red. plainly nonpluscd at this revo-
lutionary change OF heart in. his for
mer pal" stood speechless for a mo
ment. Jimmy Valentine. the hest man
IN the coualii iu his Inc. had "IurneJ
square" Mercirul ssints: Was the
world "cE-.Ex ~ su rgd: Al last he
recovered his ability To tnik.
He had an inspiration that he
thought might win Valentine over.
might make him come to bis senses.
What about the coppers?' suggest
cd Red. Are you dippy enough To
think they'd let you tnrn squarer
Yes. Why not;" retorted Valentine
like a fash. What have they got TO
do with honest men,
Again did Red lind cause to actually
doubt the sanity of his ex con fedsrate.
for here be was overlooking entirely
In his childish reasoning the rcraorse-
less. dismal certainty that The detec-
lives would force him to peach" ON
his old pals or any one else In the un-
lerworld OF whom he could obtain in
desired by the police In
short, Valentine had overlooked the
stool pigeon game" the despair Of
every crook who had ever tried 10 "go
straight"
Jaw, don't kid yourself" warned
Red. '"rhe copper II let you be square
I you're stool pigeon, il you tip OF
I'D pals. No other way"
Absurd! How. for instance. could
hey do meT'
absurd. Ell? What about Kid
steele? He turned square. but he
s.:deal, and job after job they
brew him out of till he was hungry
n the street Then copper offered
o stake him TO feed IL he'd turn
lp' an old pal, And he murdered tho
op on the spot, and now he's doing
life. Turn square. ehl That means
'e a stool or a bum In our game
Red raised his hands protestingly
nd turned his face away from valen
Inc
BEAT the coppers." insisted the 9th.
r. Get away where they can't find