Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-11

Hes waiting outside"
Lets have him."
Hes a tough old boy, this Avery"
commented Doyle, "but he's my one
best chance in trying to get the goods
on Valentine"
The secretary brought in Bill Avery,
whose gray hair, ashep face and stoop-
ing figure indicated that prison fare
was not rejuvenating. although there
was strange sharpness in his eyes,
in his glance, that long career of fur
tive watchfulness had developed.
you're finally out, eh?' greeted the
prison master you've done nine?"
Eight years ten months, sir
Treated pretty we'll, weren't you?"
Avery gazed intently at Smith. then
he replied to his questioner:
you've never heard me complain.
have you?"
mo, and it wouldn't have got you
much'
Il saw that the first day in"
'Well, now what? Going to turn
sQuare?' handler sneered as he spoke
The released convict looked the ward
en- squarely in the eyes.
''1ou know | am, sir
Handler laughed uproariously
i Il know: they all say so. Oh, here's
an old friend of yours, Avery" The
speaker pointed to Doyle
Il don't remember him." replied the
old man after a searching suspicious
inspection of the detective.
"You don't remember mech, Bill?"
Doyle laughed
Avery suddenly exclaimed:
Il got you now. You're Doyle-still
a "copper""
still copper. Bill"
"You amt got anything on me to
hold over me when get out"
'That's true, Bill Anyway. this
time Pm your friend" said the detec-
tive in earnest manner
Avery threw his head back.
"My friend?" he exclaimed in aston
ishment
The warden could barely suppress
grin
Eyes: think | know where l can
get you pretty good job" went on
Doyle engagingly.
Nobody wants me-" said Avery de-
spondently.
Il think | can arrange it,
"A job in laundry. eh?" snapped
the ex-prisoner. I've been a wash
woman here"
"There are lots of jobs where you
don't have to know a trade Can't Bill
sit down. warden?"
"Why. certainly" responded Han
der
Avery, voicing his thanks. seated
himself at the warden's table.
Doyle came close to the old man.
There's one thing you want to do,
Bill. above everything else-keep out
of bad company" he warned.
Avery hesitated. He glanced from
the detective across to the warden.
I'm getting out of bad company to-
day." he replied briefly.
Doyle started forward.
for you're getting away from Valen-
tine
"Valentine?
Eyes" insisted Doyle. eft doesn't
do you any good to know a man like
that l suppose you know he killed
Cotton so he wouldn't have to divide
the swag with him." The other shook
his head decisively.
II don't know anything about it,
The detective now spoke sharply.
And what's he got against you?
He sent out word that"-the question
er suddenly shifted-"what message
did he give you to take out to-to"-
Avery drew back involuntarily.
"He didn't give me any message"
he cried out in positive tones.
Then both the officials noticed that
the ex-convicts eyes slowly dropped
and became directed to the floor.
II could do you a good turn-if you
trailed along with me-" suggested the
detective
The released criminal brushed aside
the invitation. He rose stiffiy from
his chair.
"Im on to you, Doyle. If you're to
be my friend | know that I've got to
be a stool pigeon. eh? Well, I'm old,
| and | don't know where I'm goin'
when | leave here. But I'll take the
river out there" pointing over his
shoulder with his thumb, "for mine
! before | play that game. | tell YOU
! the old mans voice rose to an indig
nant pitch-''its only fly guys like you.
| Doyle, that's too lazy or too ignorant
! to do their work themselves that has
| to have stool pigeons on your staff to
do your work for you. Why, you
couldn't nab a twelve-year-old dip if
you didn't have some poor nerve bro
ken sucker Of stool to go out ahead
and make the job easy for you"
| Both Doyle and the warden, enraged
ut the old man. lunged viciously at
/ him to wreak vengeance upon him for
| his denunciation.
CHAPTER II.