The state-line herald. (North Lemmon, Adams County, N.D.) 1907-1912, 1911-02-17

|
to his assistant. where's the listF'
.'On your desk"
ga. yes. Avery hereT'
Hes waiting outside"
Lets have him."
He's 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. ashen face and stoop-
ing figure indicated that prison fare
was not rejuyenating, although there
was a 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 well, weren't you?"
Avery gazed intently at Smith. then
he replied to his questioner:
You've never heard me complain.
have your
"No, and 1t wouldn't have got you
much"
81 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.
you know am, sir
Handler laughed uproariously.
IL know; they all say SO Oh, here's
an old friend Of yours. Avery" The
speaker pointed to Doyle.
II don't remember him. replied the
old man after a searching suspicious
inspection of the detective
you don't remember mech. BiHT'
Doyle laughed.
Avery suddenly exclaimed:
Il got you now. You're Doyle-still
"copper""
Still copper, Bill"
"You amt got anything on me to
hold over me when get out"
That's true, Bill Anyway. this
time I'm your friend" said the detec-
tive In earnest manner
Avery threw his head back.
my friend 7" be exclaimed In aston.
'shment
The warden could barely suppress a
grin
Yes; think l know where | 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 a laundry eh?" snapped
the ex-prisoner. I've been q 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
dler
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
or 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.
Yes. and it's good thing you are,
for you're getting away from valen-
tine
'Nalentine:"
Yes" insisted Doyle. "It doesn't
do you any good to know a man like
that. ] suppose you know he killed
Cotton so he wouldn't have to divide
the swag with him" The other shook
his head decisiyely
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 toto
Avery drew back involuntarily.
He didn't give me any message. -
be cried out in positive tones.
Then both the officials noticed that
the ex-convict's eyes slowly dropped
and became directed to the floor
Il could do you good turn-if you
trailed along with me-" suggested the
detective.
The released criminal brushed aside
the invitation. He rose stiff1y from
his chair.
"Fm on to you, Doyle IL you're tc
be my friend | know that I've got tc
be stool pigeon. eh? Well, I'm old
and l don't know where I'm goin
when I leave here. But I'll take the
river out there" pointing over his
shoulder with his thumb, "for mine
before play that game. l tell you
the old mans voice rose to an indig
nant pitch-"its only 6y 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 tc
do your work for you. Why, yot
couldn't nab twelye-year-old dip II
you didn't have some poor nerve bro
ken sucker Of stool to go out ahent
and make the job easy for you"
Both Doyle and the warden. enraget
at the old man. lunged viciously a