The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-02-09

deed, when accompanied by No. 1889,
the man who, as Warden Handler de-
Dcfibed him, opened safes solely by
TIE sense of touch. Valentine knew
the hold that the unlawful life he,
too, had followed invariably secured
On its votaries, and he was not sur
pr1sed when Red hesitated to leave it
for the dubious rewards Of going
straight"
mo" answered Valentine; nothing
for me but work from now on-work,
honest work. hard manual tabor il
necessary. I've quit the old game Tor
keeps, Red"
Red, plainly nonplused at this rev0-
ntionary change of heart in hts for
DG pal" stood speechless for mo-
mont. Jimmy Valentine, the best man
q the country In his lne, had turned
square" Merciful saints! Was this
WoEA coming 10 IN end9 At last he
1ocovered his ability to talk.
He had an inGpisaton that he
thought might win Valentine over.
m14ht make him come to his senses.
"What about the coppersy suggest
I'd Red. Are you dippy enough tc
think they'd let you turn squareY'
Yes. Why notg retorted Valentine
IKE fash. What have they got tc
do with honest meny
Again did Red find cause to actually
doubt the sanity of his ex-confederate.
for here he was overlooking entirely
in his childish reasoning the remorse-
less, dismal certainty that the detec-
dves would force him to peach on
his old pals or any one else in the AN
derworld of whom he could obtain in
formation desired by the police. In
short, Valentine had overlooked the
''stool pigeon game" the despair Of
every crook who had ever tried to go
STRAIGHT
"Aw, don't kid yourself" warned
Red The copper II let you be square
II YOU'VE a stool pigeon. II you tip OF
old pals. No other way"
Absurd! How, for instance, could
they DO neT
oteele2 He turned square, but he
wouldn't squeal. and job aftsr Job they
threw him cut Of tin he was hungry
in the street. Then a copper offered
TO stake him to feed If he'd turn
up an Old pal. And he murdered the
cop on the spot, and now he's doing,
life. Turn square, ,eh? That means;
be stool or a bum in our game"
Red raised his hands protestingly
and turned his face away from valen-
tine.
"Beat the coppers." insisted the 9th
q. -Get away whore they can't hnd
you. We can do that
Yes, No can Red again faced his
friend. why, Doyle as in town to -
you now"
Doyle here?'' in alarm.
Eyes. met him when he got OF
the RATHER Hes going to give you
your orders, and You'll have to do as
he tells you II you tur, square. He
knows yoa beat it He was laying for
Avery VIXEN he came out and told
him to report once q month. And
what about .AyeEy3 You sent him to
me, and we've been At work on some
thing. o
where = A.eeyr asked valentine
quickly. Sc as@' '"''' 's
Want to see himf~
Yes: can explain better" valen-
tine crossed the parsor and peered
through the portieres.
BED went to the opposite doorway
and softly called. "Oh. Billv'
Avery, dressed In a roughly cut
ready made suit Of clothes and look
ing in much better health than he did |
on the day he detied Detective Doyle |
and flushed his term in Sing Sing.
came slowly into the hotel parlor.
Hello, Bill! You're taking
ehance| greeted Valentine. land you
are, too, Red
Il had to SEQ yOah" returned Avery
Il have Jnst been telling Red
"Sure, I heard you hand out that
sQuare' talk. 1 suppose you want me
% Join you in this going straight bus.
ness, too,> eh?" <E
II don't think tho crooked game ia
my good. And you are getting old
Tor clever work."
Think so. eh?" snaried Avery sus-
oiciously.
He isn't too old to be an outside
nan with u.s." put In Red.
I'VE don't need any outside man
lny more, Red" decided Valentine.
Avery glared into the speakers face.
$50 you're out DOW. and you're 60
ne to throw Red and me out, eh?
III this turning square talk l heard
vas stall to get rid Of me because
am old, eh?'
II don't have to stall you, Avery"
The old thief leaned Overwhelmingly
oward Valentine, shaking his wither-
d fist as violently as the flabby mus
les, Slapped by years Of prison air and
rison fare, would permit.
Like the d-l!' he cried, choking
- Il