Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-08

deed, when accompanied by No. 1888.
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 votaries, and he was not sur
prised when Red hesitated TO leave it
for the dubious rewards of going
straight"
No" answered Valentine; nothing
for me but work from now on-work,
honest work. hard manual labor II
necessary. I've quit the old game for
keeps. Red"
Red. plainly nonplused at this revo-
lutionary change Of heart in his for
ner pal" stood speechIess for a mo-
ment Jimmy Valentine. the best man
in the country in his line, had turned
square" Merciful saints! Was the
world coming to an end? At last he
recovered his ability TO talk.
he had an inspiration that he
thought might win Valentine over.
might make him come TO his senses
What about the coppers?" suggest
ed Red Are you dippy enough TO
think they'd let you turn square?"
Yes. Why not?" retorted Valentine
like a fash. What have they got TO
do with honest mem"
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-
oArs
his old pals or any one else in the IN
derwOrld Of whom ne could obtain in
formation desired by the police. in
short, Valentine had overlooked the
stool pigeon game" the despair CT
every crook who had ever tried TO go
straight"
"Aw, don't kid Yourself" warned
Red The copper I! let you be square
if you're a stool pigeon. if you tip off
old pals. No other way"
Absurd! How, for instance. could
they do me"'
Absurd. Ell? What about Kid
Steele: He turned square. but he
wouldn't squeal. and job after job they
threw him out of till he was hungry
in the street. Then a copper offered
TO stake him TO a 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. Ell? That means
be a 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.
er. Get away where they can't find
you. We can do that
Yes, we can" Red again faced his
friend. Why, Doyle is in town to see
you now"
Doyle here?" In alarm
Yes. | met him when he got off
the RATHER He's going to give you
your orders. and you'n have to do as
he tells you if you turn square. He
knows you beat it. He was laying for
Avery when he came out and told
him to report once a month. And
what about Avery? You sent him to
me, and we've been at work on some
thing"
Where is AveryT' asked Valentine
quickly.
Want to see himr
Yes: I can explain better" valen- /
tine crossed the parlor and peered /
through the portieres.
Red went to the opposite doorway
and softly called, "Oh. Biuw
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 defied Detective Doyle 4
and finished his term in Sing Sing, /
came slowly into the hotel parlor.
Hello, Bill! You're taking
chance" greeted Valentine, land you
are, too, Red
Il had to see you" returned Avery. |
Il have just been telling Red
Sure. I heard you hand out that
square talk. l suppose you want me
to join you in this going straight bus
ness, too. eh?''