The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-02-17
CHAPTER VII

~ him the man who had in the
questionable adventures. No: he had
concluded wrongly. No: he was not
yet free from all the associations of
the years past-those years which he
was endeavoring to forget
"Hello, Red" he finally addressed
Flanagan. Come out from behind
the curtain The coast Is clear for
you. How did you know was here"
Red came forth. "Oh, leave it to
me. Jimmy, to keep track of an old
pal" He held out his hand. which
Valentine istlessly shook.
| Red could not understand his for
mer companions Indifferent manner.
whats wrong?" he asked.
Nothing"
Jaw, cut 1t out. Sometimes got you
guessin'. an so don't try to kid me-"
The released convict looked medi-
tatively at Red. Then he spoke.
"Red. did you ever do a bitY"
''Sure-Joliet"
"And you have been in one of those
rotten holes and still think it's a good
gamer
you've weakened-eh?" sneered
Red.
1--WE turned square"
you're crazy"
mo: it's only the man who thinks
he can beat the law who's crazy" said
Valentine.
you'd won out If it hadn't been
for that Cotton. who blew on you be-
cause you beat him out of 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 done your bit if 1
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 I start now and from this
minute on go square. If we starve in
the streets. Will you do that. Redo?
Valentine spoke in intense. earnest
ness
Red hesitated. "One job to get a
stake and I'll go you he said eager
~.
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 burglar
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 Iocks-rarely. in
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-
}Yfinnorv ho Of ~ in
mer pal" stood speechless 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 coppersY suggest
ed Red. Are you dippy enough to
think they'd let you turn square"
Yes. Why not?" retorted Valentine
like fash. What have they got to
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-
tives would force him to peach" on
his old pals or any one else in the I'M
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 Ego
straight"
Jaw, don't kid yourself" warned
Red. 1.-The copper II let you be square
il you're a stool pigeon. II you tip OF
old pals. No other way"
Absurd! How, for instance. could
they do me?
Absurd, eh? What about Kid