The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1911-02-25
CHAPTER VII.

DeEle0CeO III De0OluluS DtiOTt
- him the man who had In the
old days been his accomplice in many
questionable adventures. No; he had
concluded wrongly. No; he was moi
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 hereT
Red came forth. "Oh, leave 1t to
me, Jimmy. to keep track Of an old
pal" He held out his hand. which
Valentine listlessly shook.
Red could not understand his for
mer companions Indifferent manner.
whats wrongT he asked
Nothing"
Jaw, cut it 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-ehr sneered
Red
1--WE turned square"
"You're crazy"
"No; it's only the man who thinks
he can beat the law who's crazy" said
Valentine.
you'd won out II 1t hadn't been
for that Cotton. who blew on you be-
cause you beat him out Of a 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.
Nov. get out Of here and forget
you know me-"
"Good God. Jimmyr' exclaimed the
other. II wouldn't say anything to
hurt your feelings. Why, I'd do any
thing for you; I'd done your bit II
could have Why, I'd 90 to h-l for
you"
"Wil 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. RedY
Valentine spoke in intense earnest
ness.
Red hesitated. Zone job to get a
stake and I'll go you" he said eager
ly.
Valentine appreciated the character
istic unwillingness Of Red to leave his
lifelong vocation-that of riding 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 locks-rarely, In
deed, when accompanied by No. 1883,
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 it's votaries. and he was not sur
prised 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 labor If
necessary. I've quit the old game for
keeps, Red"
Red, plainly nonpused at this revo-
lutionary change of heart in his for
mer pal" stood speechless for 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 coppersT" suggest
ed Red. Are you dippy enough to
think they'd let you turn squarew
YES Why notY retorted Valentine
like a fash. What have they got to
do with honest menT
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-
lives would force him to peach" on
his old pals or any OF else in the I'M
, derworld Of whom hebcould 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"
Jaw. don't kid yourself" warned
Red. The copper II let you be square
II you're q stool pigeon, II you tip Oh
old pals. No other way"
"AbsurdI How. for instance. could
thsy DO msr