Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-06-08
CHAPTER VII.

the curtain. The coast is clear for
you. How did you know l was here?"
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 wrongY be asked
Nothing"
"Aw, cut it out Somethin's 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 d bit?"
"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.
'I've 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 a won out if it 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. jimmy" 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 If
could have. Why, I'd go to HI for
you"
Twill you turn square with me?
That's all l want Of you now. Let's
you and | 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
stake and I'll go you," he said eager
ly.
Valentine appreciated the character
isdc unwillingness of Red to leave his
lifelong vocation-that Of rif1ing strong
boxes and safes deemed by their man.
ufacturers to be fire and burglar
proof" Tr.e, 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. 1889.
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 If
necessary. I've quit the old game for
keeps, Red"
Red, plainly nonplused at this revo-
lutionary change Of heart in his for
mer pal" stood speechless for a mo-
1ent Jimmy Valentine. the best man
4. 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 squareY'
Yes. Why notY" retorted Valentine
like a flash. What have they got to
do with honest men?
Again did Red find cause to actually
doubt the sanity OF his x-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 un-
derworld Of whom he 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"
Jaw, don't kid yourself" warned
Red. ''The copper II let you be square
if you're stool pigeon, if you tip off
old pals No other way"
Absurd! How, for instance, could
they do me-"
absurd, eh? 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 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