Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-02-10

How do you do. sir?" he said in a
low voice.
Handler was watching the exchange
of greetings with keen interest.
Met before, governor, have you"
he asked ingenuously.
mo" responded Fay. But I'm glad
to see you have some types here diff
ferent than Dick the Rat and
Eyes," broke in the warden. Here,
Jimmy. there's something gone wrong
with the office safe. Open it for me,
will you?"
Fay fastened a pentrating gaze on
Valentine.
The prisoner turned his face away
and toward the warden.
"I'll do so very gladly If I can.
What is the combination
"Combinationw exploded the ward
en-, staring at the prisoner
Valentine was as cool and as insist
ent as though he were an employer
talking with one of his clerks.
Eyes. the combination. How can
you expect me to open the safe with
out it? Why, Mr.. Warden, you must
he joking with me-"
Rose Lane smiled complacently into
the lieutenant COVER nors face.
Handlers face became red-a deep
red that threatened any moment to
merge into rich grape purple hue.
You go at that safe and open 1t
just like you need the coin!' he
shouted.
Valentine made q deprecatory ges-
ture
You flatter me-" he answered, and
he smiled a most aggravating smile
that caused the now thoroughly arous
ed prison master to pound his desk
and hoarsely cry:
"Flattery be ID! You do as say
or I'll give you the
Handler caught himself just in time.
He suddenly remembered that the
lieutenant governor was present.
Say. Valentine" he substituted for
his intended threat of the straitjacket,
you're fourfushing because there's
gallery present. eh?"
No. 1889 turned and surveyed the
visitors present. His gaze passed
from the lieutenant governor to the
two members Of the Gate Of Hope So
ciety. Then in the background, half
crouched into one of the uncomforta-
wardens office, he saw girlish fig
ure. He leaned forward involuntarily,
for he saw a face and pair Of large
brown eyes fixed steadfastly upon
him. He recognized the girl as the
one he had saved from the remorse-
less clutches Of Billy Cotton-Cotton,
whom he had thrown to his death
through the window of a transconti-
mental flier. But only for moment
did Jimmy Valentine falter. With
masterful control he wheeled to face
the warden. You are wrong again."
he said evenly to Handler. You
know | am not what you would have
these people think l am"
Now the grape purple began to show
in the warden's face. The thick veins
In his neck began to thicken still
more and to crowd his low collar for
space.
"You better do us ask. Valentine"
he warned.
81 know that every one here knows
that, butt
You're doing ten for opening bank
safe and you can't open an old safe
like miner" The warden was sneer-
ing.
II never opened that bank safe.
You know that"
You're going to pose, Ell? Well,
listen, you go and cop that gopher or
I'll give you solitaire for a month"
Handler was now ut his worst A
month of "solitairew A month, thir-
ty days, thirty nights, alone, save for
the rats and the river tides that seep-
ed between the stones!
"It is an impossibility for any one
to open q safe without the combina-
ton. l regret cannot do as you
ask"
Handler forgot the presence Of the
lieutenant governor and Of the ladies.
'Get out of here, you
Mrs. Webster stepped forward pro-
testingly.
Fay determined to take hand.
you're losing your temper, ward
en-" he began when he saw the pris-
oner step to the door through which
he had come. Just moment" Fay
said commandingly to the convict. Il
forgot your name"
The prisoner halted. He saw that
the speaker had come across to the
middle of the Office. MY name is Val
entine, sir" he responded.
with your permission. warden.
will speak further with this young
man." Fay directed at Handler.
"Aw, he's making grand stand
play because there is some one here"
"And you
Handler was apologize.
'I've only
IF you please. l should like to talk
to Valentine" spoke Fay coldly.
"All right, go ahead. He's waiting
to talk"
Valentine" said the lieutenant gov
ernor, "can you not as a favor to us.
a lot Of skeptics, open the prison
safe"
The prisoner came toward the Of
ficer Of the state.