The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-02-15

]
Valentine. his emotion causing bis
voice to shake.
"You've weakened againT sneered
Red.
"No; I'm strong again."
"You mean that's from the girlT
"She is coming back, Red, and
there's nothing on this earth or in HI
that can make me 60 wrong. You
said a minute ago that If you thought
had a chance you'd stick" .ss---~
Il said it."
"Tnen | hold you to that"
Good Godr' exclaimed Avery.
You're not goin' to turn square, too,
RedT
I'm going with Jimmy. If I'd do
bit for him l got to go If he asks
it,"
what am goin' to do?" asked Az
cry plaintively.
Valentine drew close to him.
i've got you job, Bill, a good
one" he announced.
ME a job! Where?"
Valentine read from a note Mrs.
Moore had left with him.
Listen" he said. This will in
troduce the man you promised the po-
sition as Waterman of one of your
grain elevators. The wages at $3.50
a day are satisfactory to him."
Intense disgust spread over Bill Az
ery's face
"Two-ffty a day." he sneered. "a
man can't live on that"
| Valentine laughed.
ut costs 81 cents day to keep a
man in Sing Sing" he reminded the
| thief.
~ don't want job" snarled Az
cry. "Only the suckers work for a
living"
"Yes, you do want one" returned
Valentine. land this is just your kind.
Avery. And let me tell you something
| that you think l don't know. You're
| tired of being a crook-tired to death.
knew that when we were inside.
But you are afraid of what a lot of
old pals will say. Well, let them say.
What they got? Did you ever see
a crook with anything? What do they
amount to? They haven't the stand
ing of a house dog. You're tired of
it, Bill. and ashamed of the years
you've lost. and know it. Now
here's your chance, your day of sal
walton. There's the letter and here's
the coin to get there" He handed
Avery some bills. ITS way out west
where no one knows you. and you've
got a chance. Just think, back to
mother and then ahead to-
The hardened look began to fade
from the thiefs face.
"Give it to me-" He clutched the
money in his hand. "I'll try, by God.
I'll try" Tears trickled down Av-
ery's prison paled cheeks.
That's the talk-that's the heart"
spoke Valentine alphabetically.
"And if | fail I'll end it," said Az
cry.
you won't fail. It's only the suck
ers that fail. Make the next train
beat Doyle. Get away"
Avery turned toward one of the en-
frances.
"Goodby, Jimmy. Goodby. Red" he
cried, and he was gone.
Il tell you, Red" said Valentine,
looking after him, there isn't crook
you know who wouldn't go straight if
he could"
God" exclaimed Red feelingly.
but you know what's inside of a
man."
81 know what's inside Of me, and
dare face it."
Jimmy Valentine crossed TO win
dow and peered out into the street.
No one in sight that he knew. yet he
had lost all doubt that Rose Lane
would return. Her message had calm
ed his fears, and, more than that. 1t
had come in time to save him from
thrusting aside the one chance in the
world to redeem his lost years.
Another thought rose strong within
him as he returned TO the sofa. seated
himself and saw Red standing dlscon-
solately near the table. Something
had TO be done for Red-that was GER
tain. Red Flanagan was young-bare-
ly twenty-ive-and he had many char
acteristics that were not at all bad.
Valentine was convinced that his
friend would remain loyal to him II
he could take him with him and that
ne would become a man of honor and
integrity II he received the proper en-
enlargement He felt 1t his duty to
do this much for Red-give him
chance, the chance that would turn
square half the thieves in the prisons
II they could but obtain II.
And 10 he resolved that be would
take Red with him wherever he went
II possible 70 arrange It. Together