Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-05-11

Lets have him."
"He's a tough old boy, this Avery"
commented Doyle, "but he's my one
best chance in trying to get the goods
on Valentine"
The secretary brought in Bill Avery,
whose gray hair, ashen face and stoop-
Ing figure indicated that prison fare
was not rejuvenating, although there
was a strange sharpness in his eyes,
in his glance, that a long career of fur
tive watchfulness had developed.
you're finally out. eh?" greeted the
prison master. you've done nine?"'
Eight years ten months, sir"
"Treated pretty we'll, weren't you?"
Avery gazed intently at Smith. then
he replied to his questioner:
you've never heard me complain.
have you|"
"No, and it wouldn't have got you
much"
II saw that the first day in"
"Well now what? Going to turn
square?" Handler sneered as he spoke.
The released convict looked the ward
en- squarely in the eyes.
"You know I am, sir"
Handler laughed uproariously.
Il know: they all say so. Oh, here's
an old friend Of yours, Avery" The
speaker pointed to Doyle.
81 don't remember him. replied the
old man after a searching suspicious
inspection Of the detective.
"You don't remember mech Bill?"
Doyle laughed.
Avery suddenly exclaimed:
Il got you now. You're Doyle-still
a copper?"
still a copper, Bill"
You amt got anything on me to
hold over me when I get out"
That's true, Bill. Anyway, this
time I'm your friend" said the detec.
tive in earnest ann
Avery threw his head back.
my friend?" he exclaimed in aston
ishment.
The warden could barely suppress a
grin.
Yes; l think I know where I can
get you a pretty good job" went on
Doyle engagingly.
Nobody wants me-" said Ayerv de-
spondently.
II think 1 can arrange it,"
"A job in a laundry, eh?" snapped
the e%X-prisoner. 1--WE been a wash
woman here"
There are lots Of jobs where YOU
don't have to know a trade. Can't Bill
sit down. warden?"
"Why, certainly" responded Han
dler.
Avery, voicing his thanks, seated
himself at the warden's table.
Doyle came close to the old man.
There's one thing you want to do,
Bill. above everything else-keep out
of bad company" he warned.
Avery hesitated. He glanced from
the detective acros to the warden.
Pm getting out of bad company to-
day." he replied briefly.
Doyle started forward.
Yes, and it's a good thing YOU are
for you're getting away from Valen-
tine"
"Valentine?"
Eyes" insisted Doyle. "It doesn',
do you any good to know a man like
that. l suppose you know he killed
Cotton so he wouldn't have to divide
the swag with him." The other shook
his head d%ecisively.
II don't know anything about it."
The detective now spoke sharply.
And what's he got against you:
He sent out word that"-the question
er suddenly shifted-"what message
did he give you to take out to-to"-
Avery drew back involuntarily.
HE didn't give me any message
he cried out in positive tones.
Then both the officials noticed thai
the ex-convict's eyes slowly dropped
and became directed to the floor.
Il could do you a good turn-if you
trailed along with me-" suggested the
detective.
The released criminal brushed aside
the invitation. He rose stif1y from
his chair.
"1'm on to you, Doyle. If you're tt
be my friend l know that I've got t.
be a stool pigeon, eh? Well, Pm old
and I don't know where Pm goin
when I leave here. But I'll take thu
river out there" pointing over hi
shoulder with his thumb. 'for min,
before l play that game. I tell YOU
the old mans voice rose to an indig
nant pitch-"its only fly guys like you
Doyle, that's too lazy or too ignoran
to do their work themselves hat ha.
to have stool pigeons on your staff tt
do your work for you. Why, 70,
couldn't nab a twelve-year-old dip i
you didn't have some poor nerve bro
ken sucker Of a stool to go out aheat
and make the job easy for you"
Both Doyle and the warden, enraget
at the old man. lunged viciously a
him to wreak vengeance upon him fol
his denunciation.
fro BE Continued
The Stern Parent.