Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-07-20
PAGE

con-" that the detective had offered
him the alternative of '%peaching'' on
old Bill Avery and going scot free
scot free until Doyle should command
him to turn up" some other friend
and companion.
Come. Doyle. max q quick job of
this" was his answer. "You win aft
er all. I'll 60 Without =
The detective interrupted Valentine
by inclining his head and pointing to
one side. The e%x-convict t%urned-to
see Rose Lane, in whose affectionate
embrace he had fingered but a few
minutes before on that memorable aft
ernoon.
A deadly pallor overspread the girls
cheeks. She drew near to the two
men. her hands claspcd nervously
against her heaving bosom.
"You saw" exclaimed the distracted
young assistant cashier, peering
s%earchingly at the girl, and with an in
voluntary twitch of his elbow indi-
eating the opened vault.
Rose nodded her head gravely, stared
Il ~ iIl Nll' Il anu tIItu dl
the threatening form of the detective.
Valentine strobe to her. clutched n
pink rose from Il bouquet fastened at
the girls girdlc. He pressed it in both
his hands.
you won't mind my having that
flower, I know he said brokenly. "I
am going-to be gone q long time-and
| fhiS want Won 10 know ovid AWAY
Der through the years-my love for
you-is the only clean thing l ever
knew. 1t is complete. and it will nev-
er-never end"
AS he concluded he wheeled to face
the detective.
That's all, Doyle" b said in hard
ly audible tones.
The central office man saw the real
significance Of the situation. No one
with the slightest morsel Of intelli-
gence could doubt that the beautiful
young girl before him was suffering
as only a true woman can when the
n b loves is torn bodily from her
forever. AS for Valentine-well, there
u be something good in him after
all, reasoned Doyle, if a girl like the
bankers daughter could venture her
whole life's happiness on the chance
Of his going straight The detective
shifted uneasily on his feet as Valen-
tine turned to him.
"Er-didn't you have an-an-en-
gagement with-er-this young ladyr"
he queried besitatingly.
Rose caught Il ray of encouragement
in his tones.
Eyes. Yes" she cried, springins
forward. her cheeks now aglow with
the inspiration given by q newborn
hope, land it was an engagement that
means my happiness, my love, my
life and his life" She reached forth
her hands beseechingly toward Doyle.
The officer glanced quickly behind
him and around the room. making
sure that there were no other wit
nesses to his words:
"Then'-he Decentralization I guess
WeU Just cheat the state of Massachu-
sets"
Valentine grasped the arm of his
long time foe.
You mean-you mean just what.
Doyle?' he exclaimed excitedly.
Il mean that the lady needs you
more than Massachusetts does. You
had me going. all right. for awhile
there today. Jimmy. But just to re-
tain our respect don't think that I
fell for that double negative photo
graph" With an abrupt Good day."
the detective swung around and dis
appeared through the door by which
he had ~entered-went out forever from
the life of Jimmy Valentine.
Valentine addressed the girl with
justiiable t%repidation.
"You understand" indicating the
doorway through which Doyle had
made his exit-"you know who-what
he was?"
Rose Lane flung herself into valen-
tines arms.
II only know l love you" she cried
passionately.
He held her in ferv1d embrace.
And knowing the truth about me
that p
Perhaps l always knew" she whis-
pered fondly. But if a woman loves
she rejects that which does not fit into
her dream, but if she loves as r.
Valentine smothered her words with
his kisses. Then, raising his lips from
hers for a single moment, he exclaimed
in a voice that rang with the deter
mination of a man who would yield his
life ere he broke his sacred promise:
I'll live for you, Rose-all for you.
And you'll learn that l am a man once
more-a man among men Of honor"
HI END.