Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-03-31


Don't worry. miss. She'll be oil
right in q few minutes! be cried over
his shoulder. The girl moved again
toward the doorway whence she had
retreated moment before.
Valentine, still oblivious to the near
ness of Rose, raised his hands along
the edge of the vault door. bis back
toward the entrances leading to the
room 81 beat you. l beat you and
saved the little girl from you" he
murmured Up and down be pressed
his hands against the enameled metal
Il beat you. | beat you!
Slowly be turned away. and as he
raised his eyes they met the tmplaca-
BILE. scornful gaze Of George Doyle
Valentine started back. In the shad-
owy vault room he thought his eyes
had played him false. that he saw
only vision conjuref into tempo
rary existence by .overwrought nerves
and correspondingly disordered
brain. He pressed his hand to bis
forehead. Then the vision" moved
toward him. Yes, It was George
Doyle.
The e1-convict stood transhxed. as
though al unwilling witness Of a ter
ror inspiring tragedy. And to him the
denoupment was all Of that. Doyle
stood. his hands clasped behind his
back. waiting for the other to speak.
Valentine worn out by the strain Of
the days events. was in no mood to
ronti.!ne the fight against the cool.
calculating. time abiding detective.
so this Is the end. Doyle" he final
" said, with wan. forced smile on
his drawn lips. 1.-The jig Is up. Isn't
that about it?"
The detective moved closer to the
human prey for whom he had so long
and so patiently and, so far as the
government was concerned. had 30 ex-
pensively sought.
Looks that way to me. Jimmy. But.
remember. back there in Albany. |
told you I'd get you some day unless
YOU would do me a favor or two. AL
wars remember that gave you a
chance to keep out of the pen and
you turned 1t down.
Valentine hung bis head. Yes. hs
would never cease to remember the al
tentative OF becoming a stool pig
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. make quick Job OF
this" was his answer. you win aft
er all. I'll go Without
The detective interrupted Valentine
by inclining bis head and pointing to
one side. The exconyict turned-to
see Rose Lane. In whose affectionate
embrace be 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 clasped nervously
against her heaying bosom.
You saw" exclaimed the distracted
young assistant cashier. peering
searchingly at the girl. and with an In
voluntary twitch Of his elbow indi'
eating the opened vault
Rose nodded her head gravely. stared
ut the man she had loved and then at
the threatening form Of the detective.
Valentine strobe to her. clutched a
pink rose from bouquet fastened at
the girls girdle. He pressed 1t in both
his hands.
you won't mind my having that
flower, | know" he said brokenly. II
am going-to be gone long time-and
this l want you to know and remem-
Der through the years-my love for
you-is the only clean thing ever
knew. 1t is complete. and 1t will new
er-never end"
Az he concluded he wheeled to face
the detective.
''That's all. Doyle" he said in hard
~ audible tones.
The central office man saw the rca!
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
one she loves is torn bodily from her
forever. AS for Valentine we'll. there
must be something good in him after
all. reasoned Doyle. If 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 lady"
be queried hesitatingly.
Rose caught ray Of encouragement
in his tones.
Yes. Yesr' she cried. springing
forward. her cheeks now aglow with
the inspiration given by 4 newborn
hope. "and 1t was an engagement that
means my happiness. my love. my
life and his fifer' She reached forth
Eer hands beSeechlngiy 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 hesitated-"then guess
,ce'H just cheat the state of Aassachu-
SETS"
Valentine grasped the arm OF his
long time foe.
You mean-you mean just what.
Doyle? he exclaimed excitedly.