Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-04-03

"Oh. yes. Avery here?'
Hes waiting outside"
"Let's have him"
Hes 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 long career of fur
tive watchfulness had developed.
You're finally out, eh?" greeted the
prison master. you've done nineY"
Eight years ten months. sir"
Treated pretty well, weren't you?"
Avery gazed intently at Smith. then
he replied to his questioner:
You've never heard me complain.
have you?"
NO and 1t wouldn't have got you
much"
Il 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 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.
Il don't remember him." replied the
old man after a searching suspicious
inspection of the detective.
"You don't remember mech, BillY"
Doyle laughed.
Avery suddenly exclaimed:
Il got you now. You're Doyle-still
a copper"
still copper. Bill"
You amt got anything on me to
hold over me when l get out"
That's true, Bill, Anyway. this
time I'm your friend" said the detec-
tive in earnest manner.
Avery threw his head back.
MY friend" he exclaimed in aston.
lshment.
The warden could barely suppress a
grin
YES; l think 1 know where I can
get you pretty good job" went on
Doyle engagingly.
Nobody wants me-" said Avery de.
spondently.
Il think l. can arrange it."
"a job in laundry, eh?" snapped
the eX-prlsoner. 'T've been wash.
woman here"
There are lots of jobs where YOU
don't have to know trade. Can't Bin
sit down, warden?"
why, certainly" responded Han.
dler.
Avery, voicing his thanks. seated
himself at the wardens table.
Doyle came close to the old man
There's one thing you want to do.
BILL above everything ese-keep out
OF bad company" he warned.
Avery hesitated. He glanced from
the detective across to the warden
I'm getting out of bad company to.
day. he replied briefly.
Doyle started forward.
"1es, and it's good thing Won are
Tor you're getting away from Valen-
tine"
"Valentine?
Yes" insisted Doyle. 0It doesn't
10 you any good to know man like
that. suppose you know he killed |
Cotton so he wouldn't have to divide
the swag with him" The other shook
bis head decisively.
don't know anything about IT,"
Ihe detective now spoke sharply.
And what's he got against you?
lie sent out word that''-the question
er suddenly shifted-"what message
did he give you to take out toto
Avery drew back invountarily.
He didn't give me any message"
he cried out in positive tones.
Then both the officials noticed that
the ex-convicts eyes slowly drooped
and became directed to the floor.
u could do you good turn-if you
-pailed along with me-" suggested the.
detective.
The released criminal brushed aside
the invitation. He rose stlfiy from
his chair.
I'm on to you, Doyle. If you're to
be my friend know that I've got to
be stool pigeon, eh? Well, Pm old.
and don't know where I'm goin'
when | leave here. But I'll take the
river out there" pointing over his
shoulder with his thumb. "for mine
before play that game. 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 ignorant
to do their work themselves that has
to have stool pigeons on your staff to
do your work for you. Why, you
couldn't nab twelve-year-old dip IL
you didn't have some poor nerve bro.
ken sucker of stool to 60 out ahead
and make the job easy for you"
Both Doyle and the warden, enraged
at the old man, lunged viclously at
him to wreak vengeance upon him for
his denunciation.
L.