The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-03-24

this il the first mistake of the kind
| have ever made"
Quite true-quite true. l am sure,
| my dear Sir" commented Jimmy Val
| entine condescendingly. Il can see
that you are exceptionally able in your
line. Some day if We ever have loss
here through thievery l shall be most
glad to recommend you to the direct
| ors, and 1 am sorry that you feel so
! embarrassed at your error regarding
| me-"
"Oh. cut that! Don't worry about
me-" said Doyle vengefully. "Wait
till | put the bracelets on the real
Jimmy Valentine. then save your SYM
pathy for him. He'll pay for this
| days work. It's all through him that
made a sucker out of myself today.
Mr.. Randall. and when l get him he's
going to come through which means
confess" Doyle paused for breath
and concluded. I'm on the biggest
job of my whole career. and when l
finish it I'll have the real Jimmy Val
entine sewed up in little stone jug
6 by s. without light or fresh air. and
what he'll get to eat would make pit
bull terrier turn vegetarian"
Valentine in spite of the danger that
attended his situation could not resist
the temptation to continue the con-
versation with Doyle. 1t was danger
Ous-no doubt as to that At any mo-
ment the young man might let drop a
word or hint that would betray him.
self into his enemy's hands by con-
frming the detectives suspicious.
But the daring Valentine relished
the spice Of excitement in the situa-
ton. He played with the detective as
cat with squeaking mouse.
ITO be sure, you do not promise this
man Jimmy Valentine a very merry
time Of it when you finally land him."
Valentine said Il am glad 1 am not
he"
Doyle laughed grimly.
"The resemblance is the most star
ting l have ever encountered" he an
swered. You are perhaps a trifle
taller-a half inch. maybe-but. aside
from that and the wrist scar. you and
Valentine are exact"
Valentine smiled fatuously-quite
Intentionally so.
Il should hate to have so clever
man as you hunting me. Mr.. Doyle"
he went on. land from what you say
I assume you have been after him
some time"
Nearly three years." the detective
grunted angrily.
"Well. that's quite awhile. You must
want him badly"
Doyle bent toward the other and
pounded his fist into his opened palm.
"He is the one man who can open a
safe by the sense of touch" he ex-
planned.
Blank amazement came into the face
of the assistant cashier.
"Why. that's not possible. is it?'' he
asked incredulously.
doesn't sound so-we never thought
so-but Jimmy Valentine has done it
repeatedly. The first year he worked
we thought the jobs were done from
the inside-employees or officers of
the bank. Then we got him by con-
fession of his pal, and fool governor
pardoned him." Doyle growled dis
gustedly.
"Well, If he was pardoned"-
The detective brushed the sugges-
ton aside.
81 want him for another job, one
that l can convict him on now and
couldn't before the first conviction"
You will doubtless get him. Mr..
Doyle" confidently.
Doubtless It's a life work to land
him. He's the most dangerous man
loose"
"1t doesn't seem possible that
man could have so delicate q sense of
touch" said Valentine innocently, con-
tinuing to play" Doyle as an angler
plays brook trout.
''He has," with an angry snort. Its
been the ambition of my life to see
him work-to catch him red handed"
"Well. for the sake of the commune
ty at large l hope you do. BY the
way. Mr.. Doyle, as you have never
seen this-er-Mr. Valentine work.
how do you know that he uses moth
ing but his hands in opening safes"
"Oh. we have general idea about
his system. He keeps his hands ten
der, soft. sensitive, and through a
faculty seeming almost miraculous he
is able to detect the movement of the
tumblers that lock the safe as he
turns the dials of the combination.
This much we learned from one Red
Flanagan. alias Tim Cronin. alias the
White Rat the pal that Valentine
took up with after he killed another
pal named Cotton. Flanagan's right
name is Jim. He did bit at Joliet,
and l think I'll be able to get him to
testify against Valentine when | get
him sewed up in Boston. What? oh.
yes;l Red was always known as the
White Rat until he took to dyeing his
hair vermilion."
Doyle looked at his watch. He nod
ded a farewell to Valentine and wheel
ed toward the door. He stopped mo-
mentarily and asked permission to
take another fash at that picture on
thu Valentino pavo his ascent