Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1911-03-03
CHATTER VII

concluded wrongly No; he was not
yet free from all the associations OF
the years past-those years which be
was endea voring to forget
Hello. Red" he finally addressed
Flanagan Come out from behind
the curtain. The coast is clear for
you. How did you know ! was hereT'
Red came forth "Oh. leave il 20
me, Jimmy. to keep track Of an old
pal" He held out his hand which
Valentine listlessly shook
Red could not understand his for
mer companions Indifferent manner.
whats wrongY' he asked.
Nothing"
Jaw. cut it out. Sometimes got you
guessin'. an so don't try to kid me"
The released convict looked medi-
tatively at Red Then he spoke
RED. did you ever do bit?
"Sure-Joliet.'
"And you have been in one OF those
rotten holes and still think its a good
game?
you've weakened-eh?" sneered
Red
I've turned square"
'You're crazy
NO: its only the man who thinks
he can beat the law who's crazy" said
Valentine
you'd a won out if it hadn't been
for that Cotton. who blew Oh you be-
cause you beat him out of a dame"
Valentine turned and clutched him
by the arm
"You rat, don't you ever speak Of
her again or I'll murder you" He
threw Red roughly away from him
Now. get out Of here and forget
you know me-"
Good God. jimmy exclaimed the
other 4 wouldn't say anything to
hurt your feelings Why. I'd do any
thing for you; I'd a done your bit if /
could have Why. I'd 20 to h-l for
you"
'sWin you turn square with me-
That's all ! want of you now. Let's
you and | start now and from this
minute on go square. if we starve in
the streets VIII you do that, Red?'
Valentine spoke in intense earnest
ness.
Red hesitated zone job to get
stake and I'll 90 you" he said eager
~
Valentine appreciated the character
Istic unwfllingness of Red to leave his
lifelong vocation-that of riding strong
boxes and safes deemed by their man
ufacturers to be fire and burglar
proof" True, the flames were some
times fooled by the thicknesses of met /
al and asbestos. but rarely had Red
Flanagan been foiled by mere mani
mate metal or time locks-rarely. in
deed. when accompanied by No. 1883.
the man who. as Warden Handler de
scribed him. opened safes solely by
the sense of touch. Valentine knew
the hold that the unlawful life be,
too. had followed invariably secured
on its votaries. and be was not sur
prised when Red hesitated to leave it
for the dubious rewards of going
straight"
No" answered Valentine; nothing
for me but work from now On-wOrk,
honest work. hard manual labor II
necessary I've quit the old game for
keeps. Red"
Red. plainly nonplused at this revo-
lutionary change of heart in his for
mer pal" stood speechless for mo
ment Jimmy Valentine, the best man
in the country in his tine. had turned
square" Mercifu saints. Was the
world coming TO an endf AT last he
recovered his ability to talk
He had an inspiration that he
thought might win Valentine over.
might make him come to his senses.
What about the coppersY suggest /
ed Red Are you dippy enough to
think they'd let you turn square,
Yes. Why notY retorted Valentine I
like a sash What have they got to (
do with honest menu
Again did Red find cause TO actually I,
doubt the sanity of his ex-confederate. 7
for here he was overlooking entirely (
in his childish reasoning the remOrse-
less, dismal certainty that the detec- /
tives would force him to peach" on /
his old pals or any one else in the un-
derworld OF whom he could obtain in /
formation desired by the police In /
short, Valentine had overlooked the /
stool pigeon game" the despair OF
every crook who had ever tried TO go .
straight"
Jaw, don't kid yourself" warned
Red. The copper II let you be square
II you're stool pigeon, if you tip of
old pals No other way"
Absurd How. for instance. could
they do me?'
Absurd, Ell? What about Kid
Steele? He turned square. bur he
wouldn't squeal. and job after job they
threw him out OF till he was hungry
In the street Then copper offered
10 stake him to feed if he'd turn
up an old pal And he murdered the
cop on the spot, and now he's doing
life. Turn square Ell? That means
be stool or bum in our game.
Pod raised his hands prOteStiugly