The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-02-02


Avery had sent him. II showed tn
tables and guests at a large banque
In luxuriously appointed restaurant
"Yes. think this saves me-" he re
marked. He held IL before Red. ask
Ing. What's this?"
"Flashlight OF banquet"
"Who Is this on the right of the
toastmaster?" pointing ut a face in
the picture.
"YOu."
"Pipe the date" went on the assist
ant cashier. FEB. 0. 1906. Do you
remember where | was on that dateT
He gazed curiously at Red. Avery
watched the proceeding with rare in
terest
The Waterman became thoughtful.
At last puzzled wrinkle marked his
forehead. "Why-why- you-were-in
Sing n-on-that- date,"
ne replied confusedly.
Valentine and Avery laughed in their
superior knowledge.
"No. no." protested Valentine. this
photograph proves | was at ban
quet in st. Paul. I'll beat Doyle and
III make him like it,"
"You can't" was Avery's pessimis-
tic comment
you said we couldn't go square,
any of us. and we all have" was Val
entines rejoinder. "And If we can
beat the thing inside of us that calls
we can beat one man that hunts"
A clerk knocked at the. door and en-
tered to ascertain If he should now
bring in a trayful of cash which Val
entine was TO count. He was ordered
TO do so at once. and Avery's face be-
came a study as the young man soon
re-entered with a tray on which new
banknotes of large denominations were
piled among gistening rows of gold
coin.
Great snakes, what n chancew ex-
claimed the one time thief. looking
from Valentine to the Waterman.
This is no place for me. Oh. just for
one grab and the quick getaway"
He mopped his wrinkled brow. I'm
sweating like polar bear on The
Fourth of July"
Haven't got it out of your blood
yet. eh?" asked Valentine.
mot the craving for real money.
learned to let the wheat i'm the grain
elevator alone after n month or two,
but coarse money like that-wow"
The old man stared fascinatedly at
the enticing tray.
We'll. we watched each other for
awhile" commented Red, pointing to
his chief
And amt neither of you ever
snatched even one bundle?" asked
Avery incredulously.
mo"
'Well. you better get me out OF
here. I'm going to have lockjaw in
both hands in minute" He reached
for his hat and stick.
mo. you're not" put in Valentine.
Come on Red" he said. walking to
the vault room door. I'm going TO
prove to Bill that he's honest. He's
going to watch that money till we
come back
Avery cried out in protest. but Red
followed his superior. and the time
worn thief. who had confessed to his
friends the weakness that he well
knew yet urked within him. was left
alone in the banking office before n
tray containing $4,000 in cash. With
in reach was the door leading into the |
open hallway through which it was
but a few seconds dash to the busy
street, where n man would immediate
ly be lost to view in the passing |
throng.
"It's dirty trick" muttered the old |
man, starting after the others. A shaft |
of yellow light reflected from one of |
the golden coins caught his eye. drove
into his very brain, into the thin red
blood that coursed through his hard
ening veins. He stopped. He turned
full around and slowly. with hands
eagerly outstretched. tiptoed back to
the table bearing the precious burden.
His brows narrowed down over his
pale gray eyes, his fingers. long talons
in their curved fixedness. began to
nervously twitch. Then Avery jerked
himself away Of a sudden. He straight
ened himself up and started toward the
vault room door to summon Valentine
But even as he did so his glance roved
back to the alluring tray. He was
drawn to ii as the nerveless rabbit
that succumbs to the insidious charm
Of the oscillating head of the hungry
python.
He stepped TO the tray He seized
two packages of hundred dollar bills,
thrust them into his pockets. then
clutched two more. The fever had
him. His eyes shone with the fire of
gone days and gone nights. His poi
soned blood sang through his veins.
Then he stopped once more. He raised
his head.
And have the coppers after me
again." he murmured thoughtfully. He
aid down package "And double
ross pal that put me straight Not
me. not mep He replaced the re-
nainder of the money. "And coin that
comes crooked never was any good"