Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-03-10
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Jimmy. How natural that sounds
Redr' he said reminiscently.
"Excuse me. | meant Mr.. Ran
dan,'" protestingly.
No; it's all right, only don't py
any chance use it before Doyle, be-
cause I'm going to alibi Doyle until
he'll think he's lost his eyesight."
.Alibi? repeated Red curlously'
1--WE heard O. that before.
"Alibi. that's it. Red" replied val
entine. And he continued rapidly;
You haven't forgotten the one great
est refuge Of the crook, have YOU
our old friend the alibi? Something
, which proves you were not where you
were when something happened. /
was never Jimmy Valentine. ked.
was never in Sing Sing. I've been
straight all my life and can prove IL
I've been waiting for Mr.. Doyle near
ly three years. and I've got him beat
| never did that job in Springfield
Massachusetts. was never there II
my life. And if I've got TO use the
crooks tools to beat it I'm justified
I'm living straight and I'm going TO
! and all the gods are with me. Re1.
| He took ScrapbOok from drawer
and opened it. Look ut that. Fol
; five years you will find clippings OF
Lee Randall when he lived in st. Paul
| That man was my cousin. He went II
Alaska and never calne back. My
name is also Lee Randall. and defy
DOYLE to prove be ever SAW me.
Valentine. out of breath owing It
the long speech he had delivered a
top speed. leaned back and gazpd tri
umphautly nj Flanagan The lalteI
stared aLiazpdly at the assistant cash
| Ter trying To guess rs To whether o.
| not he WAS telling The truth. Well
| there WAS II Scr;: ;ahuuk. That woult
afford ready means of proving Valen
tines words Red picked up the boor
and swiftly SKINNED the pages. Hi.
attention was held by one of the clip
pings He read aloud:
| st. Pau: News. March -. 1Ti.-Tht
speaker of the evening was Mr.. Lea
Randall Fills subject was
Lock ~ that other one" interrupt
ed Valentine" printing. See how they
Join up with the day came here
And Avery has sent me something
that will make Mr.. DOyle's eyes blink
like an u.sl.
Red laughed &rimly. The telephone
bell rang.
avery. Did you say Avery" asked
Red.
Yes" picking up the receiver
Then TO the operator: Yes. send Mr.
Crunin right in There's friend OF
his here who wants IL see him" HI
looked significantly arroSs III Red.
Flanagan glanced around the room
then Mt Valentine. Say" he began
I'm the only one here in the room
except you. and | don't want to SET
any Mr.. Cronin.' Don't know him
J Who is he?'
MIR. Cronin." responded Valentine
"is the man who is going to save yol
and me from going back to state pris
, on"
Valentine went on to recount to Rec
how Bill Avery. after he mad sale
goodby to his pals" in Albany. hat
gone to the middle west and eventual
ly married sedate widow of middle
age. whose son was ali expert photog
rainier one who operated large stu
dio in st. Louis and employed mer
vho specialized in covering importan
events for the newspapers and maya
zines.
Avery calculated Red. Avery
working-a absolutely on the square,:
Yes. that's the truth. the awfu
truth" laughed Valentine whmsically
But you say Bil-BilI Avery is
married?" asked Red. completely over
come at the suggestion.
"Yes, it's all true. and Bill has
proved a true friend to me-to u.s.
answered Valentine.
And he's really happy?" went or
Red doubtingly. Him as always had
stable of lilies spendin' his coin
He's happy with one wife,?
The assistant cashier gave vent tt
a burst of gayety at the astonishmen
of the Waterman, who probably would
I have understood the process of refor
nation in any one but Bill Avery.
But a few minutes elapsed after Val
entine answered the telephone call be
fore the door opened and in came
man whose iron gray hair CURED be
meath the rim of his high silk hat
Glaringly bright yellow kid gloves
adorned his hands His frock coat. OF
the latest make. was Il bit worn or
the edges. and it was for that reason
that the secondhand dealer had made
a reduction in price to Mr.. Cronin.
The newcomer laid handsome gold
headed Indian bamboo walking stick
across chair. took off his gloves and
! faced Valentine and Red.
Mr.. RandalI?" he said.
Yes. Mr.. Cronin."
: "Cronin be bowed" cried Red. start
| ing forward. ITS Bill Avery. How
about you. old pal?"
Avery, pleased at the enthusiastic
welcome and at the sight of both OF
his old friends, shook hands with
each. Then be drew back and looked
from one TO the other. Think of US