The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-05-11

.seribed him, opened sntes solely "
the sense Of touch. Valentine knew
the hold that the unlawful life he.
too. had followed invariably secured
on its votaf1es, and he was not sur
prised when Red hesitated to'leaye it
for the dubious rewards Of going
straight"
mo-" answered Valentine; nothing
for me but work from now on-work,
honest work. hard manual labor If
necessary. I've quit the old game for
keeps, Red"
Red, plainly nonplused at this reyo-
lutionary change OF heart in his for
mer pal" stood speechless for a mo-
meut. Jimmy Valentine, the best man
In the country in his line, had turned
square" AIerclful saints! Was the
world coming TO an end? 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 coppers?' suggest
ed Red Are you.uippy enough to
think they'd let you turn square,
Yes. Why not?" retorted Valentine
Ike a flash. What have they got TO
do with honest men,?
Again did Red find cause 10 actually
doubt the sanity of his ex-confederate,
for here he was overlooking entirely
in his childish reasoning the remorse-
less. dismal certainty that the detec-
lives 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
If you're stool pigeon. If you tip OF
old pals. No other way"
Absurd! How, for instance, could
they do meT''
absurd, Ell? What about Kid
Steele? He turned square, but he
wouldn't squeal, and job after job they
threw him out of till he was hungry
In the street. Then copper offered
20 stake him to feed If he'd turn
- an old pal. And he murdered the
cop on the spot, and now he's doing
life. Turn square, eli? That means
be a stool OF bum in our game"
Red raised his hands protestlngly
and turned his face away from valen-
tine,
Beat the coppers," insisted the
other. Get away where they can't
and yon. We can do that"
Yes. we can" Red again faced his
friend, Why. Doyle is in town to see
you now"
Doyle here?" In alarm.
Eyes, Il met him when he got of
the rattlef.' Hes going to give you
your orders, and you'n have to do as
he tells you If you turn square. He
knows you beat it. he was laying for
Avery when he came out and told
him to report once month. And
what about Avery? You sent him to
me, and we've been at work on some
thing"
Where is Ayery?" asked Valentine
quickly.
Want to see him2"
Yes; l can explain better" yalen-
tine crossed the parlor and peered
through the portieres.
Red went to the opposite doorway
and softly called, "oh, Billw
Avery, dressed in a roughly cut
ready made suit of clothes and look
ing in much better health than be did
on the day he defed Detective Doyle
and finished his term in Sing Sing,
came slowly into the hotel parlor.
Hello, Bill! You're taking n
chance" greeted Valentine. "and YOU
are, too. Red"
4 had to see you" returned Avery.
Il have just been telling Redr-
sure, / heard you hand out that
Square talk. suppose you want me
to join you in this going straight bus
mess, too, eh?"
Il don't think the crooked game is
any good. And you are getting old
for clever work"
Think so, eh?D snarled Avery sus-
piciously.
He isn't too old to be an outside
man with us" put in Red
I'VE don't need any outside man
any more, Red" decided Valentine.
Avery glared into the speakers face.
80 you're out now, and you're 90
ing TO throw Red and me out, eli?
All this turning square talk heard
was a stall to get rid of me because
am old, ehg'
Il don't have to stall you, Avery"
The old thief leaned threatenlngly
toward Valentine. shaking his wIther
ed fist as violently as the flabby mus.
cies, sapped by years of prison air and
prison fare, would permit.
Like the dir he cried. choking
in his wrath. I'm old. that's your
dope. Going to throw me for a rookie,
Ell? Well. III show you. When guys