The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-04-13

his questloner squarely in the eyes.
How do you do. sIrg" he said In
low voice.
Handler was watching the exchange
Of greetings with keen interest.
Met before. governor, have your"
he asked ingenuously.
No" responded Fay. "But I'm glad
TO see you have some types here diff
ferent than Dick the Rat and,-
yes" broke in the warden. Here.
Jimmy, there's something gone wrong
with the office safe. Open it for me.
will your
Fay fastened a PENETRATING gaze on
Valentine.
The prisoner turned his face away
and toward the warden.
IN do so very gladly IL can.
What is the combination
"combination!' exploded the ward
en-, staring at the prisoner.
Valentine was as cool and rs insist
ent as though he were an employer
talking with one of his clerks.
Eyes, the combination. How can
you expect me to open the safe with
out It? Why. Mr. Warden, yca must
be joking with me-"
Rose Lane smiled complacently into
the lieutenant governors face.
Handlers face became rcd-a deep
red that threatened any moment to
merge into rich grape purple hue.
you go at that safe and open it
just like you need tho coinw he
shouted.
Valentine made a deprecatory ges-
ture.
You flatter me-" he answered, and
he smiled n most aggravating smile
that caused the now thoroughly arous-
ed prison master to pound his desk
and hoarsely cry:
"Flattery be ID! You do MS say
or III give you the
Handler caught himself Just In time.
lie suddenly remembered that the
lieutenant governor was present.
Say, Valentine" he substituted for
his intended threat Of the straijacket,
you're fourfushing because there's n
gallery present, chg"
No. 1888 turned and surveyed the
visitors present His gaze passed
from the lieutenant governor to the
two members of the Gate of Hope so.
ciety. Then in the background, half
crouched into one of the uncomrorta-
bic wooden chairs that adorned the
warden's Office, he saw girlish fig
ure. He leaned forward involuntnrily.
for he saw n face and pair Of large
brown eyes fixed steadfastly upon
him. He recognized the girl rs the
one lie had saved from the rcmorse-
less clutches of Billy Cotton--Cotton.
whom he had thrown to his death
through the window of transcontl-
mental flier. But only for moment
did Jimmy Valentine falter. With
masterful control lie wheeled to face
the warden. You are wrong again"
he said evenly to Handler. "You
know am not what you would have
these people think | am 80
Now the grape purple began to show
III the warden's face. The thick veins
in his neck began to thicken still
more and to crowd his low collar for
space.
You better do as / ask, Valentine"
he warned.
y know that every one here knows
that. but
You're doing ten for opening bank
safe aud you can't open an old safe
like minef" The warden was sneer.
ing.
Il never opened that bank safe.
You know that"
You're going TO pose, eh? Well,
listen. you go and cop that gopher or
III give you solitaire for month. !"
Handler was now at his worst. A
month of "solitaire!' A month. thir,
ty days, thirty nights, alone, save for
the rats and the river tides that seep.
ed between the stones!
1T is an lmposslbility for any one
| toHopen safe without the combina.
| tion. / regret l cannot do as you
ask"
Handler forgot the presence of the
lieutenant governor and of the ladies'.
Get out of here you
Mrs. Webster stepped forward pro.
tSstingly.
Fay determined TO take hand.
You're losing your temper, ward.
en-" he began when he saw the pris.
oncr step to the door through which
he had come. "Just a moment Fay
said commandingly to the convict. q
forgot your name"
The prisoner halted He saw that
the speaker had come across to the
middle of the Office. my name is Val
entine, sir" he responded.
with your permission, warden, l
will speak further with this young
man." Fay directed at Handler.
Jaw, he's making grand stand
play because there is some one here"
"And you
Handler was apologize.
"I've only
'If you please, should Ike to talk
to Valentine" smoke Fav cnldly