Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-02-24

y
both alive Tui after you. Good day"
Doyle strobe angrily away.
As the broad Shouldpred form Of the
"headquartprs man" disappeared Val
entine stood gazing reHectiVely after
him. HIS back was turned 10 the por-
there's Bill Avery, seeing his chan e.
crept StcaIthly out. In his right hand
cleaned the barrel and the cha
of his IS bulldog. He felt secure.
He had the versatile Red to aid in he
necessary getaway. The hotel corri-
doris were OppoGrunely deserted and
the noise of the elevator and Of the
street cars outside would dull the
sound Of the bulldogs bark.
Another step: he raised the weapon;
his fOr2iin"er began 10 tighten on the
trigger. But Valentines keen ear
caught the sound Of the creak of Az
ery's stiffening elbow joint as 1t
Strengthened Wheeling with his Old
time alaclity. the pX-c0nvirt SAW his
danger. struck down the tirearm with
his powerful left hand and wreSted it
from his would ba aSSailant's grasp.
He broke the weapon open and saw
that al the chambers were loaded.
Swapping ii shut. he thrust it into his
poc ket and hurled the now crinSin@
Avery from him to the floor
You fool" sneered Valentine. Get
up and be a man"
The former prison mate of his CON
queror stiffly regained his feet.
I'll kill him-l'll kill him YETI he
exclaimed to Red. who had followed
him from behind the curtain
"Too bad you didn't get him."
growled Red diSgustedly.
Valentine. however. cut short their
talk by warming thnm of their loud
tones. Al his prnnolInccmcnt that
they were both crazy Red reminded
him of what he had told him about
The detectives and their stool pigeons.
at was IL lie. too" put in Avery.
81 never Stuck that Old man up Pm
talking on the level"
81 knew Doyle was lying" answered
Valentine reassurincly. ITS har'
game we're up against"
Red agreed with the speaker
"Well, now. maybe you believe that
it amt SO easy to turn square. Listen.
| Jimmy. Avery and me have got job
! worked out. We know every twist
and turn Of the joint I've prowle1 it
| twice We were going to use the
soup" lie showed bottle. See old
| nitroglycerin. but we heard you were
| going to he sprung. and we waited.
| You can grab that gopher tonight, and
you can bet with us outside no one can
| get to YOU"
Red and Avery eyed aim anxiously,
expectantly.
"I've opened my last safe, Red
was the calm reioinder.
| $50 you're going to work. eh. with
copper ut your heels?' snarled Red.
I'm going to work. and | won't be
stool pigeon"
"You're going to give up the game,
graft like you got-you. with your
I'm done"
"Well. what in heavens name got
| tits woman
81 have met decent girl. Red. the
| kind | knew rs boy-my sisters
kind. 1t was she who got me out OF
that hole at Sing Sing. and | have
promised myself
"You don't think she or her folks
would stand for you. do you?'
"If | WAS on the level she just
might"
with a copper telling lies about
YOU to her folks unless you delivered
me or Red:" interpolated old Avery.
Jimmy. for Gods sake don't go
against that straight girl game. It'll
only break your heart, then what?'
asked Red earnestly
The released prisoner was thought
full moment.
1--WE thought it OUT he finally said
She'll be back any minute. and I'm
going her way. boys. Yes. and If
| do there's Il chance that | may win
her some day and he able to take her
to my old home and my father and
mother, who haven't heard of me for
| years. They didn't seem quite to un-
derstand me when was a lad. boys.
nor | them. but | can see now that
they meant all right by me. I've
! learned il all from this girl. though
she's almost complete stranger to
me-
Valentines voice began to waver,
and he inclined his face to one side
TO hide the evidences Of the emotion
| that threatened to overwhelm him.
To Red Flanagan and Bill Avery the
situation was a trying one. desperate
| indeed. One of them was all toe
| Young and inexperienced TO execute
| alone the delicate. sure, nerve racklne
inside" job of safe looting sortle,
| the other was too old and feeble Tor
ANYTHING but a berth as outside
man. to detect approaching danger and
give due warning thereof. They alb
| solutely required the partnership OF
| Jimmy Valentine.
Yet here was Valentine, as Avery
| described him in reproachful WINS
per to Red: Here he is, crazy STUCK
on a skirt, an him tn only man In
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