The state-line herald. (North Lemmon, Adams County, N.D.) 1907-1912, 1911-03-24
CHAPTER VII,

covered from the shock he ex-
perienced at bebolding before
him the man who had in the
old days been his acconplice in many
questionable adventures. No; he had
concluded wrongly. No; he was not
vet free from all the associations OF
the years past--those years which he
was endeavoring to forget
Hello. Red" he finally addressed
Flanagan. Come out from behind
the curtain. The coast Is clear for
you How did you know | was hereY'
Red came forth, 'Oh. leave it to
me, Jimmy, to keep track Of an old
pal" He held out his hand. which
Valentine listlessly shook.
Red could not understand his for
mer companions Indifferent manner.
whats wrong?" he asked
Nothing"
Jaw, cut it out. Somethin's got you
The released convict looked medi-
tatively at Red Then he spoke.
"Red, did you ever do a bit?"
"Sure-Joliet."
And you have been In one of those
rotten holes and still think it's a good
gamef"
you've weakened-ehT sneered
Red.
'1've turned square,
you're crazy"
mo; it's only the man who thinks
he can beat the law who's crazy" said
Valentine.
You'd a won out If 1t hadn't been
for that Cotton. who blew on you be
cause you beat him out of dame
Valentine turned and clutched him
by the arm.
You rat don't you ever speak Of
her again or I'll murder you" He
threw Red roughly away from him.
Now. get out of here and forget
you know me-"
Good God. Jimmy" exclaimed the
other. Il wouldn't say anything to
h'''' oai Ices Why. I'd do any
thing for you; Id dene your bit if |
could have. Why. Id go to h-l for
you"
..Wnl you turn square with me:
That's all | want of you now. Let's
minute on go square. If we starye In
the streets. Will you do that. RedT'
Valentine spoke In intense earnest
ness.
Red hesitated. "One job to get q
stake and I'll go you," he said eager
ly.
Valentine appreciated the character
istic unwillingness of Red to leave his
lifelong vocation-that of rifling strong
boxes and safes deemed by their man
ufacturers to be fire and burglar
proof" True, the flames We're some
times foiled by the thicknesses of met
al and asbestos. but rarely had Red
Flanagan oeen foiled by mere inani-
mate metal or time locks-rarely, In
deed, when accompanied BY No 1850
the man who. as Warden Handler de
scribed him, opened safes solely By
the sense of touch Valentine knew
the hold that the unlawful life be
too. bad followed invariably secured
on its votaries, and he was not sur
prised when Red hesitated TO leave II
for the dubious rewards of "goins
straight
No" answered Valentine; nothing,
for me bnt work from now on-work,
honest work, hard manual labor II
necessary. I've quit the old game foi
keeps. Red
Red. plainly nonplused at this reyo-
lutionary change of heart in his for
mer pal" stood speechless for mo
ment. Jimmy Valentine. the best man
in the country i'm his line. had turned
square Merciful saints, Was the
world coming to an endi 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 dppy enough to
think they'd let you turn squareY"
"Yes. Why noty" retorted Valentino
like fash. What have they got to
do with honest men?"