Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-06-15

| \ the blow. Then an express
A sion of confidence came into
Valentines face. he seated himself
on a sofa at the left of the room.
"She'll be back" he said. "You fell
lows are just like Ivy Snedden. He
always said women didn't amount to
much. Guess that was because n of
the barmaids at the Cheshire Cheese
in London peached or him to the Scot
land Yard bulls, and he had to make
a quick getaway hidden under the
coal in a freight steamer. But this
girl is different from the kind Of wo-
men you and I have known, boys. She
even when 1 wore the stripes, and she
took me out of the reach Of Warden
Handler and solitaire = 'solitaire,'
boys. Does that mean anything to
you?" Valentines voice rose higher.
eyes. and she's going to do n thing
more for me. She's coming back to
help me start on the square"
Red stepped close to Valentine, grip
ped his arm and Kissed determinedly
into his ears: "You know she won't.
You don't think a straight girl would
stand for a crook like you, do you-you,
with the cOppers always after you on
account of some of the old stuff we
did? Don't kid yourself. Jimmy. It's
no go"
"If any other crook had dreamed a
dream like that, what a laugh it would
be. but now you go, Red-you and
Avery"
Red rose quickly.
"What do you mean?" suspiciously.
The light of resolution shone in Val
entine's eyes.
give quit" he said.
"Whatr!' snapped Red and Avery to-
gether.
"I've quit
"What about Doyle?" put in Avery.
"He's heavy on your mind, amt he,
Avery? I can beat Doyle"
"You amt going to lose that coin
I've got staked out for an hours
work? walled Red. "Seven thousand
If there's a dime!"
eyes, I'll lose that"
"And a trip abroad to brace you up
"a month in PARISH"
eyes; I lose that too"
Red went on excitedly, bending
tensely toward Valentine:
But you won't lose the old thrill OF
going into n bank just before dawn,
landing the Waterman and feeling out
q combination in the darkY"
And hearing the coppers pass and
try the door," reminded Avery eagerly.
And seeing the old safe open up
like an oyster and grabbing the
dough?" said Red alluringly.
"And make a clean getaway" FOL
lowed Avery.
And the long jump and the landing
In at a swell cafe, Jimmy-eating the
breakfast of the millionaire?' sang out
Red.
with the coin in your kickY" added
Avery.
And reading the papers and laugh
ing our heads off at what suckers we
made of the coppers-you amt going
to lose that, Jimmy?" Red pleaded,
with every ounce of effort he could
control.
Indecision had begun to show in Val
entine's face. and now his surrender
was complete.
you got to me, Red" he announced,
then added eagerly: where is this
layout you got? Can we get to it to-
night"
"Sure! 1t amt two hours from
here"
Its a cinch.' commented Avery de
%liShtedly.
Jimmy Valentine had surrendered
indeed. His two one-time accomplices
had c%unningly played on his weakness
for the thrills of the crooked game
The thrills of it to him were more
precious than the rewards. They were
his rewards. Besides, the girl had
not returned. She had paid the debt
she owed to her rescuer, and that was
all. Well, let her 60. reasoned Valen-
tine. Never again would he commit
the folly Of placing faith in a straight
girl!
"Waitw he cried. "My hands are
pretty tough. I couldn't feel the tick