The Springfield herald., 1914-10-09


mot at ALL" said. There's plenty
of it here. and you've got a. much
right to 1t as have"
He gulped the stun and smaoksd
his lips.
THE rich chaps have the good goods
all right" he smised. ''Now, Just piss
me a cigar. We might ~ well haveva
smoke together. too. No telling when
we'll meet again.
II hope 1t win be under different cir
cumstances," said.
He smiled thoughtfully.
They could be worse" He stYd
led the end Of his cigar. ut strikes
me, my friend. you're somewhat green
at your business" he observed as he
blew out the first puff of smoke. I'm
inclined to believe an old hand would
not have stopped to enjoy himself a4s
you did. but would have made to safer
grounds, Just as soon as he got every
thing available"
You're right" agreed. Il surely
am a greenie at the game. And nowe1
I'm satisfied i'm a rank failure at
the business I've proved 1t by my
foolish conduct this very night"
He knocked the ashes OF his cigar
and looked over at me.
did you ever stop and think what
kind of work you're engaged in?" he
questioned seriously. Really. did
you ever stop and Think"
mo. guess l never did," l an
swered.
II thought so, my friend. Well. you
want to stop and you want to think.
and think hard, too. 1t may be
good thing for you. You may come to
realize you're In the most dangero
business In the whole world, and ths>
one that pays you least. when you
come to consider all things. You're
going about with your life in your
hands. and on every job you tackH
you're inviting a bull. regular. or
watchman to try his aim at you. And
besides, states prison is staring you
in the face Take tonight. for in
stance. couldn't have plugged you
full of lead just as well as not. and
done SO before you'd have time to
say boo? Just as easily as rolling on
log. And let me tell you right
now, there's a good many. II they'd
been in my place. would have done soi
too.
Have people been in the habit OF
using you kindly?" he asked. Have
they been using you as you'd like to
be used?"
shrugged my shoulders and smiled.
ITS been 80 long since kind act
fell my way that I've forgotten all
about It," said. 1.-The rough part of
the world has always been mine and
always will be, suppose"
For the most part you may deserve
it," he said. You may not be the
kindliest on earth yourself. One thing
sure, you cannot expect to find kind
ness and encouragement when you
follow what you're at now. But sup
pose now. l should do you a kind
turn. would you benefit by 1t? For
instance all I've got to do is to take
up that transmitter over there on the
table and call in the police and have
you. dragged of to jail. But suppose
l don't do it. but instead let you go.
would you call that a kind act? You
asked me a little while' ago who
am. l said l might be Che chief of
police. Well, I'm not, and 1t strikes
me, II you'd done a little thinking Of
your own, you'd have come to TIN
conclusion that MT White wouldn't go
away and leave such beautiful home
after him as this without somebody
on guard You wouldn't yourself. And
he didn't. He left me here. an I'm
plain, everyday watchman. And now
I'm going to let you go. So now.
we'll have another drink together. and
then make yourself scarce! You can't
tell what might happen"
OF course, was delighted to get
away, and told myself Id pay him .
back II had to wait till was dy-
ing and remember him in my will.
1t was daylight when got into the
city.
And being yet broke, the two dol
lars that Jim the Turk, had loaned me Z
going for car fare. l went up to Rosen-
baum's. the pawnbroker, to make a
borrow. He had loaned me some. and
i was over In a corner Of the store.
reading the paper. The door opened
and tall, smooth-faced man stepped
in. In his hand he carried good
sized grip. Rosenbaum greeted him
and took the satchel.
"1'll be back in half an hour or
80 and collect" he said. turning to-
ward the door.
who is that guyr' asked Rosen-
baum as he went out :
.'Him!" smiled Rosenbaum. Don't
you know? Why. he's Red Andy. the
slickest bureau-tapper that Chicago
ever turned out. He blew In here a
couple of months ago. He made a
good haul somewhere last night. too.
Just look"
Ileaned over the counter and looked
into the open grip. It was choking
with the silverware I'd collected at
Mr. Whites home. Then the counter
came up and hit me In the forehead,
at least thought it did, but it was
really me takin' tumble when real
lied I'D fell for his phony gun and
let him make the clean getaway
patient and, cucumbers and onions be-
ing mentioned the doctnr asked n tho