The Clio messenger., 1915-10-08

DIS own. Il knew SllVerS IN the OWlC
| days, an I wondered many's tn time
why he had no fear of Mike. He al
| ways was close-mouthed. He would
| never even tell where he got tn wick
cd scar he has. So he's got somethin'
on tn Big Feller? Well, WE'LL"
"Do you know where he lives?"
put in impatiently.
Eyes. He has been in here siveral
times. He lives over in Jersey, in n
place called Cranston. Ye go over 10
Weehawken an take tn train. Ills
but q short ride he always said livery
time he invited me to see him."
I'm going" got up.
Kennedy glanced at the nickeloG
clock on the shelf over the stove.
II know there's thrain at nine.
thirty, for that's the one he used 10
take. Ye have an hour to wait and
tits comfortable here"
sat down again.
1T must be murder to hang on all
the years." he said meditatively.
"It is" I assured him positively.
I'd been certain of that ever since
had seen the fear-gleam in Mike Gar.
ven's eyes.
1've heard Slivers say he knew
Mike in Virginia"
My eyes widened at this. Several
times remembered that Mike had ce.
clared Virginia was the orly state in
The Union he had never visited, and
Of all the games I'd played for him
not one had ever taken me there. The
mention OF it now sent my thoughts
back to Alice and her father.
Thank God / had at last found a
way out! There was no doubt that
Slivers OHagen would jump at the
chance to ally himself with me. II
ever revenge had been on a mans
face it had been on his when he rusl.
ed past me in that outer office.
had money, more than he would
over be able to spend, and he could
get no more from Mike. Yes, it would
be easy. Tomorrow / would have
Mike Garven where he had had me AL
the years. Then
WAS 1t fear We saw" Kennedy's
voice broke in on my dream.
was puzzled for minute; I'd for
cotton his foolish doubt.
"'Twould be a hard thing, I'd say"
he continued, "to know what was in
a pair of eyes that niver had nothin'
in them before. What would be fear
in your eyes or mine would, maybe. he
something else in his"
/ laughed at this, but he shook his
head omniously.
We talked for an hour of the old
days and the games we'd played; he
ohuckling of some play that had put
q fat roll in his pocket; | serious
faced as / smoked my cigar. When
rose finally to go he took my hard
in hearty grip.
Luck to ye' Jmmy-boy," he wished
me "'Tis maybe better. for l sec
veil niver be good at the game any
more. Ye can't laugh at the clever
things we've done, an that's the end
for the like of ye. WE'LL he finished
whimsically. Il know she's a good
gur-ril and ven treat her right"
thanked him.
"Slivers did used 10 tell me twas
best 10 Jump off the train when she
slowed up on the grade after passin'
the second station. Ye was to watch
for an oil-tank, he said, an hop off
when We got to it. Twas easy. he
ueed to tell me, because the thrain
would be Just about maxim the hill
"If We go on TO the station tits q
two.mile walk back. From the oil.
tank it's Just over the hill be the path
yell find, an tits tn on'y house ye
can see from the top of tn hill. II
anything sh1d go wrong, Jimmy, come
right to me. Mike knows nothin' Of
me, an I'll take chance for ye any
day"
l thanked him again for the direc-
tions, and smiled at his last two SEN
tences. Nothing could go wrong! I
had Mike Garven at last!
Kennedy led me down the rear
stairs so that I could leave without
going through the saloon again, and
as l started toward the ferry / breath
ed prayer of thanksgiving that the
opportunity had come at last to break
away from Mike Garven and crooked
ness forever. That kept ringing In my
ears as l bought my ticket and board
ed the ferry. The tapping water un-
der the boats bow seemed to purr
over and over:
you've got Mike Garven! You've
got Mike Garven!"
Never did a song of thanksgiving
come more fervently from the heart.
In the cinder-grimed smoking car i
pulled my hat down over my eyes and
my rain-coat collar up around my
neck. While there was no possibility
of any one being around who would
recognize me, was taking no chan
ces. There was too much at stake.