Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-10-14
CHAPTER VIII.
The Master Furnishes.

Whelmed me; all the lire seemed 10 go
from my body as l sat there on the
edge of the bed and stared with fixed
horror-fascinated eyes at the paper
had dropped on the floor.
Subconsciously l knew that Kenne-
dy had slipped from the room to leave
me with my thoughts. The devilish
ingenuity OF it! AS the first shock
passed and my brain was able to think
l could understand the llghtning-quick
action of the brain behind those blank
eyes when the signal came that l was
in the outer Office. He had let me lis
ten because he knew just what
would do!
Those gray eyes had seen my heart,
even as Kennedy he'd said they could.
They had flashed their thought VI
murder for one brief instant, and /,
fool. had misread the message as fear.
In ie years of association 1 had
come TO know his marvellous memory
fcr details, yet had prided myself on
n!y cleverness in Guiding possible
shadow.
Why, he knew I would gu to Kenne-
| dy. He knew that would step into
the trap he had prepared. He knew
| Ia go to Slivers O'Hagen. I think he
| even knew that I'd be slick enough 20
get away, for it was no part of his
| Plan to have me urrested-then. He
needed me!
The crumpling of the paper under
my foot drew Kennedy back to the
| room.
9TH west is tn place for ye, jim
my-boy," he said sadly. "Ye had best
| hustle before the devil sets tn dogs
on ye."
A sudden determination came to me.
1 squared my jaw.
"Fm not going step from New
York. I'm going to play the camel"
"Goin' to stick!" he exclaimed.
"Every minute! I'd be an idiot for
running now!"
"Ye' are fool, Jimmy" he told me,
though the look in his blue eyes belied
his words. "But love ye' for havin
such a devil Of nerve"
|
slook in silence.
"Come downstairs" said Kennedy
Reminder we are feeling tn effects
OF last nights debauch.'
We went down to the barroom TO
sether, and played the part OF man
who has just walked from a sleep in
duced by TOO much whisky in such 9
way as to bring sympathetic grins
from the bartender and several Gus
toners.
would never be connected. a few
hours later. with the dirty tramp wht
had come in, for my face was clean
my hair neatly brushed, and thu
brown rain-coat, to the casual glance
was exactly the same as the one
wore the night before.
At the hotel I greeted the clerk 1o
v!ally and went to my room to put ol
complete new outfit Of my owl
clothes. I knew my ali-night absenc
would not be noticed, for 1t was no
an unusual occurrence.
Now, don't get an idea l was doin
all this just to show my smartness-
wasn't. But I knew that runnin
away meant sure death, while stay
inr was at least a reprieve.
Although my thumb and f1nge
prints, infallible identihcation-mark
always, were on the scene Of the mu
der and had probably even been PIT
tographed by this time. that was tn
only place they We're. I'd never bee
arrested There were no records {
my prints in the hands OF the polic'
That didn't make me safe, of cours
mot by a long shot. My liberty, eve
life. was held in the hollow OF Milk
Garven's hand. One little hint frol
him. and the police would grab me.
comparison of prints would be all th'
was necessary, then. I was playing
keep that hint away from the police
No one in the world would come
: me with the murder of Slivers OH
gen but Garven. I've said before th
Mike never sacrificed good worke
needlessly. God knows earned n
i lesson now. Before he had held n
8 with the fear Of cell and ten years
| Imprisonment; now my life was in hi
keeping. Life is a precious thing.
went to see him.
Rat-face kept out OF my reach thl
time. though he grinned twisted gr!
> of triumph, ! thought, as went in.
"Are the stock certificates read
: yet, Mixer" l asked. and / tried nj
;. best to make the voice offhand.
Tomorrow" he answered.
I "Will bring the money here?"
The brown eyes of the girl didn
: haunt me as I asked that question nj
I the pathetic innocence of the fathe
l All saw was a row OF cells and tn
little green door of the death-house.
= A long minute his pencil worked o
e the blotter before him. and waite
: patiently. like dog for ita master
pleasure.