The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-04-01

was dead. He stood alone, q black
past behind him and a future hazy
and lowering looming before him.
AS Dan passed the ramshackle
White Rock Inn on his way back to
the foundry at noon he caught his
first glimpse of Slippery Jones, who
was standing in the doorway of the
saloon. Slippery was one of the old
gang-the gang that Dan had almost
forgotten. Had Slippery seen him,
too? A SILVER passed over Dan. He
felt like wild animal tracked to his
lair
LII the evening, when the crowd from
the foundry loitered outside the White
Rock. as usual, Slippery came out and
invited recognition, Dan turned his
head away and stared in at the dirty
window of the inn, where a huge torn
flag was displayed.
AS the crowd moved OH, Slippery
hung back.
Reckon you're better acquainted
with the stripes without the stars"
he said, following the other mans
ayerted gaze.
The angry blood mounted high; it
dyed Dan Carey's face and neck, but
he said nothing, only silently followed
Slippery into the saloon.
Dan sank into rickety chair and
shook his head when the man behind
the bar spoke to him. He observed
Slippery mingling with the crowd and
saw that already he had made good
use of the time spent in White Rock,
for he seemed quite well acquainted
with every one. What was Slippery
driving at? Was he going to work
the town? Who was with him? A
host of such questions surged through
Dams mind.
Slippery coughed-a deep, ugly
cough. Dan noticed that the prison
pallor still chung to his face, SO thin
and narrow.
The crowd Trimmed out little, and
finally Slippery came over to Dan.
When did you get out?" Dan asked
easily.
Three months ago, Bill Martin
died last year. That internal hole got
him-almost had me, too Ed Schud-
der and | came out alive He beat it
for New York. heard you were
here and | hikcd it out"
Dan waited
Its pretty soft for you, old pal,
I'm down and out. Better make it
even"
Still Dan did not answer. lie was
trying to think how much he had
saved and how much he could give
him.
Slippery, noticing the hesitation and
misinterpreting the silence, broke out:
you amt goin' to lay down on an
old pal, are your
"Shut up" Dan retorted; 81 amt
goin' to. l was just thinkin.' It's
tough goin' and hard pullin, this bust
ness of tryn' to come back" he added
sympathetically.
THAT amt b0therin' me- Slippery
returned 81 want some money
that's ALL
81 amt got much" Dan shifted
in his seat.
'Ill take what you're got and clear.
You seem to bei1fetty well thought
of in these parts Reckon they never
heard you were a jailbird." Slippery S
tone was haunting.
Dan clenched his fist hard, and the
hot blood strcamed to his face.
Does the gal know it? Reckon it
might surprise her a Bit" Slippery
| finished. s.
Again the hunted feeling came back.
Dan wished that he could sink his
fangs into Slippery's throat.
Il hadn't much to give you--" he
sprang from his chair-"but I'll see
you in hell now before you get it,
he flung, back as he walked out.
Better think it over. I'll hang
around a few days Slippery called
after him.
Dan was thrown into a sea oil
misery, and the waves of anger and
bitterness beat around him. Slippery
had guessed well; he had never told
Annie. He feared and hated to tel
her. He had thought the past scaled
forever when he had hidden away in
White Rock, the end of the world
How often he had intended to tel
her! But confession was hard-sucl
a confession as he would be obliged
to makc-a long story of a laWlcs;
career. lie had been one Of the mos
daring, though one of the younges
members OF an organized gang thai
had blown safes and led the police o
the country a wild chase until hal
of them had been caught and sen
fenced heavily.
Annie was standing nj the door a;
he came toward the house; Bess, {
little elf with dark-fringed, gyps!
eyes, was tugging at her skirt.
You're late, DAN said Annie, !;
note of anxiety in her voice.
Yes, stopped to talk a while"
She looked at him closely ant
thought that he looked tired. She wa,
silent, white-faced, clinging woman
with burden of jctty hair and dark
wild eyes-such as hold smoulderin.
fires or burst into fame with the sub
den heat of emotion.
He ate little, but fingered at thu
table.
CONTINUED on page ID
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