Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-23
By LOUIS TRACY

muSu a. my yOu WOttH W uC1 sSSi
drinking in public at this hour of tn,
day"
Coin straight. chr chuckled Bill
"That's good, That's the right lay
I'm glad to hear it."
He accompanied the words by a
hearty slap on the back, but if the hap
less pigeon which this hawk had
marked as legitimate prey could only
have peered into the mans mind he
would have found registered there the
additional comment: Yes, you are,
Not il | know it, anyhow"
The two selected a saloon in one
of those doubtful neighborhoods which
seem to be associated with fashion
able thoroughfares in much the same
way that barnacles cling to ship,
Drinks were ordered. Drake insisted
on paying, but Bill did not seem to be
short of money, and paid the waiter.
Poor Drake tried to impress his
companion with the responsibilities OF
his new position, hoping that the text,
go thou and do likewise" might take
root in even such unpromising soil.
When all was said and done, his heart
warmed little to one who had been
his companion in the miseries and
mental torture of prison life.
A third and a fourth supply Of liquor
was consumed. The talk grew conf
Dental. In half an hour the unfor-
tunate Drake was nearly drunk.
At that unlucky crisis, row sprang
up in the bar. The bartender inter-
fered, and, in the course Of the melee,
was thrown violently against Drake,
who, hardly conscious of what was 60
ing on, assumed that he had been at
tackled, In gust of anger he snatched
a bottle from the counter and struck
the bare-headed man violent blow.
The other fell at once, with blood
streaming from his scalp.
The original row was now in full
swing, and no one paid any particular
heed to the bartender's misfortune.
Drake was still waving the bottle in
drunken fury when his associate led
him to back door and into an alley.
There the jailbird took the bottle from
Joe's hand, and threw it away, forcing
the other to accompany him.
The two men presented a curious
spectacle as they reached the main
street.-the one, fashionably dressed,
having almost collapsed as he came
into the fresh air, while the-other, an
obvious ruffian, was apparently play
ing the part Of the Good Samaritan.
Drake never knew how he got home.
He managed to creep to his room, and
pleaded illness for the rest of the day.
Next morning, when he met Burton at
breakfast, the latter was kindly solicit
,ous as to his heath. Drake nearly
yielded then. He was bitterly con-
scious of his fall from grace, but re-
solved to make amends, and had re-
covered his poise when he was called
to the telephone. :.
The croaking voice OF Wall-eyed
Bill came over the wire:
"Nice mess you got into yesterday,
didn't your it said.
"What do you mean" inquired
Drake hervously.
"Huh! / like that! Forgotten ey-
erything, have youl Sorry, old sport,
but it's my duty to stir your gray mat
ter. Hike out into the park, and meet
me near the fountain in half an hour.
And watch your stepl It's the chair
for you this time if you amt mighty
CAREFUL
Making some excuse to his EN-
ployer, Drake went out. And the time
came all too soon when his prison
friend showed him 4 newspaper with
the scare heads: Bartender Slain in
Saloon Brawll Murderer Unknown
Makes Good His Escapep
The black type danced before
brakes eyes. He was terrified:
How does this concern meE he
"You!" cackled Bill. "You croaked
that guyl Up to now nobody but me
knows you done it, and ! amt goin'
to squeal on you, Joe. You believe
that, don't your :,
What are you giving me" de-
manded Drake thickly.
Bills manner changed instantly.
THE straight spiel" he growled.
Putin up the unconscious act, are
your Don't you do it. If ] split,
there's twenty fellers who saw you in
that saloon, an would pick You out
OF q crowd. That guy is dead all
right, and you killed him. 1t don't
make no difference to me, one way
or the other, but you'll have to toe
the line and do as | tell you, or I'll
put myself right with the cops and
you 60 to the chair for sure"
Drake had to accept the lamentable
truth.
Il haven't much money he fall
tered. 1--WE been at work only a
couple of weeks, but might scrape
up a hundred dollars"
The other laughed derisively.
Search mer' he guffawed. THAT
rich guy you're living with can cut
up better'n that. Now, here's my
offer. Take it or leave it. The next
time he has lot of dough in the
house, put me wise and III pouch it.
It's dead easy. No one will ever sus-
pect you, and I'll get away west.
Now, don't cut up rough about it.
You can't help yourself It's the only
thing to do"
The unhappy secretary saw no
other way out Of the difficulty. Sick
with despair, he gave in. Just as on
that first evil day he had helped him
self to the banks money, believing
he would repay the loan" by the
proceeds OF fortunate gamble. he
salved his conscience now by the re-
solve to work hard, save every cent,
and repay Burton in course of time.
He knew that within the next few
days his employer would withdraw
from the bank fairly large sum with
which to purchase a small estate in
the country whittier to retire for a
weekend when weary Of the noise
and heat Of the city. So, having