The Ordway new era., 1920-08-20

you We gone beyond tHe lhcts III
mighty sorry for You. but don't see
how 1t affects me any. DO you?"
IIilllard had siumped wretcheely
into his chair; his thoughts We're run
ming ainlessly about lhe grim axis OF
his chicanery.
"And and after all I've
done!" he said ihicllly. after all I've
said oh. my God!" His chin sank
low. and his grip on the table relaxed.
Harmon was less mt ease than he
pretended. well. If yon aren't bluff
| ing" he suid presently. You sure nre
the biggest baby FOR mnn's-sized man
ever saw. Brace up. there YOU"
Hillinrd pulled himself erect with
final effort, and his fist Gestured his
accusation.
"You know what TIN going to do
about it, don't your
yes" Harmon nodded. ms he drew
the smoke deep into his lungs.
I'm going straight back to those
four men. and"
NO" Harmon wagged his head
mo. you can't very well do that. either
even II you're ms shocked as you
look. Look at It just a minute :.
look at our contract. There's some
Ioopholes for me you could drive
motortruck through; but you haven't
got one ns big as a knitting needle. No.
son. the best thing for you to do is to
take a brace. aud go get another sixty
thousand while the getting Is good"
mot necessarily" billiards high
pitched laugh was brittle.
Harmon allowed the smoke to eddy
| gently from his nostrils "Yes-nec-
essarily."
You think I'll raise my finger after
this. except to whnt do you
take me forT
81 take you" said Harmon DELHI
man In n mighty bnd spot. You don't
want these folks up here to know the
whole truth. do you? 1t wouldn't hurt
me any-but after the record you made
here before you got yourself kicked
out two years ngo. oh don't
jumpl You don't think I've been
asleep, do you2 don't believe
you'd get much sympathy. Not much |
Aud I've invested a lot OF money in
you. want some big returns
Look me In the eye, son. ] want you
to calm down. Now. there's only three
parties to this deal-you and me and
tile world. You and me-and the
world. Get Tint? And you and have
got to play straight with each other
You help me get the money. and I'll
help you get whatever you want. But
when you throw me down. | throw you
down. and we'll see who comes out
ahead. I'll bet do. What do you
bet?"
Hiiiiard shook his head helplessly.
you've got to remember" said Har
mon In sardonic consolation. ''that
you're an awful easy man to describe.
You can slip ont of Syracuse just as
easy as YOU please. and try your
durIcdest to make getaway, and
you'd have pretty hard work 10 keep
away from the Pinkertons for twenty
four hours. And I've got the evidence
that would put 'em after you. SO don't
you plan to run away. son-don't do
It,"
billiards. judgment was totterlng.
Where did he stand in relation to Arm
strong now?
"Well?"
Harmon snatched Mt the Algn OF
weakness. and was instantly per-
suaslve.
"Stay on another six weeks; make
The rest of your killing. After this Is
aver. do what you please. You'll have
money enough to suit yourself. I'm
playing straight with you 49,.
am / not?"
"Yes." said Hilliard with whitening
sarcasm. "you are!"
Harmon glowered mt him.
, Don't you accuse me of double
crossing you, son! It's the other way
round.'
"You aren't fool enough to expect
me-" said Hilllard shakily. ito keep on
trying TO sell more of this rotten stuff
: You aren't enough of n fool for that
81 can, and do. You're in for II
now, Hlllard. and you can't very well
go back. You've collected money
you can't get your hands ON 1t aguin
you can't make any restitution. You've
5 lied your head on already: you can't
do any better now than to stick TO
: your first story. because the truths a
good deal worse. You'd better make
+, your killing and make ii quick. And
I If you open your head for just one lit
= tie peep 81. fooey, tlooey. and the
/. fats In the fire. Well f. 2"
billiards. head was splitting with
I the horror OF it. lie saw. In n whirl
=. ing vision of dread, the people OF the
4 city rising to denounce him; not mere
. ly for his inexcusable masquerade. SC
grotesquely built upon the dream of re-
I generation. not only for his vast abuse
e OF personal confidence, not only for
1 the base hypocrisies he had practiced
l upon his quondam sweetheart. but