The Irish standard., 1920-05-29


asleep, do you? I don't believe
you'd get much sympathy. Not much
And I've invested lot of money in
you. want some big returns.
Look me in the eye, son. I want you
to calm down. Now, there's only three
parties to this deal-you and me and
the world. You and me-and the
world. Get that? 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 I do. What do you
bet?"
billiard 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 out of Syracuse just as
easy as you please, and try your
durnedest to make a getaway, and
you'd have pretty hard work to 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 tottering.
Where did he stand in relation to Arm
strong now?
"Well?"
Harmon snatched at the sign of
weakness, and was instantly per-
suasive..
"Stay on another six weeks; make
the rest of your killing. After this is
over, do what you please. You'll have
money enough to suit yourself. I'm
playing straight with you. :.
am not?'' "
"Yes," said Hilliard with whitening
sarcasm, ''you are!"
Harmon glowered at 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 Hilliard shakily, "to keep on
trying to sell more of this rotten stuff!
You aren't enough of fool for that"
Il can, and do. You're in for it
now, Hilliard, and you can't very we'll
go back. You've collected money;
you can't get your hands on it again;
you can't make any restitution. You've
lied your head off already; you can't
do any better now than to stick 20
your first story, because the truths a
good deal worse. You'd better make
your killing and make it quick. And
If you open your head for just one lit
tie peep =. f1ooey, fooey, and the
fats in the fire. Well 2"
billiards. head was splitting with
the horror Of it. He saw, in whirl-
ing vision Of dread. the people of the
city rising to denounce him not mere
ly for his inexcusable masquerade, so
grotesquely built upon the dream of re-
generation, not only for his vast abuse
Of. personal confidence, not only for
the base hypocrisies he had practiced
upon his quondam sweetheart, but
also for this grossly profitable fraud.
Dimly, he argued just as Harmon
claimed, he couldn't be in harder
straits. A spasm Of reckless fatalism
shook him.
Harmon, who had been inspecting
him critically, took out his fountain
pen.
It'll write you your check for COM
missions-shall II" He held the pen
poised insinuatingly. "And then we'll
forget this little misunderstood, and
start fresh. Shall II Let's see," with
great attentiveness to the figures.
''Your twenty per cent is twelve thou
sand four hundred, and that, less half
expense call 'em five thousand
even .. that's seventy-four hundred"
He tore sheet from his pocket check
book, dried the ink by waving it in the
air, and fiirted it over to Hilliard.
"Put it away and let's have some
lunch. If you're afraid to have your
friends see me down here, let's have
it upstairs. I'm not sensitive, son; it
don't pay"
"No," said Hilliard, duly, "and
guess it never WILL"
"That's the idea! Now you're talk
ing sense! Come on, son, buck up
and let's have some lunch. -
At eight o'clock in the evening,
when Rufus Waring knocked at Hill
liard's door, it was opened by a man
with face to remember afterward.
There were deep-cut lines-almost fur
rows-by the mouth and eyes; and the
ewes themselves were Startlinplv
luminous, and drawn. The mans
complexion was chalk-white
"Why, Mr.. Hilliard!" exclaimed
Waring. "What on earth's the matter
with you?"
"Come on in," said billiard, and his
smile was CHASTITY. 1--WE been waiting
for you"
cAApTER Y