Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-03

f1ve years ago You weYe going to pay mo
little percentage matter. Remember. II ran
up to ten thousand or 40. And took ths
drink. and when wake up two days later.
] don't have the money. l have nothing but
a headache. Well. well! been Kin Cor
you long. long time Benny, N ! got
ycu--I suppose you been takin' care Of that
money for me all this time, ehf"
II Halsey had dared. he would have put 10
test Gefstein's boast that be was du -kcf
with weapon. But this was crowded New
York Murder was cheap in Manhattan. but
only to one who knew the ropes Haley
had purposely refrained from learning tho
ropes He wished no intercourse with tbs
criminal element Of New York He was play q,
ing lone hand. and did not wish to be forced
TO divide, And here. leering at him. was Abe
Geistein, one Of the foremost receivers Of
stolen property that San Francisco had ever
produced. Geistein. Who could, by a word
put Benny Halsey in JAIL not merely for the
ten thousand dollars that Halsey had avoided
paying him, but for half dozen other Of
lenses For the first time in his life Halssy
felt regret for his career. He did not regret
that he was a crook: he regretted that he had
been crooked with crooks.
And ne didn't have ten thousand dollars
with which to placate Abe Gelstein! THAI
was the terrible weakness Of his position!
He knew the man. He was a man who
never forgot an enmity. Without the slight
est hesitation he would expose Benny Hal
sey, send him to Jail That weak heart
began to throb and pound in his breast jail
life would kill him out Of hand This
very afternoon he had had tea with Alhyne
Guernsey, had exercised upon her all that
charm that wide experience and travel had
given to him. More definitely than when. .
few days ago, he had smiled reassuringly at
Rosa, he began to SEQ certain tremendous
possibilities. The girl had been tremendously
interested in him today. This evening she
was to be one of the occupants Of a box at
the opera to which he had also been invited
She was distrustfui OF man: the very urns
when she could be most easily captured. The
shyest animal is always the most curious;
therefore the crafty hunter nets him most
easily.
Big visions had fitted before him Not to
be fugitive from jusuce-even though .
wealthy one-but to be the lord and master
of a woman who was mistress Of Eve nil
lions. i. To surrender these visions for
lack of paltry ten thousand. He
took Abe Gelstein into his confidence.
II haven't your ten thousand" he finished.
i've been spending up to the limit. trying
to set myself right Well. ! on, right II
you'll let me alone"
Gelstein looked at him with keen admira-
ton tnged with the faintest incredul'ty.
And you honestly think you can marry
her." he demanded.
That's what I've been telling YOU" said
Halsey.
And get hundred thousand II you
do?"
That's my word" said Halsey.
4
stein.
There was nothing for Hasey to do but
acquiesce. In Gelstein's room in . Broadway
hotel the agreement was drawn up apd
signatures affixed to 1t.
"Of course" said Gelstein his voice hold
ing an iron hint. I'VE both know that this
document Amt legal But II you should Try
to welsh on me"
II won't" Halsey promptly vowed. You
let me alone, don't queer my game. and you'll
sleep under a blanket OF century. notes"
Gestein nodded unconvinced. But he was
taking a long chance Of recovery Of what
was due him. To cause Halsey's arrest
meant surrender Of hope OF that recovery.
But he was curious. prying person.
How about Rosa?" he asked.
Halsey lied hastily. oh Rosa? Oh, Rosa
shook me years ago for Frenchmar. Lv.
ing in Paris. l understand" He did not wish
Gelstein TO meet Rosa. TO drop some ineao
tious word that would arouse her suspicion,
her wrath
That SO? Nice gal" commented Gelxte.n.
Funny. I'd have thought she was the kind
TO stick. Oh, well, they're all alike. Yours
lucky not having her around on a deal like
this. She might raise trouble"
Had Geistein dropped dead as he pocketed
Halsey's agreement, the latter would have
borne the blow with cheerful stoicism Ho
was a crook who liked to play his cards in
his own way. Having his hand forced was
most distasteful to him.
Still. walking away from Geistein's hotel,
his philosophy came to his rescue. Gelsteia
might have had him Jailed at once or at
least, have forced him to nee the city A. il
was, he had limited time.
he played his game very carefully. Pro.
vided that he came home some time during
the night, and squandered a few caresses on
her, and gave her a reasonable amount Of
money. Rosa had no quarrel with him HN
time was practically his own. She under.
stood that she could not understand his vark
Gus schemes, therefore she asked no enlisht.
enment
Halsey had planned to 90 slow. But Ge8.
stein would not wait forever. and 50 he hur-
ried his courting Circumstances conspired
in his favor. not merely the circumstances
which he had arranged, and that had re.
suited in Bourke's receiving his congo. But
Alayne's lawyer. the thin-lipped man Who
had drawn the Guernsey will. who had been
with Harley B. in the last hour Of his life.
was i'll He who was in the habit Of drop
ping around frequently, to drink cup Of tea
with Alayne, did not do so nowadays
She was heartsore. disappointed, Just out
OF love. 1t took Halsey exactly six
weeks to win her consent to marry him Il
took him four days to persuade her that a
quiet wedding. unknown to their friends
was advisable. He showed her a cablegrarn
announcing the death OF an English cousin.
Lord knows. dear girl. won't pretend to
you-1 couldn't pretend to you Allayne, no
matter how much wanted to-amazinr the
influence girl like you can have upon =
man like Observation-Disclosures won't
say that Balchergaff and were chumuuy,
But he tods my cousin. dear girl, and tina.
sort Of g-family-tradition--i means a
great deal to Us English you know Well. It
wouldn't be quite the thing for me, unde.
the circumstances to have anything but a
private wedding. Oh, extremely private.
Of course, we could postpone II, but-Y
simply must run over to England within q
ifhA