The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-10-01

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a few cheap kisses, an that's ALL" He
laughed coarsely. "She is stringine
You for fool. Come now, wake up
before it is too late, an let's all get
a hand in the pot; what'de yer sayT'
you still think i am that kindi
One of your class?' l questioned, thor.
oughly angered by his sneering speech
zone of my class? l should say
not; you are the rawest kind of a
mutt, but so far you've been in luck
that's all. Now your luck has changed,
and yer up against it,"
what do you want me TO do?'
"BlOw her; tell us all you know.
Wen play the game for you, and d.
vide square"
you will let he out of here?"
'Sure, once you give us the right
steer"
And if / refuse?"
He laughed contemptuously.
you're not going to; you've got too
d-n much sense. But just to satisfy
your curiosity I'll tell you. We've got
the girl spotted; we can lay our hands
on her in an hour: and, believe me,
we've got the goods on the young lady.
Here's the sticker that did the bust
ness, and l found it right where you
had hidden it away. l can find three
men-they are keeping out of sight.
but / can stir them up-who1l swear
that she went away alone with Alva
from that factory over there; that he
had the bag with him. and that the
two got into the auto together. That
makes one HI of straight case,
don't it?"
'The way you put it-yes. But
what good will it do you fellows to
have her pinched? Where do you gain
anything?"
Time; it blocks the getaway with
the swag. That's all we want. See
here, Severn, we know where the stuff
is planted; at least we've got an idea,
but we've got to work slow and eau
tious in order to lift it. If it wasn't
for that we wouldn't care If she
skipped. If you'll help us to get quick
action, well let the girl go. and give
you share. Take my word for 1t.
that's "a d--n sight more than you'll
ever get by staying with her."
"But If she finds out that l have
turned her down.?
"She won't never find II out: well
keep mum. Besides, you're doin' her
a good turn, keepin' her out of the |
electric chair. Well, there's the prop
osition-you can leave it, or take it,"
Serious as the situation was, could |
not fail t0see its absurdity. This was
no threat to brighten me; the fellows
meant what they said, although / |
doubted If they really possessed the
claimed so glibly. But they
evidently meant to go on; they were
not bluff1ng, for they really had an
ugly case. and could undoubtedly make
trouble. The evidence against the girl
was strong, almost convincing; it even
shook my own confidence In her in
locence. The absurdity of the situa-
ion lay in my absolute ignorance.
Knew even less than they pretended to
Know. What should l do? Pretend,
manufacture some story2 1 had no
aith 1t would work. These fellows
we're criminals, suspicious and unscru-
'ulous; they would only believe what
could prove. If they caught me in
deliberate lie, as they probably
would, that would instantly end every
hing. 1 might, then, just as well fight
I OUT with them now as later. I set
ny teeth, ready for what l felt sure
vas coming. So
You fellows have sized me up
vropg," l said quietly, but firmly. ~
I'm not the kind to squeal because of
threat. You'll find I'll protect the '
ady, but I'll do it In my own way
lot yours. The honest truth is. nv
laven't anything to tell. You won't .
'elieve that, but 1t is so. know less =
nan you claim to know. 1 have no
Of where the money is. or c
Vho got 1t. l do not know who killed
iva; even now I haven't any suspi-
ions worth mentioning. But 7 win c
ay this plainly do not believe this $
I'll did 1t, or that she had any hand o
the robbery. I am going to stav u
nth her till HI freezes over. If that n
what you want to know. That's INV j
nswer, Harris, and it is all I've GOT a
} give you" s.
n
You id cur! well show Won a
a
Perhaps you will you are three 70 - :,
ne, and on your own dung-hill. But :
he man who touches me is going TO -
ct hurt; I'll promise you that. No y
ou don't Costigan; that trick won't :
ork!"
4 tried to keep my eyes on the three y
them. but his movement caused me y
step back closer against the wall. 9,
reared the Jew least; he had neither l.
'oken nor moved since our entrance :,
ID felt he had no stomach for any :,
rther lighting. Yet l judged wrong n
lth one quick dash forward he w
ipped my wrist as / reached hack ",
a revolver, and flung his burly q
anne against me with such force as =.
have thrown me headlong but for -
support of the wall. Before :.
uld wrench myself free, the Others 7,
'sed In desperately, content to use -
eir hands. unwilling. perhaps. to
cate any alarm with firearms. / was
better fighting man than any one of