Evening star., 1921-10-18

i
| There's the hundred thousand dol
lars there that you pinched from the
| old pigeon cote" He showed out his
hand impulsively to Millman: I'm
sorry. Millman. Shake! I've been in
| wrong all the time. But L never
! seemed to get that slant on 1t be-
fore: that you were-a straight
crook"
Millman's gray eyes. half amused.
half serious, studied Dave Henderson
for long minute. as their hands
! clasped.
"A straight crook. eh?" he said final-
| ly. leaning back again in his chair.
| We'll. the deduction Is fairly logical.
Dave. I'll have to admit. And what's 8
| the answer to that?"
Dave Henderson jerked his hand to-
ward the package Of banknotes again.
returned. You've got stake in
| that coin now. A fair share of it is
yours. and I'll leave it to you to say
what you want"
Millman lighted a cigarette before
he answered
smile. as his eyes through the spiral
CT blue smoke from the tip of his
cigarette fixed on Dave Henderson
again. ''All right. I'll accept that
| offer Dave. And I'll. take-alI. or
none" 49,
Dave Henderson drew sharply back
! In his chair. There was something
in Millman's voice. a Significance that
he did not like. or quite understand.
save that 1t denied any jocVlarity on
Mtllman's part, or that the other was
| making renunciation of his claim
through pure generosity.}'Hi eyes
Millman had come across with It.
Those facts were not to be gainsaid
but they were facts 30 utterly at
varia nee with what months of brood
Ing over the matter had led him to
expect they should be, that he had
accepted them III sort Of stunned
surprise. And now this! Was he
right Ter sali--that there was some
trickery here2 - =,
What do you mean-all. or none?'
ne said, hint of menace creeping
into his voice
Just that" said Millman, and his
tones We're low and serious now.
Just what l said-all. or none"
Dave Henderson laughed shortly,
said coolly.
Perhaps" admitted Millman slow
ly. But l hope not" He leaned for
ward now. earnestly. over the table.
Dave. he said steadily. "let US get
back to the old pal days again when
we believed in each other, Just man
70 man: Dave; because now you've
got chip on your shoulder. 1 don't
want TO knock that chip off: 1 want
why committed what you have
rightly called q theft in going TO that
pigeon cote and taking that money.
ANA I want to try and make YOU un-
aerstand that my life in prison and
sne stoEy that l told you there, in
spite or the fact that 1 have stolen
the money now, was not a lie. Thers
Is not a soul on this wide earth. Dave
except yourself. who knows thai
CHARLES Millman served two wears in
the penitentiary with prison stripes
on his back. If it were known
think it would mean ruin to me Ger
talniy in a social sense, very proba
oy IN a commercial sense as well
And yet, Dave. I would rather Won
knew 1t than that you didn't. Does
mat sound strange? Well. somehow,
i've i've meyer ever pictured the f1aring head
In this city il 1 were exposed-be-
cause, we'll. because 1 couldn't mic
ture ft-not through you, Dave-and
that's the only way it could come
ABOUT. And SO you see. Dave, I did
not ask you for faith in me without
same full measure.
Dave Henderson's brows gathered.
He stared at the other. It was like
the Charlie Millman Of old talking
now. But the whole business was
Queer-except that the money Law
here now within reach of his hand
after f1ve years of hell and torture,
He made no comment.
And SO. Dave, what could I doo"
Millman went on. "As far as could
see then. and as far as I can see now.
I had no choice but to offer to get
that money from it's hiding place. 1
knew you meant literally what you
said when you swore you'd fight for
it if all the police in America were
blocking yOur..way, and that you'd
either get it or go down and out. I
knew you'd do that: I knew the police
would watch you, and 1 feared for
you either physical harm or another
long prison sentence. And SO I took
the money and shared your guilt. But,
Dave. once I was committed to that
act I was committed to another as
well-1 hadn't any choice there, either
Il mean. Dave. the return of the
money to the estate where it be.
longs"
Dave Henderson was on his feet
His face. that had softened and re-
laxed as Millman was speaking, was
suddenly hard and set again. and now
a red, angry flush was dyeing his
cheeks. He choked for his words.
Whats that you. say he rasped
out. Return it," He laughed. rau-
cously Have you been drinking,
Millman-or are you Just crazy?"
A strange. whimsical smile crept to
MiIlmans lips.
Continued in Tomorrow's Starr