Evening star., 1921-10-19
/ Continued from Yesterdays Star.)


"No," he said. 'I guess I'm what
you called me-just a straight crook
can't see any other way out, Dave
I've stolen the money, too. and It's VI
10 me as well as you. It's got to &c
back"
"By God-no" said Dave Henderson
through his teeth. mo! You under
stand-no!"
Miliman shook his head slowly.
Dave. it's no good" he said. quiet
ly Apart from every other consid'
Grafton. 1T won't get YOU anywhere
Listen. Dave. K"
mo" Dave Henderson interrupted
You're going to preach. but that's nc
good, either! You're going to pull the
Soody- goody stuff, and then you re
going to tell me that sooner or later
I'll be caught. anyhow. Well. you can
forget 1.-THE preaching. because
don't want to listen to you. and the
other, because there's nothing to /!
noW." He leaned across the table. and
laughed raucousiy again. and stared
with cynical humor at the other. I'm
dead-see? Dave Henderson is dead
a friend Of mine pulled the trick R,e,, on
Henderson is dead. The book Is
closed. slammed shut forever-under r
stando I'm dead-but I've got TINS
money now that I've fought for. and
it's going to pay me back now, Mill
man! Understand? It's going to pay
the dividends now that I've earned
end that. by God. no man is gong 10
cake away from me-"
Good old Daver said Millman. soft
" That's what's the matter. with
Sor-you'd drop in your tracks before
you'd let go. If only you weren't
looking through the wrong glasses.
Dave. you'd fight just as hard the
other way No. I don't want to preach
TO you. and Tn not going to preach
but there's a great big bond. two
years of prison together. between you
and me. and ! want you to listen to
me- You were never meant for a
crook, Dave. There's not crooked
Thing in the world about you. except
this one distorted brain kink that 5
got hold of you. And now you're In
wrong. Look at it from any angle
that you like. and it doesn't pay. 1t
hasn't paid you 80 far-and 1t never
will"
Hasn't it, snapped Dave Hender-
son. Well, maybe not: But that's
because it hasn't had the chance. But
,the chance is here now, and it's all
bust wide open. You can forget
everything else. Millman. except jus;
this. and then you'll understand stand. once nc =
Tor all "neEe StdHu L1ciC eAS
money-and I'm dead"
"Your soul isn'T' said Millman,
bluntly.
Dave Henderson's jaws set.
That's enough" he flung out, curt
ly "Once for ali-no"'
ment. nor did he look at Dave Hen
derson-his eyes. through the curling
cigarette smoke, were fixed on the
package of banknotes.
"pm sorry. Dave" he said at last. In
low, strained way. I'm sorry you
ever have in your life. the chance
you've got right now. of coming
across a white man clean through. l
thought. perhaps. you would. hoped
YOU would. Dave-and SO I'm sorry.
But that doesn't alter my position
any. The money has got to go back
10 the estate. and it is going back.
For an instant Dave Henderson did
not move, then he thrust his head
sharply forward over the table. The
red had flooded into his face again.
and his eyes were hard and full OF
"That's better"' he said through
tight lips. you're talking language
now that 1 understand So that
money is going back. is It.? Well
Vow you listen to me. and listen
hard. I don't want to hurt you. Mill
man. as God Is my judge. I don't
want to hurt you. but it will be one
or the other of us Understand. Mill
man: One or the other Of US. il you
start anything like that. You get me.
Mi,lmau? You've called show
down. and that goes. but. by God.
unless you've got better hand than
7 have. you'll never send that money
back
Millman's hand was resting on the
Of nj
now quietly across the table to Dave
Henderson.
mot this. Dave" he said simply.
You settled that when / asked for
all or none. This is yours-to DO with
as you like. Don't misunderstood me,
Dave; don't make any mistake. You
can put that package under your arm
and leave here this minute, and III
not lift a finger to stop you, or. after
you are gone. say word. or make
death, or bring the police upon your
heels. I told you once, Dave-do you
remember?-that you could trust me.
But, Dave, IL you won't return the
stolen money. then I will. I haven't
any choice. have I? 1 stole it, too
into the steel-gray eyes across the
table.
II don't get YOU" he said shortly.
Wv hat do you mean
lust what I say, Dave" Millman
answered. That if you won't return
il yourself. I will pay 1t back out OF
my own pocket"
For a minute Dave Henderson eyed
the other incredulously. then he
threw back his head and laughed.
but 1t was not pleasant laugh
You will. eh." he said. We'll. II
YOU feel that way about it, go to it!
Maybe you can afford 1T: can't"
Yes" said Millman, soberly. "as far
as that goes. I am a rich man. and I
can afford it. But, Dave. I want to
up now-"the richest man in the
world couldn't afford to part with a
nickel as we'll as you could afford to
part with that hundred thousand dol
lars there. It isn't money that you've
got at stake. Dave. Well. that's all.
Either you pay-or I do. It's up 70
Dave Henderson's hands were
clenching and unclenching. as he
gripped at the edge of the table.
Vaguely. dimly. he sensed an awak-
ening something within him which
some discordant element that sought
to undermine and shake his resolu-
tion. It was not tangible yet. 1t was
confused: his mind groped out in an
effort to grasp 1t In q concrete way SO
that he might smother II, repudiate it,
beat 1t down.
'No!' he shot out.
Millman shook his head.
"I don't ask you for an answer to-
night" he said gravely. II don't
think you're ready to give an an
swer now. and be fair to yourself. It's
a nretty big stake, Dave. You'll never
NAV for a hiEger-aIid neither will I.
I'm stalking 4 hundred thousand dol
lars on the Dave Henderson know
The chap that's dead for while: 1t