Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-12


Dave Henderson was on his feet
His face, that had softened and relaxed
MS Millman was speaking, was sud-
denly hard and set again, and now
red, angry FLUSH was dyeing his cheekc.
He choked for his words.
whats that you suy!" he rnsped
out. Return it, He laughed rau-
cously. Have you been drinking,
Millmnn--or are you just erazy2"
A strange, whimsical smile crept to
Millman's lips. ...
mo" he said. 81 guess I'm what
you called me--just straight crook.
I can't see any other way out, Dave.
I've stolen the money, too. and its
up to me as well as you. It's got TO
go back" 81.
son through his teeth. "No! You
UNDERSTANDING !"
NIillman shook his head slowly.
quietly. apart from every other
consideration. It won't get you any
where. Listen, Dave, l."
savagely. "You can cut that out
You re. going to preach; but that's no
good. either! You're going to pull the
goody 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
ether. because there's nothing to It
now." He leaned across the table.
and laughed raucously again, and stared
with cynical humor at the other. Pm
dead-see? Dave Henderson Is dead.
A friend of mine pulled the trick on
them in Frisco, They think Dave
Henderson is dead The book is
stand? I'm dcad-but I've got this
money now that I've fought for, and
paid for with the sweat of hell. and
il's going to pay Inc back now, Mill
man Understand? It's going to pay
the dividends now that I've earned
and that. by God, no man is going to
take away from me!'
Good old Dave said Mllman
softly. "'That's what's the matter
with you--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
ns hard the other way. No, | don't
want to preach to you. and I'm not
going to preach but there's great big
bond. two years of prison together, be-
tween you and me. and | want YOU to
listen to me. You were never meant
fore crook, Dave. There $ not
crooked thing in the world about you.
except this one distorted brain kink
that's 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 so far-and 1t never
will"
Hasn't !" 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 every
thing else. Millman. except just this:
and then you'll understand once for al
where stand: Here's the money-and
I'm dead - 81,
Your soul isn't" said Mllman
bluntly.
Dave Henderson's jaws set;
That's enough - he flung out
curtly. "Once for all--no,
Millman did not answer for mo-
ment. nor did he look at Dave Hen
derson-his eyes. through the curling
cigarette smoke. were fixed on the
package of banknotes.
"I'm sorry, Dave he said at last,
in low. strained way. I'm sorry
YOU won't take the biggest chanc" You II
ever have in your life. the chance
you We got right now. of coming across
white man clean through. | Thought
perhaps you would. hoped you wonld.
Dave-and so I'm sorry. But that
doesn't alter my position any. The
money has got to go back to 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 bad flooded into his face again. and
his eyes were hard and full of menace.
That's better!" ne said through
tight lips. "You're talking language
now that | understand! So that money
is going back. is it? Well. you've
talked Il lot. and I've listened. Now
YOU listen to me. and listen hard! |
don't want to hurt you, Millman, as
God is my judge. don't want to hurt
you, but it will be one or the other of
us. Understand. Millman? One or the
other of us. il you start anything IKE
that! You get me. Millman! You've
called Il showdown. and that goes but;
by God. unless you We got better mana
than have. YOU u never SEND that
money back
Miilmnn's hand was resting on the
packugc of banknotes. He pushed 1t
now quietly across the table to Dave
Not this. Dave" he said simply.
"You settled that when I asked for all
or none. This is yoursLto do with
MS YOU like. Don't misunderstood me,
Dave: don't make any mistake. You
can nut that package under your arm
and leave here this minute, and ill
not lift finger to stop you, or. after
Won are gone. say word. or make any
move to diseredt your assumed death.
or bring the police upon your heels.
told YOU once. Dave-do you remem-
her ?Zthat you could trust me. But
Dave. If YOU won't return the stolen
money. then I will. I haven't any
choice. have I? | stole it, too"
Dave Henderson STAGED. frownng
into the steel gray eyes across the
II don't get you" he said shortly
! what do you mcan?
Just what say. Dave Mill
man answered. That VI you won't re-
turn it yourself. | will pay it back
ont of my own pocket
For n minute Dave Henderson eyed
the other incredulously. then he threw
back his head and laughed, but It was
not pleasant laugh.
"You will. eh!" he said. "Wcll,
if YOU feel that way about 1t, go to Il
Maybe YOU can afford 1T; ! can't!
Yes" said Millman soberly. ''as far
as that goes. nm rich man. and ]
can afford II. But, Dave. want to
saw this to you''-he was standing mp
now-"the richest man in the world
couldn't afford to part with nickel
no we'll as YOU could afford to part with
thot hundred thousand dollars there