The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01
MAGAZINE

--'N~I something.'
 "lm net forgetting the key" replied Mr. Singleton slowly, as the fingers of his pudgy right hand toyed with button on the front of his shirt, "and for your bene- iit-merely to refresh your memory, I'll recite little history. Let's begin with blisterin' hot noontime about nine years ago when me and you and Baldy dropped into the bank at Desert Junction, hung the kayo on a couple-a sqnirrel-faced clerks and dropped out again with approxi- mately $78,00O in real money Again tn curtain lifts with us bein' an island of out laws, totally surrounded by sea of deputy sherriffs and merry villagers, bein' split apart without chance to divide the bag, which is in the custody of Baldy. The next scene in our drammer shows us foregather- in with said Baldy at our Cripple Creek hang-out, and him givin' us a map, which he tears in two, slippin' each of us half of it. At which time he remarks that he, for his share, holds key to said map. with out which us two can't never double on hinl-in fact he admits that he has planted the dough in safety vault which requires three days to open.
 
 three is lingering how long it should take for the Desert Junction country to cool down sos we can return and cop the pile, the nick bulls close in on us for fair, and Baldy gets his durin' the melee. Then, for some reason dimly guessed at, I gets loose and you gets little stretch" move ment, very quick indeed for fat man and the pudgy right hand dived through the un- buttoned spot in his shirt front and re- turned with snub- -nosed automatic-"and then, you dirty double crosser, is where you get in your work. I finds that you have worked your lawyer to collect Baldys per sonal effects off'n the coroner, and that while you was helpin him to sort it in search of a mythical address of his people, who would pay liberal for gettin' death certificate on him to clear up some property titles, you palms that there map key, there by keepin me out of my rightful inheri- tance for all these years-leavin' me to work like danged dawg when I was rich in my own right"
 The Deacon gazed at MT. Singleton and the muzzle of the gun without the slight est change of expression. That's pretty rich," he unused. Figuring yourself the injured party, after turning states evidence on me and making try Of your own to get hold of Baldy's key. Pretty rich But you always were like that-always consid- cred yourself trimmed if you didn't get 90 per cent. l came to make you a decent proposition, 50-50-"
 "Yah, you did-notw snorted MT. Single ton, who seemed to be flashing himself into fat rage, "yuh come here to get slant at my share of tho rnan-neyt stop Ra1dv,s cash mine, with me sittin' on limb. got va tn first time. But heres where you fall down. Just because yuh give me tn worst of it, Pm goin' to reverse the game. Put 'em up, dang yuh, and back into that vault. I'm not afraid to shoot, here. These hicks would never notice>it. Back up"
 By his face, the Deacon betrayed no sign of fear, but he knew the erstwhile MT. Singleton. He backed into the little vault, turned his back at the command while he was being "fanned" and his pistol removed, and said nothing.
 "This is going to be real job," said MT. Singleton. "I know you're quick, and rotten handy with knife. Always did hate a knife since I was carved almost to the coolin' board in '99. Now you peel your self. Make it snappy and complete. I'm goin' to view you naked as bullfrog. Take lem off"
 Still silent, and as though preparing for his bath, Deacon began methodically and deliberately to remove his clothing. In two minutes he was wearing nothing but horn trimmed spectacles, socks and garters.
 Finish the job," ordered Singleton with grin, "come clean" The spectacles were