Arizona state miner., 1924-11-22

Here's another one Jim," he
shouted.
In moment the second man had
come over to the window. He took up
the five-dollar bill, stretched it out and
looked carefully at one of it's cor
ners. Then he glanced with quick sus-
picion at John Atkins. But his square
face, with it's pug nose and blue chin,
Wrinkled into a smile as he recognized
the banker.
"By the love of Pat, Mr.. Atkins" he
laughed, Il was jist about to pinch
you! This notes phony. They've
been lot. of 'em loose around here
lately and we're on the trail won
der now, kin you reminder where
you get this little law-breaker?'
John Atkins felt himself grow warm.
Someone had had the audacity to hand
him a counterfeit five-dollar bill, to put
him-a banker-in the position Of Of
fering spurious currencyl
II most certainly can, Casey. You
come with me and we can get there
before they close"
When the old woman looked up and
saw the badge Casey was disclosing,
she closed her eyes and would have
fallen had he not caught her by the
arm.
"There, there - said Casey soothing
ly, you mustn't take on so. It's just
a talk We'll have, and then you'll be
home in time for supper
The old creature drew her greenish
black shawl more closely about her
throat. Suddenly her knees gave way,
and despite Casey's arm she sank to,
the floor.
"Oh," she moaned, 81 was afeared
Charley said it was all right ;,
and believed him but all the
time, / am afeared.
Where is Charley now?" asked Hon
est John Atkins.
A dim radiance came in her glazed
eyes, like lamp lighted behind black
curtains.
"Ain't you got him?" she cried,
"Ain't you got my boy?"
Not yet" said Casey.
She held out her trembling arms to
with you-now.'
Honest John Atkins forgot about
the incident until officer Casey's card
was handed him by his secretary some
four weeks later.
WELL" began Casey, as he sat on
the edge of mahogany chair and
hung his black derby over one knee.
we've done what we could, but that
amt much" Apparently he was en-
barrassed about the subject he was
leading up to. "We got indictments
of Charlie and all his gang rushed
through the grand jury SO that they
could be tried at this term of court if
we caught 'em; but we didn't ketch
'em." Casey cleared his throat. "That
is, we didn't ketch nobody but the old
woman, and came to see you-to see
If you didn't want to drop the case
against her. She's technically guilty,
| all right; and we can convict her in
twenty minutes She knew Charlie
printed the bills. But she says she
didn't know It was wrong. She didn't
think her boy would do wrong OF
course, ignorance Of the law is no ex-
cuse. But / thought-well. just
thought I'd come by and talk to you
about it."
Honest John Atkins leaned back in
his swivel chair and, resting an elbow
on each chair arm, put the tips OF
his long, blunt fingers together This
counterfeiting plot had invaded the
sacred precincts of his own personal
ity. He himself had passed one Of the
bills. A feeling of indignation per-
vaded him.
"Mr Casey" said he, I'VE must con-
slider first of all our duty to society.
If we permit dishonest persons to es-
cape we shall never succeed in stamp
ing out dishonesty. You may say to
the United States attorney that my
institution insists upon conviction"
Casey got reluctantly to his feet.
At the door he paused and looked
back; but as if realizing the futility
of discussion jabbed his derby over one
eye and went scowling down the cor
ridor.