The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-19
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crook-preying upon other thieves.
In deal with "fence" he arranges
to dispose of box of jewels which
he stole from the White Eagle, q
notorious international crook.
The doorbell of his apartment
rings. A man steps swiftly inside:
~ come from Leedon," the intruder
says. Leedon was the name of the
fence. II was hiding when you were
>dickering with him today. over
heard you talk. And I decided that
half of 100000 would just about
fix me up. Don't try to draw q
gun; I've got you covered through
my pocket"
NOW GO WITH THE STORY
do not think am coward. At
any rate, 1 laughed at him.
II suppose you expect me to be-
lieve that you'd shoot?" jeered.
IL guess you'll believe it when I
tell you that I'm Swede Thomassen,'
he retorted. "Leedon gave me q
thousand dollars. But what's thou
sand dollars tp me? I've got to have
enough money so that l can play the
part of the wealthy gentleman who
has whole suite on an ocean Liner,
whose privacy mustn't be disturbed.
I've got to have enough to bride a
lot of people if l want to make my
getaway" -,
Extremely interesting" said 1.
"But why come to me? Why not
get it from your friend Leedon?"
Because as soon as Leedon saw
tonight's papers, and found out why
l was hiding, he made an excuse to
get out. didn't know he'd seen the
papers or I'd never have let him 60.
found the paper after he'd gone.
And there's nothing l could prove
against him. And anyway, whether
could or not, he'd gone out to give
me up. But you-you're different"
"You can't prove anything against
me-" l told him.
~ said you were different. Leedon
could stand a scandal. He isn't
afraid Of them. He claims to be an
honest pawnbroker. But you-what
do you claim to be? Can you stand
police inquiry into your life?"
He was more intelligent and better
educated than / had gathered from
my newspaper reading. And he had
me. Not merely literally, with a
gun trained upon me, but figurative-
ly, he had me. The subterranean
activities of such man as Leedon
were so we'll known to the police
that fear of exposure by Thomassen
would not deter the pawnbroker
from delivering him up. 1t was by
sometimes. aiding the police {that
Leedon obtained certain immun-
Ii ty. But my case was different.
could make no terms. And l was
quite sure that if l refused Thorn
assen, he would, when captured, be-
tray me out of that sheer hatred for
the world which made him the beast
he was.
A man, then, whom I would have
considered it a pleasurable duty to
kill, had me at his mercy. And if
chose to perform that pleasurable
duty, the action meant the end of
my security. For even though l pre-
tended that l had killed Thomassen
willie he was burglarizing my apart
ment, the police would inevitably
ask me certain questions which
would not care to answer.
"A sensible man knows when he's
licked" said ThomaSSen. "YOu look
sensible"
"You expect me to hide you here
while Pm waiting for Leedon to raise
I the money!" demanded.
The murderer shook his head. "Tm
taking no chance like that. You'd
be on the level. You'd have to be.
But I'm going to get out of town
tonight. Leedon isn't the only man
that buys stolen goods. want half
of the Jewels themselves. Get out
the box"
"Do you think keep them hefe?"
I asked. "They're in safe-deposlt
box downtown"
GO get them," he ordered. .Tll be
waiting right here"
And now sheer wrath at his inso-
lence, combined with horror at his
crime, made me forgetful of his
threat Of exposure-or if not forget
full, careless. But Thomassen was
not merely intelligent; he \was
shrewd. The hand that was buried
| in his jacket pocket was withdrawn
with movement so speedy that it
put to shame my own gift Of leger-
demain.
"No, you won't," he jeered.
"Neither now nor later! You're a
sensible man, Mr.. Ainsley, or what
ever you. call yourself, as I said
minute ago. You won't step into a
bullet when you haven't chance.
And u know what's going on in that
brain of yours. You're figuring that
you'n take me Off my guard. But
know a gentleman when i see one.
And reckon you know a killer when
you see one. You're gentleman;
I'm a killer. You give me your word
of honor that you won't try to bump
me off yourself; that you won't slug
me or drug nae or anything like that.
l don't ask you to- promise not to
give me away to anyone. You'd have
to give yourself away. just want
the promise I've asked." :
"And if I don't give It ?" 1 asked.
"T'm Killer" M replied. ~ can
only 60 to, the chair once. You give
me your word within ten seconds, or
III kill you.."
He meant it; there was not the
slightest doubt in my mind as to
that. It was the most humiliating
moment Of my life. Moreover, in
addition to my humiliation, suf'
fered the pangs of hope deferred
For I had noa.trade, no profession
On less than three hundred thousand
dollars I could not hope to reestab'
10 Y H. randou