| Show Y i I A t. t j Alias Alias Jimmy Valentine Valentine r P t t S 5 SS 5 f e r. r y yf ro a w- w t. t t n c p Novelized b by FREDERICK R. R Y TOOMBS IBS kR 5 From the Great t y P Play y r rby by PAUL 1 5 ARMSTRONG w t f al t t a sj Copyright 1910 by bJ American Pre Pren e evS vS- vS Association J JIMMY V VALENTINE TINE WARDEN HANDLER HANDIER AND RO ROSE E LANE t c r PROLOGUE n it Y Youre You're ure not noto so sure ur about Jimmy Jim Jim- my Valentine as you might be benot benot benot be- be not until the very last chapter S when n he finds himself in a aI I fm t that at is as cleverly conceived cono con con- o ived as anything ever present- present i ed td in American fi fiction tion or drama r i What Ei you are sure of as you read very read very very sure in fact facts fact's fact fact- is s that you are following the story tory of a most interesting character character character char char- acter one whose doings on the stage have held the interest of I inari many thousands Jimmy Valenti Valentine Valentine Valen Valen- ti tine e bec becomes mes a crook with most of the failings and and weaknesses weak weak- tresses nesses nesses of a man who doesn't recognize the difference between r nine mine and thine but he winds up upa as a- a a w rea lT-rea Tread lh the story a and find out for yourself how he winds up It will be worth be-worth worth your while for this absorbing thrilling thrilling thrilling thrill thrill- ing romance of both the thc under f i world and the upper world a as aswell well well proves prove that a p man a has bas ne nep ev- ev gr p fro s sunk so p low but that hat he e wa may fr f regain the donor cmor lz he hag haq f e aside when th the rue spirit of manhood throbs within him The IThe Armstrong drama of which the following Is la the novelized version is based on 0 O Henrys henry story A Retrieved f CHAPTER I. I 5 1 f HE E war wardens warden's ens en's office In Sing Sing Sing T rf I prison Is not a pl pleasant spot in inI I which to linger whether you may be Innocent or whether guilty goUty of ot a crime And no more reas- reas could be e termed t the abrupt ru t g personage pr presided sl ed over the dismal ismal destinies of ot the office and Institution when occurred the events chronicled in this narrative v. v That a man fated by his choice of ot occupation to dally daily associate intimately intimate intimate- with ly ly criminals of ot high and low degree doa de- de a gree and to come constantly in to p Personal Per Per- r- r contact with all 1111 the misery and andI ande e I depravity going to form tonn the life Ute of ot a ae e estates estate's prison prison that that a man so BO fated should should find exquisite enjoyment In act ac- ac t these depressing conditions Vis d surely a contradiction of ot what ordinarily would be expected Humans of ot normal Z mold old are e gen generally r g occupied pled I in l e the evils an nn n i annoyances ceJ pj ef t their s. s That f it is s natures nature's a 1 way w Y so sq with Warden Handler t J Thai t w which Ich Is bad ad c cai q be fee made g be innocence Innocence eat can aH be e shown tl bP be S with gum t the aid ala Of ot trained 4 witnesses wit wU- nesses is always InsIncere insincere insincere cere and if It It it is not it can be made Bo 80 BO A murderer should be made to remember re- re member always his bis Ignominy A thief should be reminded of ot his amateurish clumsiness which le led him into the Clutches lutc of ot the central office men That t was Handlers Handler's philosophy That ij wag way And underlying all his petty poUy oppre oppre- lion ion and gross inhumanity was a dause ause deep rooted in a system of ot his hisa a wn n and of ot a race of Jail keepers that S went vent ent before him Exposure Re Re- oval moval Bah Bahl lIe He had considered all that that And ADd if It worse came to worse had bad he not friends In the state senate Was Vas Vas there not a governor who would need his assistance in the state con con- v when it came to a n question of r d delegates legates delegates Clearly the possibility of i removal r mova was the least of ot his worries Warden Varden Handler sat at his polished oak k desk In the middle of ot his bis office Y Athis left eft was another desk used by S Smith n At his back the A i I Z r. r i I. I t t. t barred windows looked out Into the prison yard where at prescribed Intervals intervals In in- gangs of ot convicts con were allowed to take a brief outing to breathe In Inthe inthe inthe the air from the hills bills that hat mocked them thus to prolong the lives res of ot those who hoped to live Uve as well wen as of ot those who hoped to dl din thus to strengthen the nerves of ot the unfortunates unfortunates unfortunates nates whom Justice bad had decreed must some day at sunrise go to a shadowy J I Q i is' is s' s aw A AM Ar Ay y S Sp r M C 5 p j A y CHICAGO WHITEY HAD ESCAPED little stone room to sit in a sinister wooden chair equipped with s. s stout o straps and electric wires The war warden en was in P tits 1st cs pcs pessimistic mood Good 99 r tor f ll his t time lI e too for or tc I is ge 9 W Wh tt ft g trusty tr sty dol doigg g a. a bit lt of 6 seven years tad bad ad got through the guards and dropped dropped drop drop- ped over the wall wan on to the top of ot a acar acar acar car of ot an up bound freight train the evening before Not a trace of ot him yet Handlers Handler's pride In his record as asa asa asa a pen master was at stake and he blamed himself and the whole universe for the official explanations which must soon be forthcoming His dark eyes gleamed vengefully his short cropped black hair fairly bristled with the rage that surged In the thick skull beneath it his strong square Jaws Jaws' were grimly set though now an again his upper lip Up would C curl slightly Y back as he gritted his e th revealing a row of tobacco e led ed 1 Incisors Incisors' c sd l' l beg W rae was was disturbed jle tIe die Angered a It l g letter o opener impatiently and Ups seen ed g to tomey mey Serves me t sal for pta t n a trusty trust put out pj pf eta a n he be muttered 11 Might flight have haYe known one of ot them wouldn't stay put In one place any length of ot time not even ren In a coffin The do door r at Handlers Handler's right opened He ne half balf turned and glowered at a trusty who shuffled in carrying a bottie bot bot- bottle tie tle of ot drinking water Its pretty soft for tor you around here lh th grunted the warden Tb The convict cOl hastened tp to place cP the ip p the Bolder at the sound of or the th officials official's voice lie He then hurried toward toward toward to to- ward th the door mumbling a taInt faint Yes sir as be he went Sup Suppose poRe hell he'll be train the west wall next next commented Handler pounding his fist on the desk But Ill I'll trim em emall emall emall all yet IHA IllA Ill IH A visitor for tor you announced his bIs secretary Smith entering His n name name is like Uke a roll call In the German navy He handed banded Handler Hander a card The warden took the pasteboard fen en he read reat slow slow- ly A man Ulan with a name like that has no right on the outside of ot a prison his graft w U UHe He has a letter lette from o the state v has r. r i r i e board boar r tol t f I- I r y of prisons He lIe has Invent invented da a lock lock-I lock I believe belle tha that t Let Le Le I x have e him The s rotary ushered In an earnest looking g nuts 10 with lon long wavy black blick hair hall lib was WIlS short and thin I 1 am nm Gustave tave the great groat Inventor said the visitor to the warden I 1 have e a n lock luck for you ou to the the- prisoners mers mit II II 3 bowed t to te th the tiie warden and nod rubbed his hands bands complacently So Rn I hear Your lock cant can't be picked eh eb h The Inventor raised his hands bands In horror horror hor hor- Tit nt the ug I suggestion Picked Picked he be ejaculated My Iy lock loci picked The whole It haft haff tried it Germany It-Germany France England Eng Eng- land land and and even en the cleverest thieves In Naples aIle The whole vide It all aU It l half haft not not open w without they the key haff haft So Ive I've heard but still it might be picked at that It It Is may mays maybe I dont don't understand pick d d you yon mean open mit not my key Yes with a wire or orA orA or A vire exclaimed the inventor Sly My Iy lock open that open that I 1 halt haff spend four four- teop years to perfect rein eln It Is laughter yas but but Handler was growing Impatient It It will be bc accepted only on the con con condition that it cannot be opened without without with out a key he pronounced The Inventor drew himself up proudly proud proud- ly Iy Yaw und I challenge the he cried confidently Well all the worlds world's champions are In America you know answered the warden and when It comes to genius in mechanics most of them are in Jail jan Well We'll have It tried before noon The visitor took his his' precious lock from his pocket and laid it on the table In front of ot the warden saying I keen leep the key Now ow the vend cannot cannot cannot can can- not my lock Jock open It looks good commented Han Ran dier If It you care to wait walt Ill I'll have It tested I 1 rail valt I lofe to see the expert frown und smile und give re it up It Is Ismy Ismy my Joy jov joyAs As All the Inventor In went out to a await ait the t test t George Doyle a detective credited d with a long list of ot Important captures entered the office and saluted saluted ed Handler Bill BUI A Avery very to be let loose today to to- day queried the newcomer Dont know Is he be returned the warden Indifferently Doyle gazed at the other sIgnIficantly cantly candy Y Yes cs he said I 1 hear bear hes he's very er friendly with Jimmy Valentine The be way Valentines Valentine's s 's lawyer Is going after atter a new trial makes makE's things look dan danger dander er erous ous What about the man you bad had make friends with Valentine ii fa 11 order ardor to get t him to talk t n about lo ll himself t ta give giro Wm l awe r b the warden asked Shrewdly I vl u r o. o q t to it- it Valentine Valentin wouldn't tt W d tt with him but if It I 1 Ic could ml c gw J gel Jt t Avery on my stay staff to work f tar far r the nie m awl and squeal on Valentine Valentine- Id I'd J get Jt t him Id I'd be able ablo to keep him from getting a nEW now I. Thus Titus did the detective re describe In Its bla conversation u small part of the system which his follow fellow man man hunters find tint of ot utility In n serving ser their particular particular partie ular ends end whatever may b be the he-the the stool pigeon system which wh consists of forcing or persuading released criminals criminals crim to spy on their companions und and to convey oO to the pol police tb the information they p procure Sometimes the detective rt uses a a bp phe knowledge so gain gained f. f fo i h U tt r y t kA l MME r DETECTIVE W I ENTERED THI Oh 01 KICK CE of arresting a u fugitive again for securing securing se curing a It dl dirt division 1 inn of elf ill gotten spoils again for the till purpose of or obtaining witnesses s who hll will find tind It policy J i lf i commit perjury at ut u a trial mf t l. u eN un underworld grows I suspicious suspicious' I oft r Ii nel neighbors and tits thI find I dun ti Ir lurking ll friend friend- nd s I smile smile I is sought The he hE warde i resumed ih hl S j t i. i i r f r I I dont don't know about A Averys r n- n least lease he Ill said Oh Smith turning to his assistant wheres the list T On your desk Oh Ob yes Jes Avery v tory here bere Hes lIes waiting outside Lets Jets have ha him U Hes Res fI a tough ol old boy this Avery commented Doyle loyle but hes he's m my one est cst i chance Ln In trying to get the Ue goods goodsen en cs Valentine The secretary brou brought bt In Bill BUI A Avery Acry cry whose gray rny hair ashen asben face tace and stoOl stoop In lug figure indicated that prison on fare are was not rejuvenating although there was a It strange e sharpness In his eyes In his hlf glance e that a n long career of fur furtive fure the tive watchfulness had bad developed U finally out eh greeted the prison master Youve done nine Eight years ten months sir Treated Trailed pretty well weren't you er A Avery gazed Intently at nt Smith then ho lie replied to his questioner Youve Youn never neTer heard me complain hi have halt I you yon lU S Xo o mid l it wouldn't have got you much I h saw siw that the first day In Well now what Going to turn r r Handler sneered as ns he bespoke spoke The Tilt released convict looked the warden ward- ward en II ly in III the eyes ees You Vou know I am um sir lf iiller ller lau laughed b bd d uproariously i h know IIII they all nil say ny so o. o Oh Ob heres here's an o u d II friend of yours Souls Avery A The speaker aI pointed to Doyle l J 1 dont don't remember him replied theold the theold old man after a searching Auspicious s inspection of the detective You dont don't remember me me me-eh eh Bill Doyle ht laughed A Avery suddenly exclaimed I got ot you OU now Youre You're Doyle Doyle stUl a copper Still n a i COPP copper I Bill You aint t trot Ot ot an anything on me to hold over O me nie when I get ct out out true tru Bill Anyway this time Im I'm your friend said the detective detective detec tive Uve In earnest manner A Avery cr threw his head hend back My Iy friend he be exclaimed In astonishment aston aston- astonishment nt The warden could barely suppress a agrin grin Yes I 1 think I know where I cant can get t you JOIl a pretty good Job went on Doyle en engagingly a ln ly Nobody wants me said Avery de I think I can an arrange It It ItA A Job jOh In a laundry eh eb snapped the ex prisoner ex Ive been a washwoman washwoman wash wash- woman here There are ure lots of ot Jobs where you dont don't h have to know a trade Cant Can't Bill BUI sit it down clown warden n Why Vh responded Han Han- tiler dier Avery voicing his thanks seated himself It nt Itt tb the wardens warden's table Doyle u It t oat i-ame d lose cause t to 10 the ol old man There Theres s oue 1111 thIn thing you want to do Bill nm above abort everything else keep else keep out t b b he A Avery III hesitated He HI glanced from the detective across I to the warden Im getting out of bad company toda to to- da day he ht replied briefly y Doyle started forward for Yes and Its It's a u good thing g you are for your youre getting away from Valen Valen- tine Valentine u Yes In Insisted Doyle Voyle It doesn't do o you Jou any un good to t k know ow a man like that I suppose you know he be killed Cotton so he ht wouldn't have to divide the swa swag with him burn The The- Theother other shook his b- h geati a H J dont don't know vow anything about It IL he be detE detective tl-re tl now spoke sharply ncI what's he be got ot against you He lIe XIi sent out word that the that the questioner question question- er suddenly what shifted message dId did he give girt t I to take you out ut to to to Avery drew back involuntarily He De didn't give me any message he be cried out in positive re tones Then both the officials noticed that the ex convicts eyes slowly drooped and be became aDle directed to tb the floor I 1 could do you a good turn turn turn-t turn turn-ic i yen you trailed along with me su suggested sted the detective The released c brushed aside tb the In lie He r rose stiffly from his p F it Jlia on to you Doyle If It youre you're to l Ile e l' my ins my friend I J i now know JPY that It Ive I've a goG ot t to 1 be tie a stool pl pigeon e nt eh h Well Wel if al old and I d don t dont know wb e Im I'm golpl h I leave cave h herd Iii t take e ther the r river ver out there pointing over o his hiss s o l r with his thumb for mine Q before I 1 play that game I 1 tell you the old mans man's voice rose to an nn Indignant Indig t rant nant pitch pitch- pitch Its Its only fly guys like Uke you ou boyl Doyle Boyle that's thais too lazy or too |
