第45章

One afternoon Jimmy Valentine and his suit-case climbed out of the mail-hack in Elmore, a little town five miles off the railroad down in the black-jack country of Arkansas.Jimmy, looking like an athletic young senior just home from college, went down the board side-walk toward the hotel.

A young lady crossed the street, passed him at the corner and entered a door over which was the sign, "The Elmore Bank." Jimmy Valentine looked into her eyes, forgot what he was, and became another man.She lowered her eyes and coloured slightly.Young men of Jimmy's style and looks were scarce in Elmore.

Jimmy collared a boy that was loafing on the steps of the bank as if he were one of the stockholders, and began to ask him questions about the town, feeding him dimes at intervals.By and by the young lady came out, looking royally unconscious of the young man with the suit-

case, and went her way.

"Isn' that young lady Polly Simpson?" asked Jimmy, with specious guile.

"Naw," said the boy."She's Annabel Adams.Her pa owns this bank.

Why'd you come to Elmore for? Is that a gold watch-chain? I'm going to get a bulldog.Got any more dimes?"

Jimmy went to the Planters' Hotel, registered as Ralph D.Spencer, and engaged a room.He leaned on the desk and declared his platform to the clerk.He said he had come to Elmore to look for a location to go into business.How was the shoe business, now, in the town? He had thought of the shoe business.Was there an opening?

The clerk was impressed by the clothes and manner of Jimmy.He, himself, was something of a pattern of fashion to the thinly gilded youth of Elmore, but he now perceived his shortcomings.While trying to figure out Jimmy's manner of tying his four-in-hand he cordially gave information.

Yes, there ought to be a good opening in the shoe line.There wasn't an exclusive shoe-store in the place.The dry-goods and general stores handled them.Business in all lines was fairly good.Hoped Mr.Spencer would decide to locate in Elmore.He would find it a pleasant town to live in, and the people very sociable.

Mr.Spencer thought he would stop over in the town a few days and look over the situation.No, the clerk needn't call the boy.He would carry up his suit-case, himself; it was rather heavy.

Mr.Ralph Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jimmy Valentine's ashes --ashes left by the flame of a sudden and alterative attack of love--remained in Elmore, and prospered.He opened a shoe-store and secured a good run of trade.

Socially he was also a success, and made many friends.And he accomplished the wish of his heart.He met Miss Annabel Adams, and became more and more captivated by her charms.

At the end of a year the situation of Mr.Ralph Spencer was this: he had won the respect of the community, his shoe-store was flourishing, and he and Annabel were engaged to be married in two weeks.Mr.Adams, the typical, plodding, country banker, approved of Spencer.Annabel's pride in him almost equalled her affection.He was as much at home in the family of Mr.Adams and that of Annabel's married sister as if he were already a member.

One day Jimmy sat down in his room and wrote this letter, which he mailed to the safe address of one of his old friends in St.Louis:

Dear Old Pal:

I want you to be at Sullivan's place, in Little Rock, next Wednesday night, at nine o'clock.I want you to wind up some little matters for me.And, also, I want to make you a present of my kit of tools.I know you'll be glad to get them--you couldn't duplicate the lot for a thousand dollars.Say, Billy, I've quit the old business--a year ago.I've got a nice store.I'm making an honest living, and I'm going to marry the finest girl on earth two weeks from now.It's the only life, Billy--the straight one.I wouldn't touch a dollar of another man's money now for a million.

After I get married I'm going to sell out and go West, where there won't be so much danger of having old scores brought up against me.I tell you, Billy, she's an angel.She believes in me; and I wouldn't do another crooked thing for the whole world.Be sure to be at Sully's, for I must see you.I'll bring along the tools with me.

Your old friend, Jimmy.

On the Monday night after Jimmy wrote this letter, Ben Price jogged unobtrusively into Elmore in a livery buggy.He lounged about town in his quiet way until he found out what he wanted to know.From the drug-store across the street from Spencer's shoe-store he got a good look at Ralph D.Spencer.

"Going to marry the banker's daughter are you, Jimmy?" said Ben to himself, softly."Well, I don't know!"

The next morning Jimmy took breakfast at the Adamses.He was going to Little Rock that day to order his wedding-suit and buy something nice for Annabel.That would be the first time he had left town since he came to Elmore.It had been more than a year now since those last professional "jobs," and he thought he could safely venture out.