Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 169: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

TWIXT THE CUP AND THE LIP. head in great beads. Reaching for a hand- kerchief he mopped his brow, breathing heavily. ‘““ Make bond?” whispered George in a horrified tone. The seriousness of the situa- tion had dawned on him fully. He was panic stricken at the thought of how his predicament might terminate. “Tt isn’t absolutely necessary that you make bond,” said Dugan, and Dawson jumped as though he had touched a live wire. The feeling of relief, however, sank like lead when the officer added: “You can pay a fine or go to jail.” ‘“‘ T’ll never go to jail,” said Dawson reso- lutely. ‘‘ No one will ever say that George Dawson went to jail for an innocent viola- tion of the law.” “Tgnorance excuses no one,” Dugan re- minded him dryly. ‘“‘ T know that only too well,” flared Daw- son, beginning to grow angry. “I'll pay a fine first.” He was silent a moment, then repeated, “ I'll pay the fine.” ‘What, with that stuff?” asked the other sarcastically, pointing to the money Dawson had taken from the safe. The latter shook his head hurriedly. “No, indeed. If that money isn’t good I wouldn’t think of trying to use it. I have some currency in the other office. Real money. How much will it take? Let’s get it over with.” He strode nervously up and down the floor as he spoke. For a moment Dugan did not answer and Dawson felt his hopes rising. ‘“ Just say how much, Mr. Dugan,” he urged. “Id rather pay you the money here and now and hush the matter up. Why, I’d be ruined right here in my own home town if it got out that I was arrested for having worthless bills in my possession, where I’ve lived respectably for years.” He choked down an audible sigh. ‘Well, Dawson,” began the officer, his voice softening at the other’s distress, “ it certainly would look bad here among your associates. Still, as you know, it’s my sworn duty to let the law take its course. ‘“ However, I’m going to make it as easy as possible for you,” he continued. “ If you prefer to keep the matter as quiet as possible it will be necessary that you pay a 795 five hundred dollar fine and destroy those counterfeit bills. Is there some one here in Winchester you can trust to keep his mouth closed?” “But why is it necessary for any one else to know about it?” asked Dawson. ‘Simply this,” was the reply. “If you pay a fine it’s only right that some one wit- ness the transaction.” “That won’t be necessary,” protested Dawson. “ And besides, I don’t know of a single person here I can trust in a matter of this kind. Ill just pay you the money and you can leave without any one knowing about the affair.” ‘Just as you say,” said Dugan a bit wearily. “‘ But I'll admit I’ve never handled a case like this before.” Dawson rose and entered an adjoining room, reappearing shortly with a small box, Placing it on the table he counted out five hundred dollars and shoved the money over to Dugan, who examined each bill carefully. Satisfying himself, he placed the money in his pocket. ““ Now, Dawson,” he said, “let this be a warning to you. Honesty is the best policy. I’ve found it out by following my profession fifteen years. I’ve seen the best of them fall; you can’t keep up the pace that kills. Stick in the straight and narrow rut—it’ll pay you in the end. With that he scooped the counterfeit bills into a pile on the glass covered desk and reached for a match. A moment later Daw- son saw his dream go up in smoke. “Yes, sir,” said old man Hopkins the following afternoon to his hearers gathered around the stove, ‘‘ we’re certainly livin’ in a wonderful age. George left this morning, mad as a wet hen. Said he was going over to Allison and report it to the State authori- ties. Both of ’em, the little fellow that came first and the fat one that followed, were crooks of the worst kind. An’ to think that they pulled the wool over George Dawson’s eyes is ’most more than I can be- lieve. The deputy who came through here this morning said George ain’t the first one they fooled—they’ve been working that scheme on a lot of folks in this part of the country.” COmmicloooks (C@