All Story Magazine, December 1913 — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

A THIEVES’ There are professionals, you know, who do that sort of thing for a song, and get drunk upon the music. ‘They kill between drinks, as it were.” Rollins listened like a starving man in sight of food; and Campbell led him on with lies—wonderful, murderous lies, Have you ever met a man who is aching to find some one who is as big a scoundrel as himself, to whom he can talk and from whom he may, per- haps, get advice and encouragement ? “That,” Campbell told me, ‘“ was Rollins that night.” My existence was tearing at his liver like a vulture; and the more he thought of it the more he suffered. It was such a little barrier; the most unreliable thing in the world; so slender and un- certain that in a second of time it could be wiped out—even with the flash of a ten-dollar bill! In the light of the lamp, Rollins’s complexion had turned the color of cigar-ash. His mouth struggled to form words that would not come. “Once you told me—to do it, you know,” he said thickly. “ I’ve won- dered since 1f you meant it.” Campbell nodded slowly, as ii killing a man were a thing of no importance; Rollins scrutinized him, plainly uncer- tain of how to accept his point of view. Then his attention was drawn to the newspapers again. ‘But if—suppose we—that is— how would he come over to the States?” “That’s simple. The least of our troubles. Do you want him brought over?” Rollins hesitated, then quite suddenly swung upon Campbell and leaned to- ward him. “ Let’s understand each other,” he demanded in the tone of a man who is tired of subterfuge, yet is angry at having to come out of concealment. ** You're a crook, and I know it. That thing in the newspapers would not do you any good if I went to headquar- ters with a story.” COMEDY. 755 “All right,” Campbell agreed, un- abashed. ‘“ Go on.” * Well—you know—what I want.” “Ts that a threat?’ Campbell’s voice was very low. “ Nothing like that. I’m not going to kill the goose that may lay the golden eggs.” * You mean?” -* Suggestions.’ “IT see’ Campbell rose lazily, ‘Here is one. Listen, and take it home with you. If you don't like it, bring it back and IN perhaps exchange it for a better one.” “ Well—what is it?” hoarse with eagerness. “T know a young thug,” Campbell said very deliberately, ‘‘ who has mur- der in his eye for a man he has never > Rollins was seen. That thug is anxious to meet an Englishman named ‘Smith’ who— killed his brother in London. If the Earl of Didderington were in my way, as he is in yours, I'd be very friendly with him; and then we'd do a little slumming one evening. “We would go to a place I know near the river, where we should be sure to meet the young man looking for Smith. I'd find an opportunity to talk to that young man for a minute or two, and then I’d go back to my friend, the earl, and wait to watch him die! ”’ “Good Heavens!” The exclamation was mine. & start- ed to my feet, while the tables and chairs swarmed about me. I stood gaping down at him. But there was no change in Campbell's expression. “Of course,” he went on, and his head bent forward a little, as if he were interested in something upon the floor near the door, “I told Rollins he would have to arrange it a little differ- ently, but pointed out that it was the safest thing in the world. “He saw that it was, and took the idea home with him. Later, as I knew he would, he brought it back again, saying he could not use it since he did not know the man who was looking for Smith.” comicloooks.com