All Story Magazine, December 1913 — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

A, THIEVES’ COMEDY. organization. Mine are a little better paid, perhaps, because their work is a little more dangerous. “Tf I did not employ them they could employ themselves promiscu- ously and get into trouble. It is in their blood—a clot on the brain—and all I do is to direct their endeavors in a sort of justifiable channel. People who give need never be afraid of get- ting one of our calling-cards. “ But Rallins and his kind, who play Scrooge from year’s beginning to year's end, are always likely to hear from us, and the louder they squeal the better we like it, and the oftener we call. “Every man owes a certain per- centage of his income to the man who has less—and we simply collect what the fortunate owes the unfortunate— and won't pay. Since the debtor in this case happens to be Rollins, I in- tend to collect, even if the cost of col- lection is double the debt. The price is your affair.” It was a quaint argument of the sort that would readily command sympa- thy, particularly among the “ unfor- tunate,”’ who are appallingly in the majority. I did not argue the point, but asked after a short pause: “ How am I to help if I don't know what I am to do? And what reason haye you to suppose that I won't cash this check and go off somewhere in the night? I could, very easily, you know, since you can’t possibly go to law about it.” “ And there you have Rollins’s po- sition exactly,’ Campbell declared at once. ‘‘ He can’t make any fuss about his fifty, and any he does make will be made to me. You do not enter into the matter actively at all. ‘“ All you have to do shall be to play the part of Mr. Mason — Campbell's friend —and accept Rollins’s invita- tion to go slumming when it comes. I'll take care of the rest.” ‘But you don’t suppose I would go into a thing like this without knowing what is actually going to happen?” 761 “Nothing will happen—at least, not to you. You will leave the Clach- an as I directed you to-night, and you'll do it when a red lights shows in that signal lamp you saw. Rollins won't be with you at the time. He will be at the bar telling Crabbe about Smith.” * Crabbet:-” “ Crabbe — spelled with two ‘b's’ and an ‘e.”’ He will misunderstand Rollins thoroughly.” “And what is going to happen to Rollins?” “That does not concern you.” “T’'m afraid it does. He may be all kinds of a rotter, but I am hanged if I will be a party to anything of that sort.” “What sort?” very quiet. “You know what I mean.’ “You have forgotten that I drove that taxi to-night. Do you think I would soil my hands with Margaret’s father’s blood?” “T suppose not,” I stammered. Campbell's eyebrows fell suddenly, and he peered at me from under them in keen interrogation. “ Man—but ye have a poor opeenion o’ my intelligence. If I ever want to kill a man I'll no’ pit my guilt on the end o’ anither’s tongue and risk it wag- gin’ in State’s evidence against me. Na, na, man; dinna fash yersel’ aboot Rollins farin’ weel or ill. Are ye no’ far enough intae an ugly business with- out wantin’ tae gang farther?” I got upon my feet slowly. “Yes, I'm afraid I’ve gone too far into a very ugly business. Your mo- tives may be excellent, and this chap Rollins may deserve a jolly good hiding, but I can’t possibly take his money that way. “Oh, yes, it’s his!’ I continued, as he seemed likely to protest. “ Paying me over your name is only a subter- fuge — I mean — it doesn’t alter the thing in my eyes a bit. Of course, everything you’ve told me is perfectly safe with me, and I have to thank you the question was ’ comicloooks.com