Jimmy Valentine ( Part Two )
Jimmy went to the Planters' Hotel registered as ralph D. Spencer, and got a room, .He leaned on the hotel dest and talked quickly to the clerk. he said he had come to Elmore to open a business, perhaps a shoe store and he
wondered whether such a store might do well in Elmore. The clerk was impressed by jimmy's clothes and his nice manners. The clerk considered himself a fashionable young man in this small town, but comparing himself to Jimmy, he realized he had many shortcoming While staring at Jimmy's necktie and trying to determine how Jimmy had tied it, he cheefully gave information.
wondered whether such a store might do well in Elmore. The clerk was impressed by jimmy's clothes and his nice manners. The clerk considered himself a fashionable young man in this small town, but comparing himself to Jimmy, he realized he had many shortcoming While staring at Jimmy's necktie and trying to determine how Jimmy had tied it, he cheefully gave information.
Yes, he believed that a shoe store ought to do well. The general store and the clothing store sold shoes, but there was no real shoe store in Elmore.Business in all lines was fairly good. He hoped Mr. Spencer would decide to remain in Elmore. He would find it a pleasant town, and the people were very friendly Mr Spencer said be thought he would stay a few days and look over the town. He said he needed no help with his suitcase. It was rather heavy, so he would carry it up to his room himself.
Mr.Ralph Spencer, formerly known as Jimmy Valentine, decide to remain in Elmore. No doubt love at first sight had influenced his decision. He opened a shoes store and made a success of this new business venture.Socially he was also a success and made many new friends Moreover, he was able to fulfill an especially great desire.He met Miss Annabel Adams and became more and more attracted by her beauty and cleverness.
At the end of a year the situation of Mr.Ralph Spencer was this; he had won the respect of the whole town; he had an excellent business; he and Annabel were engaged and were to be married in two weeks. Mr Adams a typical coutry banker, approved of Spencer . Annabel's pride in him almost equaled her affection He was completely at home with the Adams family; in Most ways he already felt like a member of the family.
One day Jimmy sat down in his room and wrote this letter, which he mailed to a friend in St. Louis.
Dear Billy;
I want you to be at Sullivan's place, in Little Rock, next Wednesday night at nine o'clock. I want you to take care of something for me, And, also, I want to make you a present of my tools, I Know you'll be glad to get them, for you couldn't buy them for a thousand dollars, Billy, I've quit the old business a year ago.I have a nice store now. I'm making an honest living, and I'm going to marry the most wonderful girl in the world two weeks from now. It's the best life, Billy the straight one, I'll never touch a dollar of other people's money again. After I get married I'm going to sell my store and go West, Where nobody will know about my past. I tell you, Billy, she's a wonderful girl. Be sure to be at Sullivan's place, for I must see you, I'll bring the tools with me.
Your od friend,
Jimmy
On Monday night after Jimmy wrote this letter, Ben Price drove quietly into Elmore in a rented carriage. He soon found out what he wanted to know, From the drugstore across the street from Spenser's shoes tore he got a glimpse of Ralph D. Spencer.
Going to marry the banker's daughter," Ben said softly to himself." Well I think I've arrived just in time."
The next morning Jimmy had breakfast at the Adam's' house. He was going to Little Rock that day, he said to orer a suit for the wedding and to 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 since the three robberies, and he felt now that he could safely venture out and take a trip to a bigger city.
After breakfast most of the family went down town together Mr. Adams, Annabel, Jimmy, and Annabel's married sister with her tow little girls, aged five and nine. When they passed the hotel where Jimmy still lived, he excused him self, went up to his room, and brought down his suitcase. Then they went on to te bank. There stood a horse and carriage and John Gibbson, who was going to drive him to the railroad station.
They all went inside to Mr. Adams office Jimmy included, for Mr. Adams' future son in law was welcome anywhere. The clerks were pleased to be greeted by the good looking agreeable young man who was gong to marry Miss Annabel.
Mr. Adams had just put in a new bank vault; he was very proud of it and insisted on showing it to everyone who came into the bank. The vault was a small one, but it had a new, improved door.There was a time lock on the door, and it was fastened by there steel bolts which were moved into place by a singel handle. Mr Adams explained the mechanism to Mr Spencer, who showed polite but not very intelligent interest. The two children, May and Agatha were delighted with the shining metal and funny clock.
While the group was examining the door to the vault, Ben Price walked into the bank slowly and leaned on a writing table.He tod the clerk he didn't want anything; he was just waiting for a man he knew.
Suddenly there was a scream from one of the women, Unnoticed by the grownups, May , the nine year old girl, had closed the door and shut Agatha in the vault. She had then turned the handle and the combination lock as she had seen Mr. Adams do.
The old banker jumped to the handle and pulled for a moment. The door can't be opened," he ground. We haven't wound the clock nor set the combination yet. Agatha's mother screamed again in terror. " Hush! " Everybody be quiet for a moment, Agatha, he called in a loud voice." Listen to me, Agatha !" During the following silence, they could just bear the faint sound of the child crying wildly in the dark vault.
My poor little girl," cried the mother," She'll die of fright! Open the door! break it open! Can't you men do something ? "
There isn't a man nearer than little Roxk who can open that door," said Mr. Adams in a shaky voice," my God, Spencer what shall we do ?, That child she can.t stay alive in there very long.There isn't enough air and besides, she'll be frightened do death.
Agatha's mother beat desperately on the door of the vault with her hands. Annabel turned to Jimmy, her large eyes full of tears. to a women, nothing seems quite beyond the powers of the man she loves.
" Can't you do something, Ralph Try any thing ! He looked at her with a soft smile on his lips. " All right, Annabel," he said " I'll try," he took off his coat and rolled up his shirt sleeves," With that act, Ralph D. Spener be came Jimmy Valentine again. " Move away from the door everybody he commanded, He put his suitcase on a table and opened it. From that time on he seemed to be unconscious of the presence of others. He swiftly laid out his shining, strange looking instruments, whistling softly as he always did while at work.In a deep silence, the others watched him without moving and almost without breathing.
A moment later jimmy's favorite drill was making a smooth, round hole in the steel door, In ten minutes he moved back the bolts and opened the door.
Jimmy Valentine put on his coat and walked toward the front door. As he went he thought he heard a far - way voice calling " Ralph. " but he didn't stop.
He found a big man standing near the door way.
Hello, Ben," said Jimmy, still smiling," Well, you've found me finaly, So let's go, I'm ready to leave now.
But Ben Price's reply was strange indeed. " You must be mistaken, Mr. Spencer, " he said
I don't think I recognize you,"
And Ben Price turned and strolled down the street.
JIMMY VALENTINE PART ONE CLICK HERE
Your od friend,
Jimmy
On Monday night after Jimmy wrote this letter, Ben Price drove quietly into Elmore in a rented carriage. He soon found out what he wanted to know, From the drugstore across the street from Spenser's shoes tore he got a glimpse of Ralph D. Spencer.
Going to marry the banker's daughter," Ben said softly to himself." Well I think I've arrived just in time."
The next morning Jimmy had breakfast at the Adam's' house. He was going to Little Rock that day, he said to orer a suit for the wedding and to 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 since the three robberies, and he felt now that he could safely venture out and take a trip to a bigger city.
After breakfast most of the family went down town together Mr. Adams, Annabel, Jimmy, and Annabel's married sister with her tow little girls, aged five and nine. When they passed the hotel where Jimmy still lived, he excused him self, went up to his room, and brought down his suitcase. Then they went on to te bank. There stood a horse and carriage and John Gibbson, who was going to drive him to the railroad station.
They all went inside to Mr. Adams office Jimmy included, for Mr. Adams' future son in law was welcome anywhere. The clerks were pleased to be greeted by the good looking agreeable young man who was gong to marry Miss Annabel.
Mr. Adams had just put in a new bank vault; he was very proud of it and insisted on showing it to everyone who came into the bank. The vault was a small one, but it had a new, improved door.There was a time lock on the door, and it was fastened by there steel bolts which were moved into place by a singel handle. Mr Adams explained the mechanism to Mr Spencer, who showed polite but not very intelligent interest. The two children, May and Agatha were delighted with the shining metal and funny clock.
While the group was examining the door to the vault, Ben Price walked into the bank slowly and leaned on a writing table.He tod the clerk he didn't want anything; he was just waiting for a man he knew.
Suddenly there was a scream from one of the women, Unnoticed by the grownups, May , the nine year old girl, had closed the door and shut Agatha in the vault. She had then turned the handle and the combination lock as she had seen Mr. Adams do.
The old banker jumped to the handle and pulled for a moment. The door can't be opened," he ground. We haven't wound the clock nor set the combination yet. Agatha's mother screamed again in terror. " Hush! " Everybody be quiet for a moment, Agatha, he called in a loud voice." Listen to me, Agatha !" During the following silence, they could just bear the faint sound of the child crying wildly in the dark vault.
My poor little girl," cried the mother," She'll die of fright! Open the door! break it open! Can't you men do something ? "
There isn't a man nearer than little Roxk who can open that door," said Mr. Adams in a shaky voice," my God, Spencer what shall we do ?, That child she can.t stay alive in there very long.There isn't enough air and besides, she'll be frightened do death.
Agatha's mother beat desperately on the door of the vault with her hands. Annabel turned to Jimmy, her large eyes full of tears. to a women, nothing seems quite beyond the powers of the man she loves.
" Can't you do something, Ralph Try any thing ! He looked at her with a soft smile on his lips. " All right, Annabel," he said " I'll try," he took off his coat and rolled up his shirt sleeves," With that act, Ralph D. Spener be came Jimmy Valentine again. " Move away from the door everybody he commanded, He put his suitcase on a table and opened it. From that time on he seemed to be unconscious of the presence of others. He swiftly laid out his shining, strange looking instruments, whistling softly as he always did while at work.In a deep silence, the others watched him without moving and almost without breathing.
A moment later jimmy's favorite drill was making a smooth, round hole in the steel door, In ten minutes he moved back the bolts and opened the door.
Jimmy Valentine put on his coat and walked toward the front door. As he went he thought he heard a far - way voice calling " Ralph. " but he didn't stop.
He found a big man standing near the door way.
Hello, Ben," said Jimmy, still smiling," Well, you've found me finaly, So let's go, I'm ready to leave now.
But Ben Price's reply was strange indeed. " You must be mistaken, Mr. Spencer, " he said
I don't think I recognize you,"
And Ben Price turned and strolled down the street.
JIMMY VALENTINE PART ONE CLICK HERE
