The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-02-21

she was the mOteT, ne sdlu
trying to bring In a word Of English
whenever he could, to make his mean-
ing more easily comprehended. "This
is a mighty hard place to get along
in without a mother. ok don't seem
to care much for anybody but themsel-
yes. That is, the most OF them,' he
added remembering the Bleecker street
n~ewsdealer. of whose generosity he
ave a detailed account.
IL haven't written to him since I've
been with your husband" he said.
I'm ashamed to. | wouldn't dare tell
him the truth, for you know this bust
ness is not what it ought to be. / left
my mothers ring with him. l could
get it for the asking, but | don't want
! to touch it while my hands are so stain
ed with dirty work. 1t would be sac
rilcge. III try to get out OF here by
and by
Billings wife did not sheer at the
| simple confession as she would have
done at one time.
81 know how you feel" she answer
ed. but you must write. When a man
does for you what he did, he is prompt
ed by an unusual interest in you, and
a bad report will be better than sus-
penSe."
pietro saw the justice Of her arglr-
mcnt and allowed himself to be guided
by her counsel. but in the letter that
was forthcoming he did not ask for
the gold ring.
Day by day the friendship between
Billings wife and his side partner was
strengthened.
Il had a boy once OF my own she
told PietrO. "If he had lived he would
have been just your age. Somehow
YOU kind Of take up the place in my
heart. which | 1880 to think he would
fill. You're a new conscience for me.
You may call me mother if you like
And Pietro did.
If he was conscience for her, her ap-
parcntly rough personality took on the
same subtle essence in regard TO nm
self. PLANT though he was outwardiy
to the dictates of his commander, the
bows soul continually rebelled against
acts of grOSSncss and injustice IN
which he was compelled to take part.
I'D to u certain point there was 4
strange fascination In the life he leo,
but beyond that limit his better self
asserted itself and cried o for reieaSh
from such bondage. At those times
he vowed he would leave and lead Il
clean life. or sink hOnOrably in the NJ
tempt, and daily Billings wife sought
to strengthen that resolve and urged
him to exercise his higher nature ana
begin life again. But months came
and went. and still PietrO was now
on the levee and in the adjoining al
leys as Billings side partner
One day he got a letter from the
Blocker street news dealer. Il Shal
send you by express your gold ring
he said. MAY it speak to you more
fprvpntly than tongue or pen OF an oid
man can do"
Pietro took a decided stand that
night.
s'Tm going to leave you tomorrow"
he said abruptly, when Billings came
up stairs for supper.
Billings black eyes blazed up with
sudden anger. "And what for?' he
asked, pushing his wife back In the
corner and confronting the young Eel
low, who had dared to make an aSSer
ton on his own account on a SubJec'
in which Billings interests were SO
deeply involved.
All the bCy's courage was aroused
for instant action.
because I'm tired Of all this ana
because | want TO lead a decent life,
which | can never do here-thats
why"
He looked at his employer unfInCh'
ingly. Billings hpSitated before an
Swering.
You IDIOT" he cried at length. 'dO
you think I've taken you in hand and
let you into all my secrets and trained
you and made you what | have, only
to let you come or go at your w
sweet will? No, you're mine, body and
soul. If / say stay stay you do. And
that's what L do say. Leave II you
dare"
His wife stepped toward him. Don't
drag him down any further, BIZ she
pleaded.
$50 it's you who have been putting
him up to such tricks" he interrupted
with n sneer. L might have known 1
couldn't trust you
He seized her shoulder roughly but
before he could perpetuate any fur
Their violence, Pietro whose arm was
nerved with his newly made resolution
to do right at all hazards, lOOsened the
mans grasp and drew her toward him.
ITS not her fault" he said; ITS all
my own dOingS. I'm sick of sin, | tell
you"
In his rage Billings struck out wildly
before him. Perhaps the blow was
meant for his wife, perhaps for Pict-
TO, perhaps 1t was merely a purpose
less expression Of wrath, but its full
force rescended upon Pietro. who reel
ed back against the table and lay there
stunned and bleeding.
He died two days later. "Concnssion
Of the brain. the result Of q heavy
fall" was what the doctor reported to
the health department. He knew the
main facts of the case, as did a score
of others, but Billings held the reins
of his popularity as firmly as ever and
no action was taken against him.