The San Francisco call., 1904-07-17

Don't! 1 did, Tom; did" I was
shivering at the name, but I couldn't
bear his thinking that way Of me. Il
went UP once, but they wouldn't let me
see you. I wrote you, but they sent
back the letters. Mag went up, too,
but had TO come back. And that time
I brought you"
Ny voice trailed on In that minute
I saw myself on the way up to Sing
Sing with the basket and all of my
hopes and all my schemes for amusing
him.
And this is what I'd have seen il
they'd let me in-this big. gruff, muir
dering beast,
oh, yes-yes-beast is what he is.
and it didn't make him look 1t less that
he believed me and-and began TO think
Of me in a different way.
Il thought you wouldn't go back on
a feller Nance. That's why 1 come
straight to you. It was my game to
have you hide me for a day or two, till
you could make a strike somewhere
and we'd light out together. How're
ye fixed? Pretty smart. eh? You look
il, my girl, you look-my eye, Nance.
you look good enough 10 eat, and I'm
hungry for you"
Maggie. If I'd had to die for it
couldn't have moved then. You'd think
a man would know when the woman
he's holding in his arms is fainting-
sick at the touch of him. A woman
would. 1t wasn't my Tom that I'd
known, that I'd worked with and
played with and-It was a great
brute, whose mouth-who had no eyes.
no ears, no senses but-ahi
He laughed when I broke away from
him at last. He laughed! And knew
I'd have TO tell him straight in words.
Tom" gasped, you can have all
I've got; and it's plenty to get you out
Of the way. But-but you can't have
-me-any more. That's-donei"
Oh, the beast in his facet 1t must
have looked like that when the guard
got his last glimpse Of it.
You're kiddin' me?" he growled.
] shook my head
Then he ripped it out Said the worst
he could and ended with a cursel The
blood boiled in me. The old Nance
never stood that; she used to sneer
at other women who did.
Get out Of here" 1 cried. "Go-go,
Tom Dorgan. I'll send every cent I've
got to you TO Mother Douty's within
two hours. but don't you dare
Don't you dare. you she-devil! Just
make UP your mind TO drop these new
tangled airs. and mighty quick. I tell
you you'll come with me cause I need
you and I want you, and I want you
now. And I'll keep you when once
get you again. Wen hang together
No more o. this one-sided layout for
me, where you get all the soft and it's
me for the hard. You belong to me.
Yes, you do. Just think back a bit,
Nance Olden, and remember the kind
Of customer I am If you've forgot,
just let me remind you that what 1
know would put you behind bars, my
lady, and it shall, l swear, if I've got
to go to the Chair for itl''
Toni 1t was Tom talking that way
TO me. I couldn't bear it. I made a
rush for the door.
He got there too, and catching me
by the shoulder, he lifted his fist.
But it never fell, Mag. I think I
could kill a man who struck me- But
just as I shut my eyes and shivered
away from him, while waited for the
blow, a knock came to the door and
Fred Obermuller walked in.
"Eh? OH Excuse me. I didn't know
there was anybody else. Nance, your
said sharply.
He looked from me to Tom-Tom,
standing off there ready to spring on
him, TO dart past him, to fly out Of the
window-ready for anything; only
waiting to know what the thing was
TO be.
My senses came back to me then.
The sight Of Obermuller, with those
keen, quick eyes behind his glasses
his strong, square chin, and the whole
poise Of his head and body that makes
men wait to hear what he has to say;
the knowledge that that man was my
friend, mine-Nancy Olden's-lifted me
out Of the mud I'd sunk back in, and
put my feet again on a level with
his.
'Tom," said slowly, Mr. Ober-
muller is q friend of mine No-listenl
What we've been talking about is set.
tied. Don't bring 1t up again. I
doesn't interest him and it can't change
me; I swear to you, II can't; nothing
can. I'm going to ask Mr.. Obermullel
to help you without telling him JUS
what the scrape is, and-and I'm going
TO be sure that he'll do it Just because
he"
Because you've taken up with him
have you?" Tom shouted savagely
Because she's your"
Toni" cried.
Tom - oh, yes, now remember.
obermuller got between US as he spoke
Your friend up-in the country tha
you went to see and couldn't Not
very good locker, your friend, Nance
But-farming, I suppose, Mr.-Tom p
plays the deuce with ones looks. AnC
another thing 1t does: II makes a mar
forget sometimes Just how to behave IL
town. I'll be charmed, Mr.. Tom, I,
oblige a friend Of Miss Olden's; but
must insist that he does not talk lik,
a-farmer."
He was quite close to Tom when h
finished, and Tom was glaring UP a
him. And, Mag, 1 didn't know whicl
one / was most afraid for. Don't yoi
lOOk NTo-