The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-06-15

ways believed it,
where's Mrs. Booth now?" said An.
ME. to change a painful subject.
shes gone out" lie replied, IAN the
girls are upstairs. I've been cleanin'
up the yard"
A sudden resolution seemed TO seize
upon him. lie turned the ladder about
and mounted to the top Of 1t, coming
almost to level with Annie at the
window.
81 told Mrs. Booth that Id been
down TO Mexico" he said hurricdly. al.
most in Il whisper "an' now I'm gun'
for fair. an you're goIrt with me-"
what d'you mCunf" demanded An.
ME, frightened by his manner.
what do we want to be SO poor
forG" said he. white with excitement.
Look at them dlamonds | saw 'cm
from across the yard. saw her tryln'
some of 'em in her hair an lookin ut
'cm in the sun. What d'you think that
outfits worth? Well, WELL | guess we
wouldn't do thing with that money
down in Mexico
You're drcamn'," retortcd Annie.
"Who told you I'd go with you even
II the money was yours?"
you as good as told me that once"
said he, with fierce intensity, and the
next instant, exercising an agility of
| which lie would have been incapable
In a calmcr moment, he transferred
himself from the ladder to the window,
where he pcrchcd with his feet hanging
out.
III ever told you that" said Annie.
at was when | took you for an honest
man"
I'm that today" lie replied. 81 ncv-
er stole nothln. I'll swear to that. But
I've been behind the bars for three
months. I've had my medicine, an
now
lie choked with dry throat, and, be.
ing unable to proceed, he made his
meaning clear by extending hand to.
ward the plate. Annie caught him by
the w'i,t
"Dol't 10 that, Tom" she cried.
"IOu can't get nothln' that way in this
| wOr,G-I Jthin' that's worth havn'. 1t
amt t.!' way to get mc-thats certain.
l wo.. At go with you If you had as
man. of 'cm as would fiji Il keg o beer
unless they was yours"
How long would II take you an me
to earn enough money to buy one o
them stOncsf" he asked angrily. AN
how much work has she ever done to
get 'cm ally Men give 'Cm to her.
Dudes send 'cm round TO the stage
door with mash notes. know all
about It,"
shes good girl" said Annie, with
at least rs much vgor ns she would
have resented an attack upon her own
reputation "She works hard. I've
seen her in the dead o winter, with
both these windows open, walkln' up
an down this room with the sweat
runnin Off of her face. I've seen her
sit down on the floor an sob till II
near shook her to pieces because she
couldn't speak her words the way that
she wanted to. She earned those dla.
monds, she gets big pay, an she has
to have 'em TO wear on the stage"
II don't care how she got EN-" he
broke In. II know how you an me
can get 'cm. Therell never be another
chance like this"
Tom" she pleaded, II do honestly
care lot about you. If you care any.
thing about me now's your time to
show 1t. Don't say another word like
you've been sayin'. What's the use
We'd both be miserable We amt
thieves, neither one OF us. If there'd
been any thief about me you wouldn't
have had much show with your step
ladder, Tom. I'd "a had big start
% you"
Wilson drew In hard breath like O
long gasp.
You don't care nothin' about me,
he said. you never did. | didn't
have any money. | couldn't take you
out. An you was always tied to Tho
house anyway. That's the way viii
women. They
"Tom," said she, you're talkin
crazy. | never took any pains to foo
you about 1t. You could see how | felt
All | ever asked o. you was that yor
should go to work steady an not hans
around at odd Jobs-a days work FOL
Mrs. Booth an day somewhere els,
next week. If you want me you know
how to get me-even now, after this
Why, Tom, there amt anything IL
stealin', there amt anything into 1t n
all. An | know because I've tried
Look at this"
She picked the small stone out o.
the plate.
81 did my best to see If | coudn
pinch that little bit of drmond," sht
continued, IAN ! couldn't"
II cam he cried and clutched at 1t
but she eluded him.
She stepped back from the window
and stood trembling, the pallor strug
Cling with the flush Of the heat upol
her thin cheeks and shining temples
Her blue eyes were big and bright, anc
they looked him through and through.
"Then this is our finish, Tom," sh,
said. II never knew you before. |
would "a been just like me to make |
, mistake that would "a done for me for
ever. | guess this Is my lucky day
/ don't feel much as IL II was, bu
; there can't be any better luck for
girl than to find out her mistake be