Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-10-21
The Spoilers.
By REX E. BEACH.
-: copyrisht. 1905. e. Beach =
ooh, I've got money to pay my wa

"Oh, I've got money 10 pay NY wa! :
I'm no deadhead."
Shortz mumbled something back.
81 don't care lf you are closed. I'm
tired, and there's storm coming"
This time she heard the landlord
refusal and the miners angry profani-
ty. A moment later she saw the tray
eler Flooding up the trail toward town.
what does that mean?" she inquir-
ed as the lawyer re-entered
ooh. that fellow IS Il tough. and
Shortz wouldn't let him in. He's care
full whom he entertans, there are SO
many bad men roaming the hills
The German came in shortly to light
the lamp, and. although she asked no
further questions. Helen's uneasiness
increased. She half listened to the sto
rles with which Strive tried to enter.
tain her and ate little of the excellent
meal that was shortly served to them.
Strive meanwhile ate and drank al
most greedily. and the shadowy. SIMS.
ter evening crept along. A strange
cowardiee had suddenly overtaken the
girl. and II at this late hour she could
have withdrawn she would have done
SO gladly and gone forth to meet the
violence Of the tempest. But she had
gone too far for retreat. and, realizing
that for the present apparent compll-
ance was her wisest resource, she sat
quiet, answering the man with cool
words while his eyes grew brighter,
his skin more flushed, his speech more
rapid. He talked necessarily and With
feverish gayety. smoking numberless
cigarettes aud apparently unconscious
Of the fight of time. At last he broke
Off suddenly and consulted his watch.
while Helen remembered that she had
not heard Shortz in the kitchen for a
long time Suddenly Strive smiled on
her peculiarly. with confident cunning
As he leered at her over the disorder
between them he took from his pocket
fat bundle, which he tossed to her.
"Now for the bargain. eh!"
ASK the man to remove these dish
es," she said us she undid the parcel
with clumsy fingers.
II sent him away two hours ago."
said Strive, arising MS If to come to
her She shrank back, but he only
leaned across, gathered up the four
corners Of the tableclOth and twisting
them together. carried the whole
thing out. the dishes crashing and Jan,
Cling as he threw his burden reckless
" into the kitchen. Then he returned
and stood with his back to the stove.
staring at her while she perused the
contents of the papers, which We're
more voluminous than she had sup
posed.
For long time the girl pored over
the documents. The purport of the
papers was only too obvious. and as
she read the proof of her uncle's guilt
stood out clear and damning. There
was no possibility of mistake. The
whole wretched plot stood out plain,
its darkest infamies revealed.
In spite of the cruelty Of her disillu-
Bionment Helen was nevertheless ex-
allied with the fierce ecstasy Of power,
with the knowledge that justice would
ut last be rendered. 1t would be her
triumph and her expiation that she,
who had been the unwilling tool Of
this miserable clique. would be the one
through whom restitution was made.
She arose with her eyes cleaning and
lips set
ct is here"
"Of course it is. Enough to convict
us all. 1t means the penitentiary for
your precious uncle and your lover"
He stretched his chin upward at the
mention rs though to free his throat