Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-12-31

Fernmore to thank for-we are alone"
He leaned forward in his chair and
fiicked the cigarette ashes into the fire,
his black eyes looking into hers with
unmistakable intentness.
you assured me today that you
would be fair" she said, with strange
calmness. meeting his gaze unfiinch-
ingly.
II am fair. What more can you
ask?" with light laugh.
"Why did you say today that had
nothing to fear from your she de-
manded.
lyon have nothing to fear. Why
should you fear me? For twenty years
your face has not been out Of my
memory. Why should l seek to hurt
you, then? Why should not rejoice
in the tie that binds our interests-our
lives, for that matter? Come, ask If
am not fair"
Her face became pale, her heart cold.
She understood. The mask was Off
He yelled his threat In the simplest
words possible. The purpose looked
through with greedy disdain for
grace.
II can offer no more than l offered
today she said.
"Do you suppose | would accept
money in payment for my sons peace
of mind?" declared Bansemer, with
| finely assumed scorn. You offered
me $4,000 You will never know how
that hurt me, coming from you. Mon
ey? What is money to me in an affair
like this? / care more for one tender
touch of your fingers than all the mon
ely in the world! You and you alone
can mold every impulse in me. For
half my life ! have been hated. No
one has given me grain of love. /
must have it, For years you have not
been out of my mind-I have not been
out of yours"
"Stopw she cried angrily. You
have no right to say such things to
me. You have been In my mind all
these years, but, oh, how have hated
your
Like flash his manner changed.
He had her in his power, and it was
not in his nature to permit his sub
jects to dictate to him. Craft and Co
ercion always had been his ally. Craft
could not win woman's heart, but
coercion might crush 1t into submis-
sion. 1t was not like James Banse-
mer to play waiting game after it
had been fairly started
"Now listen to me-" he said distinct
ly. "You cannot afford to talk like
that You cannot afford to make an
enemy of me. l mean what r.
what would you doT' she cried.
"You have promised that nothing shall
happen to mar the lives Of our chill
dren. You have given me your pledge.
Is 1t worthless? Is it,
81 wouldn't speak so loud If I were
you," said he slowly. ''The walls have
ears. You have much to lose If ears
other than those in the wall should
hear what could be said. 1t would
mean disaster. I know at least that
you do not love David Cable
"What! IL worship my husbandw
she cried, her eyes flashing, her bosom
heaving. 81 love him better than any
thing else in all the world How dare
you say that to me!'
Control yourself" he cautioned
calmly. Permit me to say you love
the position he has given you. You
love the pedestal on which you stand
so insecurity. You would rather hear
his curse than to see the hand of so
cial ostracism raised against you.
Wait! A word from me and not only
David Gable, but the whole world
! would turn against you"
81 have committed no crime" she
fared back at him. II have deceived
my husband, but have not dishon-
ored him. Tell the world everything,
If you WILL"
ut would be luscious tale" he said,
with an evil laugh. 1.-THE world, which
is wicked, might forget the fact that
Jane is not David's daughter, but Da-
yid would not forget that she is yours. =
what do you meanT starting from
her chair. she Is not my child. You
know she isn't You know the entire
story. YOU
81 only know that you brought her
to me and that did you a service.
Don't ask me to be brutal and say
more" She sank back and glared at
him like helpless. wounded thing,
the full force Of his threat rushing i'm
upon her.
"You-you couldn't do that" she
whispered TREMENDOUSLY.
II could, but | don't see why
should" he said, leaning closer to her
shrinking figure.
"You know it isn't true" family.
81 only know that l am trying to
save you from calamity"
''Oh, what a beast you arep' she
cried. springing to her feet. Go! l
defy you. DO and say what you will!
Only go!'
He rose calmly. a satisfied smile on
his face
~ shall OF course first of all forbid
my son to marry the young woman.
1t will be necessary for me to explain
the reason to Mr.. Cable. am sorry to
have distressed you. Really l had ex-
pected quite different evening after
your invitation. You can't blame me
for misunderstanding your motive In
asking me to come here when you ex-
pected to be utterly alone" His laugh
was sneer
"Poor-poor little Janer' murmured
| u