Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-03-18

morn1ngY she asked, sitting a yawn.
II don't know-about 8 or g. How
the devil should know what time
came imp
Sitting there before the mirror Of her
dresser she stole a second glance at his
marred features in the glass. The loose
mouth, the smeared eyes, the palsy
like tremors that twitched the hands
where they frightened on the arms of
his chair, became repulsive to the
verge Of fascination. She tried to look
away, but could not.
''You had better see DR.. Grisby," she
managed to say.
I'D better see you; that's what I'd
better do" he retorted thickly. you'll
do all the doctoring I want. And /
want it, all right
every we'll What is it?'
He passed his swollen hand across
his forehead
what is it?" he repeated. "It's the
limit this time, if you want to know.
I'm all in
"Roulette?" raising her eyebrows,
without interest.
eyes, roulette too Everything!
They got me upstairs at Burbank's.
The games crooked. Every box, ev-
cry case, every wheel, every pack is
crooked, crooked, crooked, by GodY
he burst forth in a fever, struggling to
sit upright, his hands always tighten
ing on the arms of the chair. Its
nothing but a creeping joint, run by
bunch of handshakers! lip
Suffering, choking, stammering i'm
precautions, his hoarse clamor died
away after awhile She sat there,
head bent, silent, impassive, acquies-
cent under the physical and mental
strain to which she had never become
thoroughly hardened. How many such
scenes had she witnessed! She could
not count them. They differed very
little in detail and not at all in their
ultimate object, which was to get
what money she had. This was his
method of reimbursing himself for his
losses
He made an end to his outburst aft
er awhile. Only his dreadful fat
breathing now filed the silence and,
supposing he had finished. she found
her voice with an effort:
II am sorry. 1t comes at a bad
time. as you know
"A bad timer he broke out violently.
"How can it come at any other sort OF
time? With us all times are bad. If
this is worse than the average it can't
be helped. We are in it for keeps
this timer
"We?"
Eyes, wer' he repeated, but his face
had grown CHASTITY and his uncertain
eyes were fastened on hers in the mir
ror.
What do you mean-exactly she
asked, turning from the dresser to con-
front him.
He made no effort to answer. An ex-
preston of dull fright was growing
on his visage, as though for the first
time he had begun to realize what had
happened.
She saw it and her heart quickened,
but she spoke disdainfully: "Well, l
am ready to listen-as usual. How
much do you want?'
He made no sign. His lower LIP
hung loose. His eyes blinked at her.
"What is it," she repeated. What
have you been doing? How much
have you lost? You can't have lost
very much. We hadn't much to lose.
IF you have given your note to any of
those gamblers it is shame-a shame;
Leroy, look at me! You promised me,
on your honor, never to do that again.
Have you lied, after all the times l
have helped you out, stripped myself,
denied myself, put off tradesmen,
faced down creditors? After all
have done, do you dare come here and
ask for more-ask for what l have not
got-with not one bill settled, not one
servant paid since December
Leila, 1--we got-to tell YOU
'WhatY' she demanded, appalled, by
the change in his face. If he was
OVERRIDING it, he was OVERRIDING it real
istically enough.
Give used Plank's checkw he
mumbled and moistened his lips with
his tongue
She stared back at him, striving t.
comprehend. "Plank'sr' she repeated
slowly. "Plank's check? What check?
What do you mean|
''The one he gave you last night to
pay his bridge losses and forgot to fill
in"
'The one he But you couldn't!
How could you. 1t was not filled in"
81 filed it,"
Her dawning horror was reacting
on him, as it always did, like fierce
tonic, and his own courage came back
in a sort of sullen desperation.
''You-you are trying to frighten me,
Leroy" she stammered. "You are try
ing to make me do something-give
you what you want-force me to give
you what you want! You can't fright
en- me- The check was made out to
me-to my order. How could you
have used it, if had not Endorsed itY'
81 Endorsed it. Do you understand
that?" he said savagely.