Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-03-05
(Chapter Nine-Continued.)


you think you'll marry Plank when |
get decree? DO you? Well, you
won't for several reasons. First, be-
cause I'll name other correspondents
and that win make Plank sick: second,
because Plank wants to marry some
body else ana I'm able to assist him.
So where do you come out in the
shuffie?"
II don't know" she said under her
breath and rested her head against the
back Of the chair, as though suddenly
tired.
.'Well, know Youll come out
smirched and you kno1v it." said Nor.
timer. gazing intently at her. Look
here, Leila. ! didn't como here 10
threaten you I'm no blacknaailer.
I'm no criminal. I'm simply a decent
sort Of man. who is pretty badly
scared over what he's done In a mo-
ment Of temptation. You know / had
no thought Of anything except to Dor
row enough on my | 0 us to make
a killing at Burbanks | had to show
them something big, so filed in that
check, not meaning to use it. and be-
fore | knew 1t I'd Endorsed it and was
pIunging against it. Then they stack
ed everything on me-by God, they
did. and II | bad not been In the condi-
ton I Yas In I'd have stopped pay
ment, But X was too late when re-
allied what was against. Leila. you
know I'm not a bad man at heart.
Can't you help fellow?', -Ar~e.-,
His manner, completely changed,
had become the resentful and fretful
appeal of the victim of plot and cir
substance All the savage brutality
had been eliminated. The sneer, the
truculent attempts to browbeat, the
pftiful swagger, the cynical justifica-
tion, all were gone 1t was really the
man himself now, normally scared and
r1penfanf; the frightened, oSerfed pen
sioner on his wife's bounty, not the
human beast maddened by fear and
dissipation. half stunned, half panic
stricken, driven by sheer terror into a
role which even he shrank from had
shrunk from all these years. For,
beech and parasite that he was, Nor
timer, however much the dirty acqui.
sition Of money might tempt him in
theory, had not yet brought himself TO
the point Of attempting the practice,
even when in sorest straits and bitter
est need. He didn't want to do It.
He wished to get along without 1t,
partly because of native inertia and
an aversion to the mental nimbleness
that he would be required to show as
. lawbreaker. partly because the word
.sblackmail" stood for what he did not
dare suggest that he had come to. even
20 himself His distaste was genuine.
There Were certain things which he
didn't want to commit, and extortion
was one of them. He could at pinch
lie to his wife or try to scare her into
giving him money. He could when
necessary borrow" from such men
rs Plank. but he had never cheated at
cards. and he had never attempted to
hlackmail anybody except his wife
which. of course. was purely family
matter and concerned nobody else.
His policy Of alternately frightening.
&lragooning and supplicating lsaila had
carried him so far. and though it was
true that this was more serious stu
alton than he had ever yet faced he
was convinced that his wife would
pull him out somehow, and how that
was TO be accomplished he did not
very much care as long as he was pull
ed out safely.
ssWhat this household requires" he
said. lis economy" He spread bis
legs. denting the Aubusson carpet with
his boot heels. and glanced askance NJ
his wife. Economy" he repeated
furtively wetting his lips with q
heavily coated tongue, that's the true
solution, Economical administration
IN domestic matters. Retrenchment
Leila, retrenchment. Fewer folderols y
Leila's head was lowered. He could
not see her expression, but he had al
ways been confident Of his ability To
talk himself out of trouble. so he ram.
bled on in pretense OF camaraderie
currying favor, as he believed. ingra-
tiating himself with the coarse blunt
ness that served him among some
men. even among some women
wen fix it somehow" he said reas-
auringly. Don't you worry, Leila.
i've confidence in you. little girl.
You've got me out of sticky messes
before. Ell? Well we've weathered a
few. haven't we2''
Even the horrible parody on welded
loyalty left her silent. unmoved. dark
eyes brooding. and he began to grow
little restless and anxious as his
5ocularity increased without move
ment in either response or aversion
from his wife.
4You needn't be scared If I'm not, "
be said reproachfully. The house is
worth two hundred ana hfty thousand
md there's only fifty on it now. If
chat fat Dutch skinfiint, Plank. shows
bis tusks we can clap on another fifty. +"
And as she made no sound or move
ment ia reply: "As far as Plank goes.
haven't done enough for him 10
square It? What have we ever got