The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-10-15


"We?"
Eyes, wew he repeated. but his face
had grown CHASTITY and his uncertain
eyes We're 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 1t and her heart quickened,
but she spoke disdainful'y: 'Well.
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 a shame--a shame!
Leroy, look at me! You promised me,
i on your honor, never to do that again.
Have you lied, after all the times !
have helped you out, stripped myself,
denied myself, put off tradesmen,
faced down creditors? After all l
have done, do you dare come here and
ask for more-ask for what have not
got-with not one bill settled. not one
servant paid since December
Leila, 1--we got-to tell you
"What?" she demanded, appalled, by
the change In his face. II he was
OVERRIDING 1t, he was OVERRIDING it real
istically enough.
live used Plank's check" he
mumbled and moistened his lips with
his tongue.
She stared back at him, striving t
comprehend. "Plank'sv' she repeated
slowly. "Plank's check? What check?
What do you mean?'
1.-THE one he gave you last night to
pay his bridge losses and forgot to fill
In"
How could you. 1t was not filed H."
Il filed It,"
Her dawning horror was reacting
on him. as 1t always did, like fierce
tonic, and his own courage came back
In sort of sullen desperation.
'You-you are trying to brighten 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 l had not Endorsed it?'
Il Endorsed 1t. Do you understand
that?" he said savagely.
mo, l don't. Because If you did
It's forgery
Il don't give - what you think
1t ISL he broke In fiercely 'All I'm
worried over is what Plank will think
didn't mean to do it. l didn't dream
Of doing 1t. When 1 saw that check
In my hands l thought I'd use 1T tenn
porarily-merely as moral collateral to
fash at Notwithstanding to back
my 0 US. So l filed it in."
"For how much?' she asked, not dar
:. ing to believe him, but he ignored the
question and went on II filed it an6
Endorsed 1t and
|, "How could you indorse it?" she In
terrupted coolly, now unconvincet
!. again and suspicious.
"I'll tell you If you'll stop that foo
tongue moment. The check was
. made to L. Mortimer wasn't 1t? 81
, l wrote L. Mortimer on the back
Now do you know? If you are L. Nor
. timer, SO am l. Leila begins with L
SO does Leroy, doesn't it? l didn't i'm
itate your o-words-to-a-page auto
graph. l put my own fist to a checl
:, made out to one L. Mortimer, and
: don't care what you think about 1t a
long as Plank can stand 1t. Now pu
p up your nose and howl, If you like"
6 But under her sudden pallor he wa
q taking fright again, and he began t.
;. bolster up his courage with bluste
G and noise as usual.
= Howl all you like he jeered. II
o won't alter matters or square &C
: counts with Plank. What are 20,
staring at? Do you suppose I'm no
a sorry? Do you fancy l don't know
what fool I've been? What are yo'
4 turning white for? What
Il "How much have you She chok
! ed, then, resolutely, "How much hav
you-taken?"
''Taken!" he broke out with an OATH
,s what do you mean? I've borrowe
about $4,000. Now yelp! Eli? What
10 No yelps? Probably some weeps Their
' Turn 'em on and run dry. I'll wait.
And he managed to cross one bulk
8 leg over the other and lean back, al
fecting resignation, while Leila, bo
,, upright In her low chair, every curve
3 outline rigid under the flowing silke
:. wrap. stared at him as though stur
!. ned.
p well, we're good for it, aren't we?
10 he said threateningly. eff he's goin
a. to turn ugly about 1t, here's til
% house?"
n "My-house?"