Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-10-14

There are three central odice men
downstairs watching II I make
move I'll be nabbed It's all very well
for you to stop and preach-you always
were so id saintly-but what of
me? That's the question-what OF
me?"
He thumped his breast violently
She drew back. hurt By his re-
proaches.
IF ! thought you we're yourself I'd
never forgive You for saying that to
me" she declared
I'm not asking your forgiveness.
nor your mothers. nor your sisters
What ! want now is somebody to help
me out. don't want to go to jail. 1t
would kill me"
do you think ! want you to go to
jail? DO you think want the dis
grace
The disgrace-thats it! knew
that would come sooner or later. but
didn't think # would come from you
There's always somebody to hammer
that into a fellow when he's down"
I'm not trying 70 hammer anything
into you. What want to know is
what can be done. what are we going
to doy'
u don't know-unless"-
"Unless we can get the money to
pay back There's Jimsy"
''rhat won't do. It's TOO much He
hasn't got it, Besides. It's too late
Williams means business. He wouldn't
take the money He's not that kind"
"Oh. if ! only knew a way-if
could only helpm
She wrung rer hands and sank hope
lessly into a chair by the table.
Brooks paced the room restlessly
like a wild animal In a cage Now and
then he shot a peculiar. furtive glance
in the direction Of his wife Finally
he sat opposite TO her. leaned toward
her on the table and said in a low, in
tense voice;
IF anything is to be done it's got to
be done tonight, Emma. Williams is
the only man. You can square it with
him"
q CAM"
eyes, and no one but you"
what can do?"
He looked at her meaningly.
"He likes you"
Startled. she returned bis gaze in
quiringly
Yes, he does" he went on. HE al
ways did. Women are his weak point
He's liked you for years That's why
he hangs around I've seen it and
heard what he said tonight about what
he'd do for a girl like you. He meant
that, Emma. He'll do anything you
ask him if-if you go to him right"
Beginning to understand what he
wanted Of her, she rose slowly, in
credulOus horror IN her eyes. He rose
also and went toward her.
Hes home now" he urged eagerly.
"You can go. No one will know but
just Williams. you and me. And you
can do more than that-you can make
him give us money. more money. to
keep on living like this, and there won't
be any risk"
She recolled from him. consumed with
rage and shame, her eyes blazing.
Il hope | don't understand arightw
The words came in qulvering gasps.
you mean me to so to his apartment
tonight to see him-and-and"-
mo one will know the difference"
he coaxed softly. "You can handle
him all right. Besides. you know how
far you can let man goal women
know that"
''0h. l can't believe I'm listening to
you'll A husband to ask a wife,
She stopped. pressing her cheeks
between her clinched hands. appalled,
at his infamy.
Then you won't do itY he cried
angrily. You won't come to the front3
suppose you don't think / ought to
ask Why shouldn't II Who did /
steal the money for? l did 1t because
you made mel"
That's a llel"
"YOu know It's the truth. When
married you your father was to help
me. and he died. and then you had to
do your own work. and you whined
and complained"
That's another liew
"Oh you never said so in so many
words. but | saw it-for four years
around the house saw you signing
and moping because you didn't have
enough to live on. Then there were
that mother Of yours and your sister
they never stopped. You tried to make
yourself martyr. Every moment Of
your life was mute protest against
our poverty-yes. It was, and you know
It DO you remember that night when
you said you couldn't so &c the theater
because you didn't have clothes9 That
was the first time took money. That's
when ! began"
"You knew l wouldn't have gone If
1 had known"
"But you did go--you kept on go
ing, and / kept on stealing for you.