The Wrangell sentinel., 1909-12-30

conflicting emotions. Her hap piness of the past few months, then, had been built upon the precarious foundation of peculation. Oh. the hor TOT! Oh, the shame of it. On the very morrow the name she bore would be held up to disgrace and derision. He would be cast into prison. The misery of their struggles with poverty was as nothing compared with that of their sudden downfall
 Numbed though her heart was with the shock, shrunk by the terror of their ghastly position, it was yet not impervious to pity, and the hopeless Wretchedness of her husband inspired it. She thought of how he had lavish ed his stealings upon her. how be ap- peared to be moved by the one desire to make her comfortable and happy.
 She went to him and put her hand on his head. smoothing his hair.
 'Oh. Joe! Oh, my boy!' she said brokenly. How could you do it?" Didn't you know sooner or later you'd be found out? Now know why you've been interested in the races-you'ye been betting on the horses"
 Fl wanted to get the noney bdck," he sobbed.
 But didn't you know you couldn't? Oh, why didn't you leave things as they were-the fiat, the struggle and all that? Why did you bring me here and show ne all this-this happiness with money that you stole?"
 His sobbing ceased, and he pushed her away and rose.
 That's right. You call me a thief If there was one person in the world thought l could turn to it's you, and you turn on me"
 Joe. you mustn't say that. haven't turned on you. Only I can't help but l think'-
 What? That man Williams drove me to taking money"
 "Drove your'
 "Yes. he did. He went away so could take it. expected you to stand by me Do you know the hole I'm in? There are three central office men downstairs watching. If l make a move I'll be nabbed. It's all very well for you to stop and preach-you always were so d-d saintly-but what of l me? That's the question-what of me?'
 He thumped his breast violently.
 She drew back, hurt by his re- breaches.
 "If I thought you were 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 I want now is somebody to help me out. don't want to go to iaii. T. would Kill me-
 Do you think want yeu to go. to jail? Do you think I want the dis grace"-
 "[The disgrace-that's it! knew that would come sooner or later. but didn't think it would come from you. There's always somebody 10 hammer that into a fellow when he's down." 'f'm not trying to hammer anything l into you. What I want to know is what can be done, what are We going l to do?''
 i "l don't know-unless"-
 Unless we can get the money to pay back. There's Jimsy."
 That 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 way-if ] could only help"'
 She wrung her hands ard sank hope lessly intoa chair by the table.
 Brooks paced the room resties5ly, like wild animal in a cage. Now and l then he-shat peculiar, furtive glance l in the direction of his wife. Finally he. sat opposite to her. leaned toward her on the table and said in lev. h. l tense voice:
 If snythina is to.be done ifs got to l be done tonight, Emma. Williams is the only man. You can square | with l him.
 "l can?'
 "Yes, and no one but you" "Wbat can l do?'. i He looked at her ineaniugly.
 He likes rou." l Startled, she returned his gaze in- quirihgly.
 .Yes.. he does" he went on. He al- ways did. Women are-his weak point. He's liked you for yeass. That's why he hangs around. I've seen it and heard what he said. tonight about what he'd Go fer girl.like you. He raa lt