Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-06-03
some minutes. Finally he arose and

| --udllu YOU! uG Sdlu, anu WSut Jul,
slamming the door after him.
Pulkerson pulled a yellow telegraph
| blank from his pocket and inscribed
| thereon several words in cipher code.
| Translated, literally, from Pulkerson's
| thoughts at this moment. these would
have read: aaask'u2 lie nailed to the
Hoas''
The last named gentleman, as this
message was speeding over the wire,
entered cosy parlor in the suburbs
of the capital 1t was dangerous, he
knew, to mix sentiment with politics.
But, on the brink of his first diverg
ence from that stern and robust recti-
tude which, with him, was a distaste
for evil, rather than a victory over
temptation, he felt imbued with a sud
den subjective recklessness that knew
no law.
In the soft light of woman's eyes,
he forgot, temporarily, the vicissitudes
Of a career" 1t seemed very far
away-the other life-as he held both
her hands for a moment and then
sank, in comfortable WEAKNESS, into
an easy chair at her side.
Margaret Faslage had been some
thing vaguely between friend and
sweetheart to James Haskins for
many years. Once, in the Long Ago
it seemed long ago, because he had
lived rapidly since then-he had want
ed her solely in the latter capacity
Failing in this, he had grown almost
used to accepting her in the former,
but, though he did not realize it him
SELF he had never ceased to hope.
There was an atmosphere of sane
tfty in the little room, into which
thoughts Of the political and moral
maelstrom from which he had fed for
a momentary respite, could not enter
Margarets eyes were troubled as
she looked at him. Hers was that
rarer intuition which blends sympathy
with understanding and merges both
in practical helpfulness. Beyond the
commonplaces of greeting neither had
spoken.
"Is your campaign going wrong,
JIM" she questioned, presently.
Aren't you going to VIM"
Manlike, he misconstrued. Was he
going to win? She wanted him to,
and she was disappointed by the pres
age of defeat which must, somehow,
have come into his face. The features
| of Pulkerson looked before him. 1t
recalled the opening scene of Faust"
Marguerite and Margaret Almost
Identical names! That seemed odd.
But he wasn't going to win her. If
that were the stake, there would be
no hesitation, he decided However,
he would hesitate no longer.
Yes he said, slowly and with in
creaslng emphasis on each succeeding
word. m-going-to-win."
Margaret regarded him curiously.
You say that. as though you were
sorry" she smiled
Haskins turned away. "You don't
understand these things, little WON
an he replied. when one gets any
thlng-one pays"
she arose and, leaning over the
back of his chair, placed her hands
lightly upon his bowed shoulders.
Jim, She cried anxiously. unbe-
nevlngly. "Jim-you don't mean that
that"
I've sold MYSELF" he finished
harshly. "No-not yet"
You mustn't" she cried out, start
Ing backward. ooh, jim! You would
not do that!'
Inc feproach in her tone stung him
he arose and stood before her do
faint
It's hard to give up everything" he
SAID with bitter meaning. "Very hard
You don't know. You're a woman"
Margarets eyes blazed with quick
scorn. If you do this thing" she
said with deliberate distinctness, 81
shall never speak to you again.
Hasklns teeth met with a snap He
knew 1t was not an idle threat, and.
also, he knew what this would mean
to him. But he was not used to ha-
Ing dictated to, and this night he had
been the shuttlecock of conflicting
purposes. The woman's ultimatum
acted like goad
very WE'LL" he answered, coldly
Its part of the price, I suppose.
Goodnight"
IN another moment he would have
gone. But suddenly, the spark Of an.
ger died from Margaret's eyes and
something else replaced it. With an
impulsive movement she hurried aft.
er him and flung both arms about his
neck
"Jim!" she cried, in a last appeal
DO you want to break my heart? Do
you? Do you? jim won't you let it
go-and be satisfied with me?"
With you?" he repeated wonder.
ingly, a strange light in his ewes
With you? Why-you-said-
She hid her face on his shou1der
= said that I didn't love you-once .,
she sobbed out. Butt. can't let Won
90 this thing. You won't, Jim? VIII
you? Promise me you won't"
With quick, hungry force Haskins,
arms EMBODIED her. All life seemed
present and new to him. There was
no past, no complication. now
| NOTHING hit q Sapco 80 l,oo..4.c,