The Wrangell sentinel., 1910-01-27
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| ullle uOIe CudIIldDle anu SuSSeSl some way" she murmured.
 Your husband sent you here, didn't he?"
 "Yes."
 "What did he say to you"
 Told me I might have some infiu- ence with you" f Put the blame on you for stealing the money, didn't he?
 How did you know that?"
 She raised her head and looked at him in surprise.
 'I know the man. Didn't he?"
 "Yes."
 "Told you. didn't he, that you could fix it up with me to call everything off"
 r "Yes, that's what he said" she ad> mitted wonderingly. And I suppose he said that if you didn't come you'd have to take the blame for him going to the peniten- tiary?"
 Tit was something like that
 "Didn't happen to mention. did he, that he thought I liked you pretty well:'
 "Y-yes," she stammered, now utterly bewildered. 1T think that was part of what he said.''
 Didn't forget that, eh? We'll" he continued, looking once more straight into her eyes and putting the issue squarely to her, I'm here and you're here. That part seems all right. What have you got to say"
 She sustained his gaze bravely and answered, though with no hope in her heart:
 ''Is there any honorable way in which I can help him?"
 what do you mean by 'honorable?"
 Emma lost all patience. Her nerves, that had been under such severe strain, were getting beyond control. She rose, flushing angrily.
 You know what I mean by 'hopor- able. You know what any good wom- an means when she says honorable! You're beating about the bush, Cap tain Williams. If you want to come to the point, come to it and come to it quickly. l am going home.'
 NOW you're talking, my lass" he said grimly, getting up also, and I'll talk right back to you. If took your opinion of me and that of your thiey- ing husband I wouldn't have to talk. I'd tell you in plain words that if you wanted to 90 to San Francisco With me I'd take q chance on the overeat- iYg and wouldn't put you on a diet like I put the rest. What would you 10 then? What if did make the prop- osition that's in your mind and was in the mind of that sneaking husband of yours when ha tried to put you on the bargain counter and send you over to me to see if I'd put the price up to sixteen thousand? What if I looked you over and was pleased and thought you cheap at that figure: You say I'ye killed men. Yes. I have-wrung their heads off with this hand like you'd Glin. a chicken in the air You came here for a purpose. YoH ain't no child. What if I am thc beast and the brute you say I am? Whatll you do then? I said you was tie first lady to come in here. Maybe made a mistake. but if I did I'll fnd it out before you leave this room, you understand: I've talked; now you talk
 Her reply came with withering scorn:
 "Now I know that you're everything people say you are.'
 All right he said, making a step toward her. If I am what everybody says 1 am-what you think I am-you know what to expect, and don't need to talk"
 The peril of her situation reused her to desperation, and with it came the courage desperation sometimes im- parts. the courage that impels a de- fenseless animal hunted into d corner from which there is no escape to turn and fight for it's life,
 You think I'm afraid of your' sh. cried. throwing up her head and clinching the hands at her sides. ''I tell you I'm not. We've been too long at cross purposes. What you want me to do l know; what my husband sent me for I know. You can be the beast and the brute that you are; he can be the contemptible cur that he is. He can offer me for sale, and you can stand ready to buy me. But I've got something to say about 1t. and I de- sire you to know that if I wanted to place myself on the market as you ray. l couldn't. You disgust me, but l shan't shirk, and I am not afraid nf nf af