Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-03-08

had to be dOne-0On0 dr Once-and
there was no other way out of It than
by getting her to see WilliamE In the
morning It would have beepstoo late.
She's making a mountain but Of .
molehill, and shouldn't wonder II
you've been helping hersssstith your
straitlaced ways" L III.
Thanks. didn't bring that SUBJ
ject up at all-never opened my mouth
about IT.
'You must have rubbed her temper
up the wrong way, then. ought to
have seen her myself. ! might have
known you'd bungle the whole bust
ness"
sJoe. l did the very best for you
could, the best / knew how. can
Imagine how you feel about 1t, and
I'm sorry for you. real sorry for
you"
Brooks made savage dive for the
matchbox and relit his cigar that had
gone out.
Look here, Jimsy.. he said. n
don't want your pity nor anybody
else's. ] ought to have seen her my
self. and then everything would have
been o. X. / could have fixed 1t up
with her In two minutes. will see
her at once. Give, me the address,
ut would be useless and would only
make matters worse. II can't"
You mean you won't?"
even, / won't. II you wish me to put
It that way
.sYOu have no right to stand between
Z man and his Wife"
s'No, Joe. and God Is my witness that
I would not Willingly do such thing
for all earth has to OFFER" 81
Brooks rose excitedly. an ugly scowl
on. his face.
There 10 some other motive for
this" he said, "and III tell you what
It is. You don't want ms to come to-
gether again. It amt to your interest.
You're standing in with that mother
Of hers" Isl
'.You know that Is not true re-
turned Smith earnestly. 81 have done
all could for y0u. ss
Eyes. you have!'. sneered Brooks.
"Wfhy don't you want ms to make upl
Do you think don't know? Do you
think haven't seen that you've been
jealous Of me ever since Emma turned
You down? Do you"
"Joer'
Smith also rose and faced him, very
white, all the kindness gone from
his visage.
do you think don't know why
you've been shopping around her
skirts. installing yourself as one Of
the family in my home? I'm not blind
when. 1t doesn't suit me to be. and
I've had enough Of being fooled and
walked all over by everybody who
wanted to wipe their feet on me-"
"Joe, my boy. you don't know what
you're saying. and you'll be. sorry
when you cool down."
Sorry nothing" Brooks shouted, be.
side himself with fury. "You make
me sick with your slow talk and oily
ways! What do you think l am
You'll give me that address this min
ute or by heck I'll hack 1t out Of your
carcass!'
Brooks picked up a jackknife which
at the time Of his arrival Smith had
been using to cut the leaves Of q
book and rushed at him.
Jimsy's big hands descended on both
his nssailant's wrists. Brooks was
strong. but he. strained in vain in the
grasp Of iron. His right arm slowly
weakened and twisted gradually until
the fingers opened and with groan Of
pain he dropped the blade. Smith CON
tinued to twist until he had wrung I'LL
the fight out OF him and he had him
limp and helpless. Then he let him
so md picked mp the knife.
better leave weapons ont Of
your arguments. Brooks. or you'll sure
be hurting somebody one Of these
days" he recommended. .'It's, danger.
GUS dangerous to yourself as well.'s
Brooks, sullen and painting. dropped
into chair, tears Of humiliation and
baa1sd rage lowering tremulously in
his eyes.
ut was your fault-you drove me to
], !" he declared.
ITS mighty bad thing, AZ q gen.
;eral rule. u let your III humor gel
away with your nerves" chided Smith
You have acted tonight like . petu.
liant kid, instead Of like q man I've
tried to help. You've put yourself out
Of court, and I'm through trying to dc
anything for you"
"And I'm through asking You to dc
anything for me-" Brooks retorted
jumping up and clapping his hat on