Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-02-11
Copyright. 1898. by c. W. Dillingham; Co.
CHAPTER XIV.

meanor His voice became harSh ana |
cruel as his natural brutality asserted |
itself.
"a man like me, eh?" he rasped.
That's pretty hard language Mrs.
Brooks"
please forgive me and let me talk"
IF you didn't come here to see me
sort of socially, what did you come
for?"
about Joe-my husband"
What about him."
81 asked you the amount of the def
alcation.'
..You said it was your business.
/ Well, it's more than $4,000"
| Emma was astounded, and her heart
sank She had not imagined that it
could be SO large sum.
rs that the TRUTH" she asked.
i 81 amt never been noted for lying"
4 captain Williams, I've come here to
plead with you to save Joe and me
and my family from disgrace-to keep
! him out of Jail. You knew my father.
i You were in business with him. You
i always liked him and knew he was an
+ honest man."
HE was square in his business deal
ings with me, Mrs. Brooks, but that's
1 not less than every man has got to be
who deals with me-"
II know that" she said, her manner
becoming supplicating; Il know that,
II but you must have some respect for
his memory. you must have had some
affection for him at the time-every
body had-and some pity for me in
this trouble. thought all these things
might soften you. might open way
to some arrangement that would save
us from the exposure that seems now
bound to come tomorrow morning.
Isn't there some way out of it?"
But he was all business now. He
had satisfied himself that he had vast
ed his time with her.
Have you got the money!" he snap
ped.
NO.
Then what's your propositions"
Il have none." she confessed hope
. lessly hanging her head
.Humph!' he grunted, settling him
self in his chair.
II thought thought you might be
little more charitable and suggest
some way" she murmured.
Your husband sent you here, didn't
he?"
Yes
What did he say to your"
Told me l might have some influ-
ence with you"
Put the blame on you for stealing
the money, didn't hep
How did you know that?"
She raised her head and looked at
him in surprise.
II know the man. Didn't hep
"Yes."
Told you. didn't he, that you could
fix it up with me to call everything
eff?'
Eyes. that's what he said,'' she ad
, mitted wonderingly.
: "And l suppose he said that if you
didn't come you'd have to take the
blame for him going to the peniten-
! tiary?'
"It-it was something like that"
!. Didn't happen to mention, did he,
that he thought l liked you pretty
well?"
/ Yves" she stammered. now utterly
bewildered I'll think that was part
of what he said
Didn't forget that. eh? Well.' he
continued. looking once more straight
\ into her eyes and putting the issue
squarely to her. ''Fm 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:
rs there any honorable way in
which can help him?"
What do you mean by honorableY
= Emma lost all patience. Her nerves,
that had been under such severe
strain, were getting beyond control
She rose. flushing angrily.
you knew what | mean by honor
J able! You know what any good won.
;, 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
: 1T quickly. am going home"
J Now you're talking. my lass" he
\ \ j
, talk right back to you. If took youl
: opinion Of me and that of your thiev'
, ing husband wouldn't have to talk
\ I'd tell you in plain words that If you
\ wanted to go to San Francisco will
me I'd take a chance on the overeat
y ing and wouldn't put you on a die
4 like ] put the rest. What would yor
\ do then? What If I did make the prop
: osition that's in your mind ard was
n in the mind of that sneaking husband
= Of yours when he tried to put You OF
the bargain counter and send you ovel
y to me to see If I'd put the price up t.
sixteen thousand? What If looked
you over and was pleased and though
\ you cheap at that figure? You say I've
y killed men. Yes. have wrung thei
\ heads off with this hand like you'(
q sling chicken in the air. You came
Y here for n purpose. You amt no child
= What If | am the beast and the brut,
y you say | am? Whatll, you do then
said you was the first lady to come
- in here. Maybe made Il mistake
Y but If did I'll find it out before 20
leave this room, you understand? Nv
Y talked; now you talk"
: Her reply came with witherin
= scorn:
y NOW know that you're everythin
, people say you are"
\ "All right" he said, making ste
y