The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-03-14
The Beat Of
the Y ear
BY Robert Livingston Bcecher
corssiesr. ,ee., ~ THE PEARSON PUBLISHING GO.

l
ne looked me over again with those
devilish black eyes of his before he
said anything more Then he asl;ed
me Why said what I'll said and /
laughed. SO you're going over 10
/ jersey City to get married to her arc
| you? said l. Under what name?'
| said ~
The man in the chair laughed again
a hollow, hopeless laugh
hat fetched him. he went on.
That hit him hard. He took a step
back and then he came close M TO
me. Under what nance said he.
Why not under my own name Of
Greening? Why should be marries,
under any other?
| Well, said land ! wasn't anv
/ too polite about it. either, Well said
| !, you'll be married under anothet
| name when you marry some Fiftl.
| Avenue lady
Then he saw knew who he reall5-
was and he snapped his teeth together
and he looked like the devil he is-iile
he nds. | mean: he's down with tbs
other devils now. Well he glared 8.
me with those eyes of his. and then
he laughed and sat down on HIS dess
| and began to talk TO me as If we'd been
good friends all our lives.
Wen. suppose my right names
not Greening, after all. Is there am
reason why | cannot marry Helen to-
night? The way he spoke her mama
made me hot and then cold and I had
all | could do to keep my hands OF
him; but stuck close to the door. AMI
when he said his question over again
answered him,
Is there any reason7 I said
Well. that depends. If you're going
TO marry her under your right name
your right name, mind you'll supuoss
l can't object. But you're rot soing
to marry her under your right name,
are you. and she doesn't know your
right name. does she?'
He didn't know what to saw 10
that. at frst-T could see that pain
enoush-bGt after bit he looked I'D
at me again.
IL told you said he. that I am
going to marry her under nay r;al,t
aame, don't suppose you'd believe
ne, would you?
No, said l, wouldn't. Nobody
would after they'd been through what
I've been. And before We forget IT,
let me ask you one question asa
she doesn't know who you are. does
she?"
- No. said he. she doesn't. But
Oh. that's all right, said I You
don't need 10 explain. understand
everything, | guess. may really hara
TO work in factory. but I'm no fool
Well. he stopped talking then AMI
Just sat there thinking what he'd 10
ae1t. When he had made up his mind.
he looked at me again with oueer
smile on him and asked me how much
money I'd take to keep my mouth
shut
THAT made me so hot ] just stood
there shaking. I shook so be noticed
u ana asked me what was the matter
Matter? said I. natter? I'm
wondering how can help laying M
hands on you
AT thar he broke ont laughing
Don't take it so much 10 heart. man
said he. What difference does ii
make to you what name | MARI her
under, so long as its a real MARRIAGE
III give you a hundred dollars noa.
in cash-to leave rhis room ami 20
home peaceahly and keep quiet about
his
No. yelled at him
Hush, said he, putting his fin.
gers on his lips The whole street
will hear you. III make it two hun
dred'
No ! yelled
FIVE hundred then, said he.
Save Your breath said L
Well. thousand. said he. bit
roughly.
No said I.
:" Name your figure Hhen,' said he.
I've got none, said I. None az
hat kind You can't buy me off.
You've got fine idea Of me, haven't
you? You must think I'm some blood
relative OF yours .
That made him hot and he snapped
lis teeth again
Cut it out said he. What do
YOU want and be Quick about IT.?
What do wanr2 said 7. ! wa1t
to save the best woman in the world
She doesn't know YOU know you.
NO honest man marries a girl under a
false name. in the first place. And.
in the second place'-and looked him
square in the eyes. If there's going
10 be sI7 marriage l want TO be there
TO zee that cverything's all square
= What's that? he yelled. jumpin..
down Oft the desk and coming up so
close to ne could feel his breath.
What had said made hin, mad. car
tell YOU. The room wasn't lighted In
side--there vas an electric light shin
Ing in the street outside-but he stool
so close to me could see his face well
enough. could hear him breathing.
too. and he was breathing hard. Ana
when he did speak up. his voice was SO
different scarcely knew 1t was he
standing there talking TO me.
So you think me capable Of that
said he. Well. suppose consent 10
have yon come with me VIII you
come along and MOI make any disturb.
ance when you get there?
Well, | thought that over BIT
Keeping my eyes on him all the time.
for ] suspected he might jump at me
and, after bit. saw the whole
deyiltry Of ii. knew he was plan
ming 70 trick me. but couldn't quite
see al first what he was aiming at.
he was devil all right. Oh. that's
u, Is Il? said 1 You want to start
over there With me and then, on the
way. give me the slip Then what
could ! do? You'd 90 on over to that
notel and wouldn't know which one
you'd gone to. You're a great hand