The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-01-11

y had thought, OF course, that there
would be money, and it was a bad day
when I found out I'd made a mistake
Ny sister was wild with disappoint-
ment. We were pretty hard up, my
sister and T.
! was watching Alison. Her hands
were tightly clasped in her lap, and
the cheerless roof below. She had
set her lips little, but that was all.
You understand, of course, that I'm
not defending myself" went on the
sullen voice. The day came when
old Harrington put Us both out of the
house at the point of 4 revolver, and
l threatened-I suppose you know
that, tool threatened to kill him.
My sister and l had hard times
after that. We lived on the contin-
ent for while. | was at Monte Car
10 and she was in Italy. She met a
young lady there, the granddaughter
| of a steel manufacturer and an heir
eSs, ard she sent for me. When | got
to Rome the girl was gone. Last win
ter l was all in-Social secretary to
an Erg;iShman, wholesale grocer
with a new title, but We had row,
and l came home. l went out to the
Heaton boys ranch in Wyoming, and
| met Bronson there He lent me mon
ey. and I've been doing his dirty work
! ever since"
+, Sullivan got up then and walked
| slowly forward and back as he talked
his eyes on the faded pattern OF the
office rug.
| IF you want to live in he'll" he
said savaGely, put yourself in anoth-
| er mans power. Bronson got into
trouble, forging John Gilmore's name
| to those notes, and in some way he
learned that man was bringing the
papers back to Washington on the
Fiier. He even learned the number OF
his berth, and the night before the
wreck, just as | was boarding the
train. | got telegram.
Hotchkiss stepped forward once
more Importantly.
Which read, / think: Man with
papers in lower ten, car seven. Get
them.
Sullivan looked at the little man
with sUlky blue eyes.
1t was something like that. any
how. But it was a nasty business
and it made matters worse that he
didn't care that 4 telegram which
I hnl - lDr iS
was more or less discriminating TO me
Then. to add to the unp,easantneSs
Of my position, just after We boarded
the train l was accompanying my
sister and this young lady, Hiss Yves,
"a woman touched me On the sleeve
and turned to face-my wife!
That took away my last bit o.
nerve. told my sister, and you can
understand she was in a bad way, too
We knew what it meant. Ida had
heard that was going"
He stopped and glanced uneas;ly a.
Alison
Go on" she said coldly. 1t is toe
late 10 shield ne. The time to have
done that was when was you,
guest"
Well" he went on, his eyes turned
carefully away from my face, which
must have presented certainly any
thing but pleasant sight. Miss
West was going to DO me the honor &c
marry me, and"
You scoupGrel." l burst forth
th-usting past Alison Vests chair
"You-you Internal curl"
One OF the detectives got up anG
stood between Us.
You must remember, NJ. Blakeley
that you are forcing this story from
this man. These details are Unpieas
ant. but important. You were going
10 marry this young lady," he said
tuning 10 Sullivan, although you al
ready had wife living?"
1t was my sisters plan, and wa:
in = bad way for money. Ii I coult
marry, secretly, a wealthy girl and g
i to Europe, it was unlikely that Ida
. that is, Mrs. Sulliyan-would hea
OF it.
, $50 it was more than a shock to Sc,
. my wife on the train, and to realiz,
from her face that she knew what wa
iSoinS on I don't know yet. unles