Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-10-24
NO.. conrrad,c,ed Blake. his glance

IHO OI
No. contrad,cted Blake. his glance
shifting as II by accident to Tom.
"Her-the-the price is too high"
"Too high?" snorted Neligan on
whom the undercurrent of Blake's re-
fusal was entirely lost. TITS the first
time we've ever economical"
Before Blake could reply the buzzer
sounded.
There's Standish, now" said Jim.
Let him in, Neligan. Take the lead
from me, all Of you. And don't dis.
grace me by acting like wild asses of
| the desert"
Neligan, in obedience to his chief,
had opened the outer door. Ssandish,
after quick and seemingly Indifferent
look that itemized the rooms occu
pants, walked forward. Neligan care
| fully closed the door behind him.
The men nodded stiffly, uncomfort-
ably, in response to the visitors slight
bow.
Good evening, gentlemen" said
Standish pleasantly This setting of
the stages seems to suggest Daniel in
the lions den. / hope none Of you
has made the error Of casting nae for
the role of Daniel"
| Neligan's lips flew apart with the
| force Of retort that leaped to them.
But the words were never formulated.
For Blake, beaming on the newcomer
like father upon his dearest loved
son, exclaimed affectionately:
why, how are you, my boy? How
are you? Take chair. Neligan, get
him a"
Thanks" declined Standish. Il can
talk better on my feet"
"Oh!" deprecated Blake, in pathetic
disappointment. you've come to talk?
| I was hoping you had come to-"
ITO lie DOWN." supplemented Stand
| ish
! Well" answered Blake oracularly,
''the man who lies down can get up
| again. But the man who is knocked
down, is apt to take the count"
THE question is this, Mr. Standish,"
broke in Mark, impatiently at his ia
| ther-in-law's slower method of reach
| ing the point. "Will you support US,
or will you not?''
Il will not" returned Standish.
"Or at least resign your leader
| ship?"
mo. I thought we had settled all
| that"
Then" asked Van Dyke. you are
prepared to take the consequences,
Mr.. Standish?'
IF there are cOnseQuences-yes."
"Oh, there'll be consequences, all
| right" Blake assured him. "Hell's full
Of consequences So you won't even
protect the Woman?"
You haven't found her yet"
"No?" smiled Blake. "Son, told
her. And we'll have her name In half
| an hour at most. Probably sooner. If
you think that's a bluff, you're vel
come to. But you've only half-hour
to keep on thinking it."
Look here, gentlemen" said Stan
dish, turning to the others. "All this
| does not interest me in the least.
came here tonight for just one rea-
son-to appeal to your sense Of Jus
tice'
A ripple of derision from his hearers
stirred his slow voice to slightly faster
measure.
you can't beat me-" he went on.
And you know it as well as / do. l
am secure. But, for the sake of others,
ask you not to make political capital
out of something in my private life"
Gregg's loose mouth parted in
grin. Neligan laughed aloud. But
Mark Robertson could see no humor in
the situation.
You're wrong, Standish," he de-
clared. This scandal will beat you"
Let US suppose, for arguments
sake, that 1t would" agreed Standish.
Cant / appeal to your honor? Won't
you fight fairly?"
Well publish the truth" retorted
Mark. eff that's unfair"
at Is unfair. II not to me-, then to
the Woman"
"It Is too late to go into that matter
now, Mr.. Standish. Your presence
here tonight Is, by itself, strong proof
against you; IL further proof were
needed"
Standish made a gesture OF weary
Impotence.
proof" he echoed. 81 don't deny
the story You wouldn't dare use 1t
If you couldn't prove It. But, gentle
men. there comes time-even In poll
tics-when we've got to be men first
and politicians afterward.'
Then" suggested Blake, "be man
Give up the fight"
mo-" replied Standish, 81 won't be
blackmailed The affair was over and
done with before asked the people to
accept me as their leader Long be-
fore. 1t has no bearing on my pres
ent fitness"
That's your misfortune" sneered
Mark. "The people have a right to