The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-05-30


had placed instinctively between
them.
What do you want?'' she gasped.
. "Why have you come? Haven't YOU
wronged me enough?" she continued.
cIenehing and unclenching her asts in
in1pOtent anger. Come TO the Dolnr
--wnaJ 20 you want, JI1, =
The man grinned again and sat
down. well, I must say you amt
over cordial, Jane he mumbled. 81
heard you were here quite by chance
from mining fellow IN the state
penitentiary, who was my cell mate.
"Ho!' thinks I she used to be nv
wife. And is, too, for, the matter of
that, since the knot was never united
Say, Jane" he interposed, what
would your man say if he found out
that you wasn't his at alp"
He'd kill US both" she gasped,
thinking of her husbands faith in her.
That he should ever learn of this was
impossible. It must be made impes-
sible for the sake of their baby.
"Well, Jane, I don't want to hurt
your feelin's," the tramp grumbled
filing his pipe with a fouI-smeIIing
weed which, when lit, diffused a rank
aroma through the tiny house. Il
amt saying as I treated you alto
gether on the level during the six
months you and me lived together.
Say, why didn't you get a divorce?''
he went curiously.
Il couldn't; you know that. I found
help in the church when you i'll
treated me and left me-"
'Ho! Then you're SHINING against
the church as well as against me-"
he said tauntingly.
I'm not SHINING in the eyes Of
Cod" the woman cried desperately.
I've been a good woman to Ed, and
he believes in me. I'm glad l found
him-yes, even if 1 did deceive him
and made him think you were dead.
And now you've come back. What
Go you want? Have you just come
here to gloat over me? Better not
let Ed find you" she said defantly.
Well, I'll come to the point. Jane"
the man grumbIed, somewhat abashed
by he" outbUrst. 90 want money
want it bad I'm going west on g
freight train tomorrow and as this
was on my way l thought I'd look in
on you. How much have you got put
away? Come, no lies now | know
you folks don't trust no banks here
since the Consolidated bust"
Il haven't a penny cried the wo-
man desperately.
ooh, come, Jane" said the man
reprovingly. you was always a good
hand to save. Wish I'd stuck to you
he added viciously 81 don't know as
won't take you back yet. But come,
now, make it hundred and l won't
never trouble you again"
"a hundred? You're dreaming!"
Fifty then Fifty down and fifty
to be sent to the postof1ce at Denver
when I get there. Come, now, amt
your home worth it, Jane?"
Il haven't a penny in the house,
jim" she said trying to assuage him.
Maybe I can lot YOU nave twenty
Eve tomorrow by hoImng up the fur
niture man. You see," she faltered,
ED won't be home with his weeks
pay till morning"
We'll, if that's all you can let me
have I'll have to take it, mumbled
the man. But I'll take the rest, or
I'll hound you down, mark my words.
tomorrow and seventy-fiVe
inside Of three months at Denver. Is
it bargain, Jane?"
Yes" she said helpless1y.
"WhereH I meet you? I don't want
to show myself in town. That fellow
Jones I told you of, my cell mate
he's back here
do you know the maple trees near
the first saloon?" she asked well
there. At nine o'clock tomorrow
night"
The man shook out the burning
ashes of his pipe. In the next room
the child, awakened by the evil stencil
Of the tobacco, awoke and cried
feebly. Instantly the man was alert
Whats this, Jane?" he asked,
smile playing maliciously about his
mouth. kid? Yours?"
yes, mine. Mine and Eds" she
cried, springing to her feet. She made
her way into adjoining room, took the
babe in her arms, and began rocking
it. The man followed and stood look
ing at her, still grinning.
"Ho, Jane, you didn't tell me about
the kid" he said, as if she had done
some injury by concealing the fact
Of it's presence.
mo. Why should I tell your" she
asked, putting the sleeping child back
into it's cradle. why should 1 let
you share any. part of my life?''
The other leered at her. because,
my dear Jane,' he said, "Tve got
double hold on you now-that's why
So long as there was only your man
well, he mightn't have cared But
with the kid it's different. I guess
it'll be worth more than hundred to
you now, won't it, Jane?"
He had drawn near to the sleeping
infant and now stood over it. Clun-
silly he put forth one grimy hand and
stroked the little arm that lay out
side the coverlet. The woman sprang
at him like tigress.
Don't you dare to touch him." she
cried. "DoIet you lay a finger on him
or I'll kill you!"
The man SUNK DacK. All rIgnL,
have it your own way, my DEAR" he
said quietly. But now it's going to
cost you just twice as much-see?