Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-08-28
CHAPTER XII,
~E-lurleY's Visit.
INrI.rI,


"a flEh he ha.! cone Kreisler
SR laughed to himself and slowly
R1A rocked the little yutta pprcha
tray he held on the table be-
iore him. Ms. Martin. who had lain
on the lounge. watched him for Il time
in silence and at last arose with a deep
sigh. hIej>ier heard. The "cradling''
stopped Instantly. and he looked up,
with a complete %softening of his entire
countenance.
MY dear heart. you are very tired"
he said tenderly. The woman walked
slowly over and stood beside him, look
ing down with love and dread in her
eyes. He slipped one arm around her
and rocked the tray with the other.
"%Friedrich." she said suddenly. 81
want to give it all up. Let's gor"
He raised his head. where is your
courage, my dear?" he said in gentle
reproach. Where is your %courage?"
II don't know, Friedrich. I'm terri
bly, afraid. Pm panic stricken. There's
been too much-too much-Argyle's
DEATH
Ssh" he interrupted sterniy.
But the woman's terrors were upper
most. And that morning with the de-
tectives!' she went on, with a shudder.
"Ah. shouldn't have gone there"
THAT was Hurley" growled Kreis-
Ter, with a frown. THAT was his rash
advice"
NO." said Mrs. Martin after a little
pause: II risked it myself-for the
money. Honest money! l wanted to
be able to say to you: Here, now we
have enough. Let us cut loose from
this life-all these people, Friedrich, l
want to be safe"
He took her hand and patted it softly.
"They are foolish little fears" he said
gently. ''Think how we are already
safe. And think Of all the years thai
! have spent to make us safe. Look
at it" He lifted a hundred dollar gold
certificate from the table. 1T is per-
feet. l could pass that to the experts
at the treasury. 1t will be the first
time in the history of the world and"-
he struck his chest, and his eyes flashed
-"and it is I who shall do it! In a few
weeks the whole country will be flood
ed with them-Chicago, Denver, San
Francisco, New Orleans, Philadelphia,
Boston, New York-all on the same
day. Then we shall so, with the whole
world for our playground"
But the woman could not be warmed
with his enthusiasm. She shivered
and her eyes roamed about the half lit
room with a haunted, terrified look.
1--WE shall be hunted always-wher-
ever we co. she declared in a low
voice. I'VE cal V get away from
it. It's too big Friedrich-it's too big!
They'd never let a man who could
make a bill like that escape. You
know if n Of these men were caught
he'd betray you to save himself. The
government would pardon him-would
pardon them ALTO get you. Safe!
Every prison in thu world would be
waiting for YOU" .
Kreisler's head sank slowly, and he
stared darkly at the table from under
his bushy, knitted brows.
II shall never go to prison again."
he said slowly and ominously. IF I
am caught He felt her shudder
and stopped in the middle of the sen
tence.
81 hope to God you'll kill me. too,
then, %Friedrich!' she cried. "Td never
have the courage to kill myself. and
it would be the end of everything for
me-"
He rose and put both hands on her
shoulders and gaZed long and earnest
ly into her face.
"Ah, you are a great soul" he breath
ed ~passionately. "You give up every
thing for me! You leave everybody;
you give up your little daughter; you
share prison with me. And T." He
made a gesture of bitter despair and
self reproach. 81 take-take-take! I
an the selfish one. And now. when I
say l would take my life. you would
share death with me. All. you are the
great soul"
He turned back to his work to hide
the working of the deeply lined face.
The woman, too. moved off as if her
emotions were too strong to control.
She leaned on the mantel and stared
into the blackened fireplace in silence
for some time.
"Oh. if l could only make you feel
as I do" she exclaimed in dreary de-
spair. I'm so oppressed, Friedrich"
she turned to him again. This is a
great thing that you have invented
this process of color photography.
Think what can be done with 1t. II
would mean millions to you-and
fame"
"Yes, my love-" he replied gently,
but shook his head. 'in AZ honest
world-yes. But they would cheat me.
They would steal II. And. see. | must
have money to finance It. to protect 1t.