The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-04-25

was on my way / 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 penny" cried the wo-
man desperately.
"Oh, come, Jane" said the man
reprovtngly. you was always a good
hand to save. Wish I'd stuck to you"
he added viciously. Il don't know az
won't take you back yet. But come.
now, make 1t q hundred and / won't
never trouble you again"
"A hundred! You're dreaming"
Fifty then. Fifty down and fifty
TO be sent to the postofice at Denver
when / gel there. Come, now, amt
your home worth 1t, Janer
Il haven't penny In the house.
jim" she said trying to assuage him.
i've tomorrow by holding up the fur
niture man. You see," she faltered,
ED won't be home with his weeks
pay. till morning"
We'll, II 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.
twenty-five tomorrow and seventy-five
inside of three months at Denver. Is
1t bargain. Jane?"
YES" she said helplessly.
"Where1l 1 meet you! / don't want
TO show myself In own. That fellow
Jones I told you Of, my cell mate
he's back here"
do you know the maple trees nea<
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.
What's this, Jane7" he asked, q
smile playing maliciously about his
mouth. kid? Yoursf''
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 II she had done
some injury by concealing the fact
OF It's presence.
"No. Why should tell your" she
asked. putting the sleeping child back
into its cradle why should l let
you share any part Of my life?"
The other leered at her. because.
my dear Jane." he said, 1--WE got
double hold on you now-that's why.
So long a. there was only your man
weN. he mightn't have cared. But
With the kid It's different. / guess
TIN be worth more than a hundred to
you now, won't it. Jane!"
He had drawn near to the sleeping
infant and now stood over It Clum-
silly he put forth one grimy hand and
stroked the little arm that lay out
side the coverlet. The woman sprsng
1t him like q tigress.
Don't you dare to touch him." she
cried. Don't you lay finger on him
CT I'll kill your
The man skunk back "All right.
nave 1t your own way, my dear" he
sad quietly. But now It's going to
cost you just twice as much-see?
| Fifty down"
81 haven't fifty. can only get
twenty-five"
twenty-five" she painted. land
! never q penny more. For twenty-five
can hire a man to kill you. And
II. do It, Jim, sooner than lose my
home"
"All right; suppose it'll have to be
twenty-five" he answered.
She led the way to the door along
tho tiny hall, and they stood there q
moment, gazing out into the darkness.
For the first time a shade Of pity
for this degraded man welled up with
In her. She had loved him In the old
days. and when he had abused and
beaten her she had loved him all the
| moro until-until that other woman.
She would not think Of that
Where are you going to sleep to-
night Jim?" she asked quietly.
The man laughed. 20, under some
Alright ACSAon. III Obo0 W
that sort Of bed. Maybe I'll find a
heap Of coal"
You promise not to go into the
town.
Sure! That's part OF the bargain.
amt it, I'll keep out of the way,
don't fear. Which way are the
cars?"
THE cars are over yonder, at the
back OF the factory" she said moro
mildly. II guess you know the way
It's no longer than through the vii
laSe-and you can take care of POUR
self In the dark. ! reckon"
II reckon 80. Jane" he answered
Good night, my lass-" He pressed his
hat down on his head and started out
along the road. In q moment the
darkness had swallowed him up-be
was gone even while she heard lis
footsteps In the mud
| Suddenly she staggered back as
tremulous thought blanched her cheek
and set her heart beating furiousiy.
The bridge! The bridge was up.
He lid not know. He would walk
confidently there where the firm grid
ers ran. Offering their treacherous
support, and he would walk into
nothfngness. And those currents!-
the currents in her own heart She