Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1913-05-22

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
reprovingly. you was always a good
hand to save Wish I'd stuck to you"
he added yiciously. I don't know as
I won't take you back yet. But come,
now, make it hundred and l won't
never trouble you again
"A hundred? You're dreamingl"
Fifty then. Fifty down and fifty
to ha sent 10 the postofflce at Denver
when / 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 let you have twenty
five 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, If that's all you can let me
have III have to take IT," mumbled
the man But IN take The rest. or
I'll hound you down, mark my words,
twenty-five tomorrow and seventy-flve
inside Of three months at Denver Is
it a bargain, Jene?"
Yes" she said helplessly.
"Where'I I meet you? / 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. We'll
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, Jane?" he asked a
smile playing maliciously about his
mouth. kid? Yours?"
Yes, mine Mine and Eds" she
cpied, 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.
no, Jane, you didn't tell me about
the kid" he said, as Il she had cone
some injury by concealing the fact
Of its 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 Hfe?"
The other leered at her Because,
my dear Jane" he said I've got
double hold on you now-thats why.
So long as there was only your man
well, he mightnt have cared But
with the kid it's different. / guess
It'll be worth more than a hundred to
you now, won't 1t, Jane2"
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 sprang
at him like a tigress.
Don't you dare to touch him." she
cried Don't you lay a finger on him
or I'll kill you!"
The man skunk back. IAN right.
have II your own way. my DEAR" he
said quietly But now It's going to
cost you just twice as much-see?
Fifty down"
81 haven't fifty. l can only get
twenty-five"
twenty-five" she painted and
never a penny more. For twenty-five
can hire a man TO kill you, And
III do it, Jim, sooner than lose my
home"
AN right; l suppose itn have to be
twenty-five" he answered.
She led the way to the door along
the tiny han, and they stood there a
moment. gazing out into the darkness.
For the first time a shade of pity
Cor 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
more 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
freight cars. I reckon. I'm used to
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 1t? 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 more
mildly. Il guess you know the way.
It's no longer than through the vii
lage-and you can take care of your
self in the dark, I reckon"
4 reckon so, Jane" he answered.
Good night, my lass" He pressed his
hat down on his head and started out
along the road In a moment the
darkness had swallowed him up-he
was gone even while she heard his
footsteps in the mud
Suddenly she staggered back as a
tremulous thought blanched her cheek
and set her heart beating furiousIy.
The BRIDGE The bridge was up.
He did not know. He would walk
confidently there where the firm grid