The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-01-03
THE ROSE in
THE RING
By George Barr M'Cufcheon
Copyright 1910 BY Ddd Mead l. q,

Tom. Tom, What manner of mar
have you come to be? You surel!
are not in your right mind"
You bet | am! Now. you listen t.
me. You are going to stick right Will
this show-you and Christine. You
got to treat Bob Grand half way de
cent. How'd you suppose we'd ge,
on without his help right now? JUS
as soon as we get on our feet II
snow him what's what. He'll get OUT
OF the show business a heap sigh,
wiser man than he is now. But We
need him now. We got to stand to-
gether, y and me. We"
STEP She stood before him like
an outraged priestess. This time he
did not shrink, but glared back at
her balefully. This is the end. We
have come to the parting Of the ways.
| will never call you husband again
III you even speak to me. Thomas
Braddock, | shall ask any one of a
dozen men here to beat you as you
deserve. Oh, they will be only too
happy to do it! Now. hear me: !
am going to take Christine way from
you-forever. Don't curse me yet!
Walt. | am not through. This very
night I shall offer my share in this
show to. Colonel Grand. He may have
1t at his price. If he will not
buy then shall go forth and look
for another purchaser. /"
You're my wife. You can't sell
without my consent" he exclaimed.
Then l will ask the court to give
me the right. Now, go. 4"
"You can't take Christine. She's
as much mine as she is"
Il will hear no more. | have given
This ends it."
She turned n walked away from
him. He knew that it was all over
between them.
Sell out, will you?" he muttered.
'I1l block that game. I'll sell out to
him myself. That's what he wants"
He directed his footsteps toward the
ticket wagon. Colonel Grand was
leaving it as he came up.
Hello, Brad" Colonel Grand said
quite genially. IF I was a bit rough
awhile ago ! apollo"
Say, l want to talk privately with
you right away. I've got a proposi-
ton to make. It's final, too, and it's
friendly, SO don't look as II you're
going to pull a gun on me. Come on
to the hotel. Oh, I'm not as drunk as
you think"
Mrs. Braddock expects me to es-
cort her to the hotel"
mo, she don't" rasped the other.
She's all right. Leave her alone.
Are you coming"
Colonel Grand was struck by the
mans behavior. "All right" he said.
I'll go with you"
They were 500 closeted in the
room back of the hotel bar, a bottle
between them on the table. The door
was locked. Their conversation last
ed an hour. When Colonel Grand
arose to depart he stood a little be-
hind and to the left of B%raddock's
chair. a soft. sardcnic smile on his
lips. He held a sheet Of paper in
his hand. Pen and ink on the table
alongside the more sinister bottle told
Of an act of ~penmanship.
We'll have the night clerk and
some one else witness the signatures"
he said quietly.
All right" said Braddoek hoarsely.
He was staring at his fingers, which
he tWiddled in a neryeless, irresolute
manner.
THE inside conditions are between
you and me personally. You'll have
to live up to them. B~raddock."
I'm a man Of my word"
You are to get out at the end of
the week. That's plain, is ito"
IF the cash is passed over. Don't
forget that, Say, Bob, | swear you're
treating me dirt mean. | ought to
have five times more than you are
paying me and you know 1t. Five
thousand dollars Why, it's givin'
the show away"
Il didn't suggest buying you out.
You come to me to sell. If you don't
want to let it 60 at the price we've
on I'll teal up this bill of sale"
I've got to take it, so what's the
use kicking? I'm going to get cut Of
the business. My wife's against me.
is. D-n them all"