Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1914-10-31


Bob" she said softly. there is a
way out of all this. l have taken you
at your word and kept silent, but you
know what / mean?"
A frown passed over his face; a look
not of anger, but of pain.
You mean Brandt" he asked.
Yes"
He dropped her hand. Unconscious
ly his whole form stiffened He got up
from the window seat and stood look
ing down at her
Yes, there is a way out" he an
swered but that is not the way"
Suddenly he caught her up in his
arms.
Jane" he cried, II never want to
speak harshly to you in my life. did
once and have regretted it more than
once. But you must not talk that way.
1t is not that | wish to dominate. or
love you one bit less for your per
sistency. In most matters you could
make me do anything you wished. Not
make me, for you know 1t is my Joy to
please you. But In this you hurt me;
not because you oppose me, but be-
cause 1t Is you. You are good and you
are honest and If you persevere in this
ii is because you do not understand
That is what hurts; that / cannot
make you understand; the blandish-
ments and wiles of q pure crook
should not outweigh the counsel of
your husband
His words hurt her again. Instinc-
lively she recoiled as If they stood at
opposite Drinks of some chasm and she
feared TO take the leap. But Jane was
in the fight to stay this time. In her
mind It was Bob who was blinded and
not her. She was ready to receive the
blow and parry 1t, but she was deter
mined to return balm for stringent
and do battle in woman's way.
But, Bob" she said. as she stepped
to him and put her arm around his
shoulder; ARE we so unequal either
mentally or morally? Isn't it possible
that you are mistaken as we'll as I?''
NO we are not unequal, dear" he
answered. and 1t is as possible for me
to be wrong as you But you are
| arguing from a determined conviction
rather than a true one. do not mean
you are deliberately deceiving your
self. but you have permitted yourself
to be deceived"
He thrust her out at arms length
and looked fixedly into her eyes.
"Oh, Jane" he cried, why do you
say these things? Why do you cheap
en- yourself by defending dishonesty?
Business? Rot! It's theft A crook
is a crook and a crooked deal Is
crooked You can't make anything
else out OF IT, What right have you
or ] to $4,000 we haven't earned?
None There's the answer and Demos.
themes himself could not alter it with
words"
Sun Jane persisted Still she sub
dued a spirit that rebelled
I'm not asking Demosthenes to
alter It, Bob. I'm not asking you 10
submit to anyone's influence, but
mine You know. whatever you may
think OF Brand, that | have no ones
interest at heart but yours and mine.
Do you remember the words of our
courtship? Wen be partners That's
what we said. Partns4s. Is II Gus
tcmary for one partner to say 1 will
have this, or 4 will do that, or is 1t
usual for them tc unite one way or
the other and say 'We?' l have tried
to uphold my end OF the bargain What
we have dons we have done together.
We haven't mad much. Don't" she
added QUICKLY as she saw him start as
II from = blow. 'D0n't-think that
am hcsding that up to you. You are
an bSonest, able man and any woman
cclid be proud to call you husband.
W'nat this world has given you, or
what you have taken from it, | have
been content 20 share. That is all I
ask now; to share what you can take"
The right word" he interrupted
quickly. Take. that is It. take;
steal! DO you hear me, Jane? Steal!"
He brought his fist down squarely on
the table then checked himself as IL
ashamed of vehemence.
"Oh, what's the user" he said He
bent toward her again. but without the
touch or caress of moment before
Jane" he ended, and his voice was
low and sorrowful; I'm not a thief
and not even you can make me one"
There was the cold hnality in his
voice that meant no more" She saw
it; saw that she had lost again. The
venom OF money lust had run deep in
Jane. or In that moment she would
have seen and felt the man of him.
But she turned away. The blood
mounted to her checks. Her answer.
though. was as stolid as his and it
was not wrung from her with pain
'All right, Bob We viii let IL drop.
/ But mark my words" she turned TO
him with fearless, fiery eyes-"Bob.
! you will remember this dayI'
Poor Jane! She WIS right; he
would remember that day. but how
much more would she remem bsr it,
Oh how many days and months and
veara would sha rer,cu,har - ard 4rv