The citizen., 1914-12-04

to me and has probably said another
to you and l want to know what he
has told YOU"
But, Bob" she answered-and she
looked at him through mist dimmed
eyes-"why has he told me anything? /?
Why, If this-this terrible thing has
happened-havent you told me or
warned me? Brand said you are
| ruined"
81 am," he broke in quickly. "He told
you the truth there, but did he tell you
how am going to remedy it,"
He said you had asked for more
money-blackmail oh, Bob" she
cried, clutchings at his hands, "it isn't
true, is it,"
He pressed her hands. but answered
doggedly:
"Yes, it's true. That's the word for
it-blackmail, and I'm going to have
| it,"
She drew back and looked at him
| through her tears, startled and afraid.
Then she glanced involuntarily at the
| table.
"Oh, don't think I'm drunk" he said
stubbornly. 81 know what I've done
and what I'm going to do now."
"But you can't do 1t; you shan't,"
she exclaimed. Brand doesn't owe
you money. If you've lost yours we
will have to suffer for it, not Brand"
Her words acted as an irritant to
the sore.
80, it's Brand, not me-" he an
swered bitterly. That's what / want
ed to know; to know how l stand be-
tween you two. You mapped out my
line of march once, but not again.
Jane, If you side with Brand against
me this time we are done, that's all.
We don't seem to do team work very
we'll and can go it alone"
His tone, as cold and hard as his
words, truly frightened her.
"Bob-Bob, DEAR" she cried, don't
talk to me that way. You're not your
SELF You don't know what you're say
ing"
II know exactly what I'm saying"
he answered, "and mean every word
of 1t. Brand fooled you once and he's
fooled you again, but he'll find l
haven't been so dull a pupil as he
thinks. His game is all right II It's
played to a finish, and that is just
what am going to do-play 1t to the
end. He used me when l was useful
and thought when the right time came
he could throw me aside. l was weak
enough to get into his meshes and
I'm strong enough to get out. He found
stock and trade In your credulity over
on Staten Island and he thinks he can
rely on you again. Did he tell you
how lost my money-the very last of
| it?
"In the stock market"
Eyes, but did he tell you invested
on the advice of his broker? Did he
tell you that he won a lot of money on
the same stock? Did he?" he repeated
as she sat staring at him In silence.
HE didn't say anything about him.
self, Bob"
mo, of course, he didn't. He didn't
say anything about you. either, I sup.
pose. He didn't tell you that when he
framed 1t up with you for us to take
that money from the cement deal that
we we're committing felony and that
you were party to the crime as much
as any of US. He didn't tell you that
If talked and we went to Jail that you
would go along with US. He didn't say
that, did he?"
Reynolds paced the floor and his
voice rose to almost hysterical pitch.
God" he exclaimed, as he stopped
and faced her. Il almost believe he's
convinced you that I'm a criminal and
he's a saint with a double ringed
halo!"
She had reached the end of her en-
durance and stood up quivering with
resentment.
you have no right to abuse me this
way" she cried, "and won't stand 1t.
You know that only tried to find a
place for US among decent people and
give you the opportunity to provide
It,"
Opportunity" he sneered. "Yes,
opportunity for plain, ordinary thtev-
ing. That's what 1t was, and did 1t
for you. Now there are two alterna-
tives, Jane. One to go on, and the
other to give up. II you want to go on
I'm going to have my way this time
and Brand will have to deal with me
and answer to me, not to you. I'm not
going to let him of with $4,000 by
squaring matters at the bank. and go
out into the world penniless. l am 60
ing to clear my conscience and make
a clean breast Of 1t or I am going to
make II plain blackmail and make 1t
pay. Either we're crooks or we're
honest and II we've made up our minds
to be crooks let's be good Ones"
"Bob!" she cried again. backing
away while he followed. Her back
was to the wall now and she crouched
almost as II she expected a blow.