The citizen., 1914-12-18

TO others not meant to bear 1t, Invol-
unfairly his arm closed about her and
ne drew her to him. In the mingled
look of love, pity and protection he
gave her Brand read the sign Of sur
render and tried to cllnch his cause.
You've got to think of your wife,
reynolds" Brand urged, "even II you
don't of yourself. The things done
you can't undo 1t. Besides, we believed
the dam was strong enough Only the
most extraordinary conditions brought
about its collapse. That lets us out.
If we act sensihly Well come good and
clear"
But hope Of immunity such as could
be bought with Brands power was not
Reynolds goal and the millionaire's
expatiations on the possibility of it
served only to irritate him the more.
Money and lawyers and pull won't
square murder, Brand" he said con-
temptuously, "and that's just what we
committed. We have killed men, wom-
en- and children for a few dirty dollars
to which we had no right and some
one has got to pay"
MY God!" the millionaire exclaimed
impatiently. You'd preach your life
and liberty away-and that of your
wife, too-for the sake of hearing your
self talk. Men-women-and-
"a handful of Dagoes and Polacks
that the worlds better of without. A
few brats who couldn't fill useful DO
sition IL they did live to be men and
women. How do you know it wasn't
an act of God? He brought the water
there, l didn't. But that's enough.
want to know what you're going to
do? If you're going to talk want to
get ready for you. Now come on. Do
you go or do you Lay down?"
Reynolds surveyed him coolly.
"I1l let you know, Brand, just what
I'm going to do. Before you leave
here tonight you'll have no doubt about
your course, but now / want a word
with my wife-alone. If you don't
mind, you and Dick step up to my den
and III let you know when I'm ready.
It'll be only a minute or two"
When they had gone he led her to
the divan.
Just a second, DEAR" he said ten
derly. "Tll be right back and then
Wen talk it over for the final solu-
ton"
AS he passed into the adjoining
room the telephone rang and Jane
went to it apprehensive of the worst.
1t was a news association inquiring
for Reynolds.
"He's-not in" she faltered. "No.
don't know just when he will be. Co.
ing away? No, l think not You will
! have to see him yourself. In the
morning? Yes, that will be a good
time. Not tonight. That's all can
say. Good-by"
She hung up the receiver with a
little gasp of relief. 1t had not been
as bad as she had expected. But it
was only matter of time. She knew
that. Already the newspapers had
connected him with the catastrophe
and there would be no end to the in
terviewing and dreadful questioning.
Bob returned and sat beside her. He
had heard a part of her talk over the
phone and surmised the meaning of 1t.
but he made no mention Of it.
Jane, DEAR" he said softly as he
took her hand, ''you have never been
sorry you married me, have your"
why, Bob," she replied startled,
what are you saying? You know l
haven't and never could be-"
But, darling, have made an awful
mess of it-of our life, mean, for no
man could have asked for a better
wife. / have always loved you more
than anything in life. Perhaps-per-
haps," he continued haltingly, 81 have
loved you too much-that is, too much
for your own good. That is not impos-
sible. you know Jane. Love is always
first, but there are times when we
| must temper 1t with reason and re-
solve. You must understand me,
sweetheart, for after this | want you
to know and feel that everything I've
done and everything l do is for you"
Some strange note Of fatality in his
low tones alarmed her. Her startled
eyes searched his and she pressed
closer to his side.
why, even when you had taken a
stand with Brand and felt $3.50
much on the outside" he went on, 81
loved you as l never thought it was
possible for a man to love a woman"
Il never felt that way. DEAR" she
interrupted. Il mean, that was stand
ing with Brand. Bob, you know that,
don't you?" she cried appealingly, and
the tears of self-condemnation started
from her eyes while she begged-al-
most demanded the extenuation that
she knew was not rightfully hers.
"Yes, know It," he answered gently.
And you see, sweetheart, l was right
when said was to blame. Just me.
No one else have been at fault since
the first day back there in the bunga-