The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-04-02

world; not even my wife. Have you
come here TO twit me with 1t? What
do ] W you, that | have to listen to
your"
why, nothing, John, that's true;
nothing at all, not in the least. have
10 right here at all, | know that.
understand that, when I-when-I
went away from here. But that wasn't
why ! came back tonight"
Then why did you come? You al
ways had the faculty, Laura, of doing
the wrong thing. You've been a curse
to me all my life!"
Some of that's true, john" she an
swered simply, and a good deal isn't.
Maybe | said the wrong thing some
times, or did the wrong thing. | never
had much training. was meant for
Kelly Row, / reckon-I'd never have
fitted In here. We tried it, But
didn't come to glorify myself because
you've lost this place, and everything
you had. | just thought"
Well, Laura, what was 1t you Just
thought? | can't stand here talking
all the time. 1t isn't right, 1t isn't
proper. I'm worn Quit"
"Of ourse It isn't, John. I'm going
right away. But you see, when | came
away | just thought this way-here
am ], an old woman that don't need
much money any more. And there's
Grace; and maybe now John has
need for money when everybody's
turned against him. And If he does
need money, why"
What do you mean, Laura?" gasped
John Rawn. What's that you said
about money!"
How much would do you any good.
John| she asked, fumbling in her
bullying handbag.
Il might as well wish for the moon
as for a dollar" he said bitterly. "If
| had a million, or a half-million, to-
morrow, I'd pull it all together, even
yet"
"A half million, John?" she said, TAX
Ing out Of her bag a little, wrinkled,
fiat port-monnaie such as women
sometimes use for carrying change
IN the marketing; but still continuing
her fumbling at the portly bag.
Yes, IL | had a half million I could
put this company or its feet, even yet
the secrets out that Halsey had
but I'd get 1t somewhere. | more
than half believe those fellows have
got 1t, somewhere else. somehow
that fellow Vans deep. You see
they've been fighting me, Laura
made up a gang against me! know
who 1t a II | had a half million
I'd throw In with Van-he's got this
secret somehow-he knows something
about 1t. I'd throw in with him, and
we'd whip the others, even yet! I'd
get 1t al! back in my hands ever yet,
! tell you!.
But my God! Why do | stand talk
ing about such things? What's the
use? I'm down and out! I'd just as
we'll be deadl"
We'll, John, what | always said of
you was, that you seemed to know
how to get things around the way you
wanted them. ! said to myself, what
a shame 1t was he should have no
money, when he needed II. I've got
enough set aside to keep me, / reckon,
for my few years. And here's what
you gave mccullough, Grace-of
course, John, | want enough used to
put Grace and the baby away. The
rest is yours"
He stood looking at her dumbly, as
at last she e%xtricated from the bag a
thick bundle of folded papers, green.
brown. pale pink.
Il got the bank to keep them for
me-" she said simply. 1T is what you
gave me-when-when | left here
He still stood looking at her, chok.
ing.
"Laura!" said he. HAS God come
to my aid? This-I can't believe it!
It's a million dollars! It's a million
dollarsl" His voice rose, breaking al.
most to a shrek. It's a. It's-a-
million-dollars!"
well, take it, John, it's yours;
you're welcome to IL. | don't want it.
It's done me no good. It's done none
of us any good. All / want Is, that
you should take care of Grace's flu
neral, for that's only right. John. She
DSxyS v,)u-