Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-04-02
If we act sensibly we'll come good and

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
sc1are murder, Brand" he said con-
temptuously, "and that's just what we
committed. We have killed men. wom-
en- and children for 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 I'LL a useful po-
sition II they did live to be men and
women. How do you know 1t wasn't
an act Of God? He brought the water
there. didn't. But that's enough. l
want to know what you're going to
do? II you're going to talk want to
get ready for you. Now come on. Do
you 60 or do you lay DOWN."
Reynolds surveyed him coolly.
IN 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 l want q word
with my wife-alone. II you don't
mind. you and Dick step up to my den
and I'll let you know when I'm ready.
TIN be only q minute or two"
When they had gone he led her to
the divan.
Just q second, DEAR" he said ten
derby. I'll be right back and then
we'll talk 1t 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 q news association inQuiring
for Reynolds.
"He's-not in" she faltered. mo.
I don't know Just when he viii be. Co
ing away? No. I think not. You will
have to see him yourself In the
morning! Yes. that will be q good
time. Not tonight That's all I can
say. Good-by."
She hung up the receiver with q
little gasp Of relief. Il had not been
as bad az she had expected. But Il
was only Q 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 . part of her talk over the
phone and surmised the meaning Of 1t.
but he made no mention of 1t.
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
haven't and never could be-"
But, darling, I have made an awful
mess of it-of our life, I mean, for no
man could have asked for q better
wife. / have always loved you more
than anything in life. Perhaps-per.
haps." he continued haltingly. Il have
loved you too much-that il, too much
for your own good. That il not impos-
sible. you know Jane. Love 10 always
first, but there are times when we
must temper 1t with reason and re.
solve. You must understand me,
sweetheart, for after this l want you
to know and feel that everything I've
done and everything do 10 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 q
stand with Brand and I felt 500
much on the outside" he went on, 81
loved you a. / never thought 1t was
possible for q man to love q 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 l said l was to blame. Just me.
No one else. have been at fault since
the ilrst day back there in the bunga.
low when you and Mr.. Collins went
to the matinee and you came home
with the new hat told you 1t didn't
matter about the butcher-that every.
thing would come out all right. Since
that day vi have been piling up these
things-these crimes, dearest-yes,
crimes. knew 1t all the time. And
l knew 1t - well a. knew that |
loved you. that sometime the day
would come when we-when I-would
have to settle. But kept you in igno.
rance. ] was afraid to spoil your hap
piness. afraid to tax your love. and ]
let things 60 on until now. out there
in that valley. whole families-just az
dear tn each oSher a. you and I-just
4 important In tho world a. you and
I. are gone-wiped out I promised To
protect you and al l have done 10 to
lead you blindly from every decent
thought"
mo, no. Bob" she interrupted vehe.
mently. TT was I who did the leading,
not you. You simply followed me-"
But when . man does that. Jane. II
IL he who must pay the penalty. II
there 10 one to pay. He should be
stronger-the thing that she should