Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-04-22
CHAPTER xvilI--continued.

=
That isn't all I thank you, Brand.
tor your solicitious care for me-" He
emphasized the word noticably. "But
nave been doing some thinking of my
own In the last half hour and my plans
dont seem to 60 on at all where yours
ssave OF. It might interest you 10
know. before you 60. that am going
70 stay right here and tell the truth
nom first to last-frpm the time you
came to Staten Island. until Mrs.. Roy
holds received letter from yOu the
other day showing that you had vol
unfairly squared q criminal transan-
ton for me at the bank"
Al he finished Bob,s fist camo down
on the little center table and almost
shattered II. There was the vigcr and
determination that Brand had had to
respect once before when he had
loosed his wiles on more gullible re-
cipient. But now, In this crisis. he had
not even considered the chance Of op-
position to his will. First astonished.
then thoughtful. his forid features
now. revealed their old cunning.
You play the game big. Reynolds"
he said at last. Either this 10 q
holdup right. or you have gone clear
crazy"
All right. Rave all you want To.
Brand. 1t cant do any harm now.
told you last week there were two
ways to get out Of 1t all: One was
money and the other was to make 4
clean breast OF II One can't have all
De wants all the time. You had your
ahance ten days ago and you threw 1t
away. ] gave you my terms and you
took advantage Of my helplessness
and ignored them. You stayed away
and paid that paltry $4,000 at the
bank You thought you would fright
en- my wife; that your magnanimity
In releasing us from Immediate peril
would Impress her and that I'm the end
she would welcome the release you Of
Tered. Well, you succeeded with her
but not with me. For her sake was
almost inclined to let matters drop,
but this terrible affair has changed It
ALL We have taken human life, and 4
lot Of 1t. and some one has got to pay.
20 II anyone 10 going to take the Lust
tania, you're the man who had better
hurry and pack his grip"
Brand stepped quickly to Reynolds.
. tower of indignant rage. Trapped
,r cornsred he was always Brand: a.
ways ready to put his back to the wall
and fight--in the open II he couldn't
nght from ambush. Bearded and al
most beaten now. he Quivered In his
wrath and shook . threatening Ast
straight In Reynolds face.
You're q big. blasted baby and IN
mbecilel" he cried. You play the
gutter now and I'll make you regret 1t
TO the last day OF yeur life. I'll fight
and TN win N I always have. You
can't keep q man with money In jail.
Those three words cant be grouped
In the same languasel But what's the
use of talking" he added disgustsdly.
you can't lay down now II you want
70. You haven't got the nerve to send
that girl there to the penitenttary for
= broken woman--not enough OF her
left to suggest who she was. Do you
know what prison does to men. Rsy-
noldsf Breaks 'em-body. mind and
soul! Well. what viii II do to = wom-
IN. then1 To your wtfsf For II We 60
she goes with u. I've told you that
and / mean II, 90 guess my biufrs
about a. stronS a. yours"
He turned partly to Dick and. ~ II
10 cincb his threat, added:
And I'm not sure but that our vtr>
tuous friend here will be keeping u
company. That's law and you know
t."
Bob" cried his wife. creeping to his
ode and cuddling against him Al II she
Jaw In Brand some hybrid monster
whom, she really feared. III 60. Any.
thing you say. dear! I'm not afraid
not afraid" Weeping softly. In obvt-
Gus contradiction to her courageous
stand, she nestled closer to his side.
We stand upon the brink Of q high
,recipice and looking down are OBJ
,sssed with q strange desire to Jump.
rhe thought Of life has vanished in =
vale of endless depths-the hold on II
N ,nsnitesimal. A bird flying over
mad startled ~ the strange intruder
IN h,s realms, drops a twtg he In carry
tns TO his nest The tiny bit OF wood
cutters 10 the mountain top and at
the precise moment that We have all
but signed our pass port to other worlds
the tStx falls at eur feet. The souEd
II II Ia scarcely audible. but slight a.
b u we hear 1t. turn. and the spell OF
,slf- absorption and abandon Ii broken
We lose no time In climbing back to
srra frma
90 Rsyneias. possessed with tho
des Of -self-destruction.
4 necessary-Anything to bring to jus
hoe the man he blamed for all his
wrongs and for the awful climax that
sad Just come, grew stronger In hia
suppose, more fascinated In tho pur-
sort OF II. with every word that Brand
sssd TO dtssuade him. Even Brands
saturated threat concerning Jane had
nst It's power. but the sound OF hsr
sotee came to him like the sound OF
dc falling twig. II restored not the
nsttnct of Misrepresentation for self