Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1915-02-03

He pressed her hands, but answered
doggedly:
Eyes. 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. II know what I've done
and what I'm going to do now"
But you can't do It; you shant,"
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.
so, it's Brand, not me-" he an
swered bitterly. That's what l want
ed to know; to know how / 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"
Il know exactly what I'm saying"
he answered, and mean every word
of it. Brand fooled you once and he's
fooled you again, but he'll find l
haven't been SO dull pupil as he
thinks. His game is all right II it's
played to finish, and that Is just
what l am going to do-play 1t to the
end. He used me when 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,"
I'm the stock market"
yes, but did he tell you I invested
on the advice of his broker? Did he
tell you that he won 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, sup
pose. He didn't tell you that when he
framed 1t up with you for us to take
hat money from the cement deal that
We were committing felony and that
rou were partysto the crime as much
Is any of US. He didn't tell you that |
I talked and we went to Jail that you
would go along with US. He didn't say
hat. did he?"
Reynolds paced the floor and his
'oice rose to almost hysterical pitch.
God" he exclaimed, as he stopped
md faced her, 81 almost believe he's
convinced you that I'm a criminal and
les a saint with a double ringed
lalo!"
She had reached the end of her en-
urance and stood up quivering with
you have no right to abuse me this
vay," she cried, land l won't stand it.
'ou know that l only tried to find
lace for us among decent people and
i've you the opportunity to provide
:"
Opportunity" he sneered. yes.
pportunity for plain, ordinary thiev-
lg. That's what it was, and | did 1t
or you. Now there are two alterna-
YES, Jane. One to go on. and the
Their to give up. If you want to 60 on
m going to have my way this time
nd Brand will have to deal with me
nd answer to me, not to you. I'm not
Ding to let him off with $4,000 by
luaring matters at the bank, and go
ut into the world penniless. l am 60
lg to clear my conscience and make
clean breast Of 1t or l am going to
AXE 1t plain blackmail and make 1t
ay. Either we're crooks or we're
onest and If we've made up our minds
be crooks let's be good ones" f,
"Bob!" she cried again, backing
way while he followed. Her back ,
as to the wall now and she crouched
most as II she expected a blow. {
Eyes, crooks!" he persisted in an G
YER to her look of horror. That's q
hat l said. Crooks!" 4
His hand was extended, fist doubled. q
ut of sudden 1t dropped to his ,
de. Her look Of appeal-of abject 1
rror-pierced the mists Of his cloud r
brain. He stopped. limp and help
gs.
We'll, what-about it-Jane? Pve 4
planned it ALL guess" J
You have" she answered in halt r
g tones. you have explained u
and you should have =
me so six years ago. before / married