Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-02-18

1
Bob" she said softly. there 10 q
way out OF all this. have taken you
at your word and kept silent, but you
know what l mean7"
A frown passed over his face; q look
not OF anger, but OF pain.
You mean Brandt" he asked.
Yes"
He dropped her hand. Unconscious.
ly his whole form stitfened. He got up
from the window Heat and stood look.
ing down at her.
Yes, there TO a way out" he an
swered. but that Ia not the way"
Suddenly he caught her up In hts
arms.
Jane" he cried, ~ never want to
speak harshly to you In my life. did
once and have regretted 1t more than
once. But you must not talk that way
II ts not that | wish TO dominate. or
| love you one bit less for your per
sistency. In most matters you could
make me do anything you wished. Not
make me, for you know 1t 10 my Joy to
please you. But In this you hurt me;
| not because you oppose me, but be-
cause II ia you. You are good and you
are honest and II you persevere In this
II IL because you do not understand.
That is what hurts; that cannot
make yeu understand; the blandish-
ments and wiles of a pure crook
should not outweigh the counsel OF
your husband"
His words hurt her again. Instinc.
lively she recoiled as IL they stood at
opposite Drinks Of some chasm and she
feared to take the leap But Jane was
In the fight to stay this time In her
mind 1t was Bob who was blinded and
not her. She was ready to receive the
blow and parry 1t, but she was deter.
mined to return balm for stringent
aad do battle In a woman's way.
But. Bob" she said, as she stepped
to him and put her arm around his
shoulder; ARE we 30 unequal either
mentally or morally? Isn't IL possible
that you are mistaken az we'll as II"
mo, we are not unequal, dear" he
answered. land II is as possible for me
M SS Wins o5 SS0s bWA you are
arguing from a determined conviction
rather than true one. do not mean
you are deliberately deceiying your
self. but you have permitted yourself
to be deceived"
He thrust her out at arms length
and looked fixedly into her eyes.
oh, Jane" he cried. why do you
say these thingSH Why do you cheap
en- yourself by defending dishonesty?
BusinessF Roti It's theft A crook
is a crook and a crooked deal Is
crooked. You can't make anything
else out OF 1t. What right have you
or to $4,000 we haven't earned?
None. There's the answer and Demos.
themes himself could not alter 1t with
words"
Sur Jane persisted. Still abe sub
dued a spirit that rebelled.
I'm not asking Demosthanes to
alter It. Rob, I'm not asking you to
submit to anyoneB influence, but
mine. You know, whatever you may
think of Brand. that | have no ones
interest at heart but yours and mine
Do you remember the words OF our
courtship? Wen be partners That's
what we said. Partners, ls IL Gus
tomary for one partner to say I will
have this or I viii do that or IL II
usual for them to unite one way or
the other and say 'Wer | have tried
to uphold my end of the bargain. What
we have done we have done together.
We haven't had much. Don't" shs
added quickly as she saw him start as
IL from blow. "Dont-think that I
am holding that up to you. You are
an honest, able man and any woman
could be proud TO call you husband.
What THE world has given you. or
what you have taken from il, | have
been content to share That Is all |
ask now: to share what you can take"
The right word" he interrupted
quickly. Take: that IL it; take:
steal Do you hear me, Jane? Steal!"
He brought his fist down sQuarely on
the table, then checked himself a. II
ashamed of vehemencs,
oh, what's the user" he said. He
bent toward her again. but without the
touch or Caress Of a moment before.
Jane" he ended. and his voice was
low aud sorrowful. I'm not a thief
and not even you can make me one"
There was the cold tlnality In HE
voice that meant no more" She saw
It; saw that she had lost again. The
venom OF money lust had run deep In
Jane, or In that moment she would
have seen and felt the man of him.
But abe turned away. The blood
mounted to her cheeks. Her answer,
though. was as stolid az his and IL
was not wrung from her with pain.
All right. Bob. We will let 1t drop.
But mark my words" she turned TO
him with fearless. fiery eyes-"Boh,
you will remember this day"
Poor Janet She was right: he
would remember that day. but bow
mucA more would abe remember il:
Oh how many days and months and
years would she remember 1t and try
IN vain 90 efrace the memory
CHAPTER XIII,