Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1915-01-06

wife look as good as the best and ne
plunged harder and deeper so that he
could crafty her every wish without
the semblance Of question. Economy
was word that he had banished for
ever and II their house had permitted
it he would have urged her to attempt
some Of the prodigious affairs that she
shared at the Brands.
Yet while Reynolds INDUCED and
encouraged his wife he found himself
often assuming a care free spirit that
he did not feel. There came moments
when the false glamor Of his life Dalled
and he gave way to deepest fhelan.
choly. More and more he resorted to
the bracing influence Of stiululants
and cessation from this practice only
accentuated his morbidness.
For q long time he kept the real
state of his mind from Jane end the
necessity for the deception carried him
farther and farther away from her. In
this life Of wealth and gaiety the words
of Brand now came home to him with
poignant sting. He was, indeed; on the
outside looking in. He saw his wife,
through his apostasy. mount higher to
the goal of her ambition while he sank
lower and lower. The metamotphoeis
of soul began to take on physical ex-
preston. The candor Of his express
sion changed to cunning and crattiness
and an inherent frankness of Dlanner
gave way to constraint. At the club
the change became noticeable. His
evenings there were not of the con-
vivial sort as before. He sought only
one form of amusement-gambling. He
played heavily and lost oftenef than
he won. His speculations in the street
also went awry. Within q year from
the date of his ill-gotten prosperity.
Reynolds had begun paying the price.
He paid heavily and alone.
His thoughts often turned to Dick
and the happy hours they had kpent
in the little bungalow. And Jano had
seemed happy, too, for the reporters
boyish nature and lovable ways had
endeared him to both. Reynolds for
got all the difficulties of their life
across the bay and dated every ele-
ment of discomfort and unrest from
the time Of Brands coming. Brands
coming-the thought Of 1t made the
blood surge through his veins--he
cursed the day that he had ever made
the miHionaires acquaintance and the
day 1t had been renewed and he
cursed Brand himself. What had Brand
ever done or intended to do for him?
He had used him as pawn in the
game of spoil! A cat's-paw to drag
chestnut from the fame, and then he
had thrown him the shelf, And f
such little gain a. was-l sS rad suf'
fered an Incompatible loss. He was
burned and scared forever. In the bit
terness of these moments Reynolds
very soul was racked and torn and In
his heart, at times, there was murder.
He wondered what Dick knew of
his actual deal with Brand. He longed
sometimes to look up the reporter and
bare the whole story. But confession
to another would do no good now; It
would not repay the municipality he
had robbed and it would not renew the
bond of friendship with the man he
had cast aside.
When Reynolds rushed after his
wife that night he stopped for Dick
at the little place of cheer on the cor
ner. He almost dragged his friend
away, and while they waited for the
car he told his intention. He was 60
ing from Jane to Brand, he said, and
what Brand wanted of him he would
do. He was done with poverty and
done with principle. He was going to
put his hand in the grab bag and take
one draw at the game. II that was the
way it was played; II that was the
only way he could decently clothe his
wife and give her the place she was
entitled to, that was the way he would
play It.. He would have told Dick all
then, If he would have listened. But
the reporter laid hand over his mouth
and stopped him.
Don't say any more, Bob" he had
warned. III that Is the way you feel;
If your mind is made up, don't want
to hear any more. l know too much
now. But l can forget. Let 1t 60 at
that. You know you can trust me.
Only, remember this: You'll fall fiat.
There are some men who can't go
wrong and get away with It; the
wrong always gets away with them"
That was about the last word he
had had from Dick. They had ridden
up to the city together, but they had
conversed but little and at the Battery
the reporter shook his friends hand
and hurried away.
Dick was dreamer; yes. But on
the basic principles of life Dick was
right and he had proved good
prophet.
The sting Of conscience and remorse
bepan to take such q hold on Bob that