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


Bob" she said softly. there 10 a
way out OF all this. | have taken you
1t your word and kept silent, but you
know what l meant"
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 stifTened. He got up
from the window seat and stood look
ing down at her.
Yes, there is way out" he an
swered but that Ia not the way"
Suddenly he caught her up In his
arms.
Jane" he cried, II never want to
speak harshly to you In my life. did
| once and have regretted it more than
| once. But you must not talk that way.
IL Ia 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 Ia my Joy to
please you But In this you hurt me:
not because you oppose me, but be-
| cause IL is you, You are good and you
| are honest and II you persevere In this
II Is because You do not understand.
That 10 what hurts: that I cannot
make yeu understand: the blandish-
ments and wtlss of pure crook
should not outweigh the counsel OF
your husband"
His words hurt her again. Instinc-
lively she recoiled as II 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 It. but she was deter
mined to return balm for stringent
and do battle in a woman's way.
But, Bob" che said. as she stepped
TO him and put her arm around his
shoulder; ARE we so unequal either
mentally or morally? Isn't it possible
that you are mistaken az well as II"
mo, we are not unequal. dear" he
answered. land Il 10 as possible for me
to be wrong "a you. But you are
arguing from a determined conviction
rather than true one. do not mean
you are deliberately deceiving your.
self. but you have permitted yourself
to be deceived"
He thrust her out at arms length
and looked flxedly into her eyes.
"Oh. Jane" hs cried, why do you
say these thingsH Why do you cheap
on yourself by defending dishonesty?
BuslnessH RotI It's theft A crook
Ia n 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 1: with
worda."
stan Jane persisted. sull she sub
| dued E. spirit that rebelled.
I'm not asking Demosthenes to
alter 1t, Bob. I'm not asking you to
submit TO anyone's 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 win do that or IL II
usual for them to unite one way or
| the other and say 'WeT have tried
to uphold my end OF the bargain. What
we have doAe we nave done together
| hnA ~
added quickly as she saw him start a.
| IL from a blow. "Dont-think that
am holding that up to you. You are
| an honest. able man and any woman
| could be proud to call you husband
What this world has given you. or
what you have taken from II, have
| been conten. 10 share, That Is all |
ask now: to share what you can take &"
The right word. no interrupted
| quickly. Take; that is It; take;
steall Do you hear me. Jane? Steal!"
He brought his tlst down sQuarely on
the table. then checked himself as II
ashamed Of vehsmence.
"Oh, what's the user" he said. He
bent toward her again. but without the
| t0uCn or CaES6S Oh u uioHSnL DSIoFN.
Jane" he ended. aud his voice was
low and sorrowfuis I'm not a thief
and not even you can make me one"
There was the cold tinality In his
| voice that meant no more" She saw
1t: saw that she had lost again. The
venom OF money lust had run deep in
Jane, or In that moment abe would
have seen and felt the man OF him.
But she turned away. The blood
mounted to her cheeks. Her answer.
though. was as stolid al his and It
! was not wrung from her with pain,
All right. Bob. We will let II drop.
But mark my words" she turned to
him With fearless. fiery syes-"Bob.
you will remember this day"
Poor Jane! She was right: he
would remember that day. but how
mucA more would she remember II:
Oh how many days and months and
years would che remember 1t and try
IN vain to etsace the memory
CHAPTER xuL