The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-03-11

But, Bob" she answered-and she
looked at him through mist dlmmed
eyes-"why has he told me anythingY
Why. II this--this terrible thing has
happened-haven't you told me or
warned me? Brand said you are
ruined"
Il am" he broke in quickly. "He told
you the truth there. but did he tell you
how | am going to remedy it,"
"He said you had asked for more
money-blackmail Oh. Bob" she
cried. clutching at his hands. 1T isn't
true. is it5"
He pressed her hands, but answered
doggedly:
Yes. 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. Il know what I've done
and what I'm going to do now
But you can't do II; you shan't,
she exclaimed Brand doesn't owe
you money. II you've lost yours we
will have to suffer for 1t. not Brand"
Her words acted as an irritant to
the sore.
so. it's Brand. not me-" he an.
swered bitterly. That's what I want
ed to know; to know how stand be
| tun ne n
line OF march once, but not again
Jane. II you side with Brand against
me this time we are done, that's all
We don't seem to do team work very
well and can go II alone"
His tone, as cold and hard as hii
words, truly frightened her.
"Bob-Bob, dear" she cried, don
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 wore
OF It. Brand fooled you once and hei
fooled you again. but he'll find
haven't been so dull a pupil as h'
thinks. His game is all right II III
played to a finish, and that is JUS
what | am going TO do-play IL to tn
end. He used me when | was usefu
and thought when the right time cam
he could throw me aside. | was weal
enough to get into his meshes an
I'm strong enough to get out. He foun
stock and trade in your credulity owe
on Staten Island and he thinks he cal
rely on you again. Did he tell yo
how lost my money-the very last O
1T"
"In the stock market"
yes, but did he tell you | investe
tell you that he won lot Of money o
the same stock? Did he7" he repeate
as she sat staring at him in silence.
"He didn't say anything about hin
self, Bob"
mo. OF course. he didn't. He didn
say anything about you. either. / SUI
pose. He didn't tell you that when b
framed 1t up with you for US to TAX
that money from the cement deal this
we we're committing felony and ths
you we're party to the crime as muc
as any OF us. He didn't tell you this
II talked and we went to Jail that yo
would go along with us. He didn't ga
that. did heY"
Reynolds paced the foor and h
voice rose to almost hysterical pitcl
Cod" he exclaimed. as he stoppe
- and faced her, II almost believe he
convinced you that I'm q criminal an
y he's a saint with a double ringe
II halo!"
!. She had reached the end OF her o.
durance and stood up quiyering wit
n resentment.
J. You have no right to abuse me tn
way" she cried. "and won't stand
,f You know that | only tried to find
B. place for us among decent people ar
q give you the opportunity to provit
d It,"
y Opportunity he sneered. "Ye
I. opportunity for plain. ordinary THE
'r ing. That's what 1t was. and did
s. for you. Now there are two altern
% tives, Jane. One to go on, and Il
II other to give up. II you want to go {
D. I'm going to have my way this tin
II ard Brand will have to deal with q
,r and answer to me. not to you. I'm n
! going to let him OF with $4,000
1t squaring matters at the bank. and
sr out into the world penniless. | am q
ss ing to clear my conscience and ma
c. a clean breast OF 1t or / am going
70 make It plain blackmail and make
pay. Either we're crooks or we
)" honest and II we've made up our min
O. to be crooks let's be good onee."
r. Bob" she cried again. backil
I'd away while he followed. Her ba
ID was to the wall now and she crouch
I'd almost as II she expected a blow.
I'd "Yes. crooks!" he persisted In Q
n. swer to her look OF horror. "Tha
ne what l said. Crooks!"
His hand was extended. fist doubl,
g. But OF a sudden It dropped to /
side. Her look OF appeel--of able
q terror-pierced the mists OF his clio,
ed brain. He stopped. limp and he
"a. less.