Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-25


ready to pounce on the unsuspecting
victim. They respect neither youth,
innocence, beauty, virtue, hope, faith,
love, nor any other emotion save the
greed of the dollars they get as the
price OF their morsel of human blood
and bone. The
MY God" said Reich hoarsely.
stop IT," He compressed his lips and
clenched his hands. What good does
1t do you to say this to me?" he went
on in a moment.
1T does me no good. of course"
Dual made answer, but the subject
makes my blood boil. Take this case,
for instance-what of the girl? They
have used the hottest of human pas
sions in order to betray her-her love
Tor the man she was to marry. She
responded to the call of love. as they
knew she must. and they met her.
Then she was in the web.
Where did they take her? To
some foul room, where she was PROB.
ably shut in like a Gagged beast, whose
cries and entreaties would fall on deaf
ears. What must she have suffered
when she realized her fate-that she
WAS trapped in net by those who
were lest to all human feeling.
What did she feel? What did she
say and do? Did she beat on The doors
and cry to her God for help because
only He could longer avail to help her?
Did she struggle vainly, and then worn
out with terror and grief throw herself
on poor bed and look into future
more cruel that DEATH
And remember death would be
denied her. They would take good
care that their new captive should live
until she reached market. Was she
woman to them, potential mother
thing to be respected, a human being
with an immortal soul?
mo. She was only a marketable
something, capable of putting dollars
into their pockets. she excited no
more compassion in their breasts than
the trapped creature in the fur hunt
er's snare. And this was for what?
To supply food for the most material
OF human cravings--the perverted ap.
petite of'degenerate men sacrifice
to the Moloch of passion. offered on
the bloody affairs of lust-the vicarious
expression Of false civilization an
improper manner OF living.
I'VE shudder at the living sacrifice
OF the anclents and call it inhuman.
AS God lives, it was gentle They
only destroyed the body Modern man
destroys body and soul. Mr.. Reich, |
shall find your sweetheart, and when
! have found her, shall free her, and
then some one--the one who is guilty,
promises going to pay!'
my Lord, | hope SOL" doomed the
colonel, I'D like 10 see the Jasper
stuck in a cage for about one natural
lifetime, KILN would be a little too
good, | reckon. Let him try taste of
the slavery end himself"
Dual shook his head Female life
and happiness are too cheap for that
in the opinion of our lawmakers" he
said in tone almost bitter. at least,
however, we can see that he gets a
few years"
But how?' Reich burst out. $50
far all we've done is talk. TaIkin' ne
yer amounts to much, What are you
going to do? You seem to know a lot
OF theory, Mr.. Dual, but while we are
talkin' those people are working. You
don't think they'll keep Lilly where
we can reach out and take her. do
you?"
mot Intentionally" said Dual. But
I have always noticed, Mr.. Reich, that
when good and evil cross swords 100
good generally has just bit of what
Sheldon would call edge on the evil.
As for acting, shall act when | deem
action is demanded
"An' you can gamble on that. too.
Homer" averred Colonel Mac. Il told
you about how he helped me one time.
couldn't see where he was goin'. no
more than you can, but you can bet he
arrived
He turned to Semi.
"He's pretty well hipped, Mr. Dual.
First off. he wanted to chase OF to
Salt Lake an try 20 run things down
on his lonesome. said no, an | had
to most hog.tie him to hold him. You
cant blame him, reckon, either Cad! |
do you remember me an Archie when
Alice was in trouble?'
III he loved her he would naturally
feel that way about it," Dual re.
sponded. Il do not wish Mr.. Reich 7
to act in any way not natural, believe
me! sympaihize fully with any man
who finds loved one in such danger,
and shall spare no effort to free her
as soon as | practically can do SO.
think of the woman herself AS well as
the man.
Il don't mean TO seem antagon.
istic," Reich stammered "put like
to see whore I'm going. | want To get
the thing settled. Sheldon's kept me
Idle Tor days. and my nerves are rag
~ > "A A. A.
Fl. would suggest that you go to bed"