Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-10-25

feur named Morton. Whitaker pre-
vents Mary's suicide.
desperate enough to marry n man
who's bound to die within six months
and leave you free? I'm that man :
the doctors give me six months more
Of life. VIII you take my name to
free yourself? Heaven my witness,
you're welcome TO it,
"Oh,' She breathcd, aghast, "what
are you saying"
"Ttn proposing marriage" he said,
with his quaint, one-sided smile.
please listen: | came to this place
TO make a quick end to my troubles
but I've changed my mind about that,
now. What's happened in this room
has made me sre that nobody has
any right to--hnsttn things. But
mean to leave the country-immetlinte
ly-and let death find me where it
will. | shall leave behind me Il name
and little money neither Of any con-
celvnble use to me. viii you take Them
employ them to make your life what
1t was meant to be? It's little thing,
hut 1t will make me feel lot more
fit to 60 out of this world--to know
I've left at least one decent net to
mark my memory. There's only this
far fetched chxncc-I may live. It's a
million-to-onc shot, but you've got to
bear 1t In mind. But really you can't
lose
ooh, stop. stop" she implored him,
half hystercal. "To think of marrying
TO benefit by the death of q man like
YOU"
you've no right to look at II that
way" He had Il wry, secret smile for
his speclous sophistry. You're being
asked to confer, not to accept, favor.
It's just an act of kindness to hope
less man. I'd go mad If didn't know
you were safe from a recurrence of
the folly of this afternoon
Don't" she cricd--"don't tempt
me. You've no right. You
don't know how frantic | am. :"
II do" he countered frankly. I'm
depending on just that to swing you
to my point of view. You've got to
come to it. l mean you shall marry
me-"
She stared up at him, spelbound
insensibly yielding to the domination
of his will. 1t was inevitable. He was
scarcely less desperate than she-ant
no less overWrought and unstrung:
and he was the stronger: in the ma
tural course of things his will could
not but prevail.
The last trace of evening light had
FADED out of the world before they
were agreed. Darkness wrapped them
In its folds; they We're but as voices
warning in black and boundless void.
Whitaker struck match and ap-
piled 1t to the solitary gas-jet. A thin,
blue, suffering tongue of flame re-
vealed them to one another The girl
still crouChed in her armchair, weary
md spent her powers Of contention
MI vitatcd by the losing struggle.
Whitaker was trembling with nervous
fatigue.
'Well?' he demanded.
"Oh, have your own way" she said
drearly. eff 1t must be :"
ITS for the best" he insisted OBJ
stnately. you'll never regret it,"
"One of us will--either you or l."
she said quietly. It's too oncsided.
You want to give oil and ask nothing
in return. It's fools bargain"
He hesitatcd, stammerng with sur
prise. She had a habit Of saying the
unexpected. "A fools bnrgain"-the
wisdom OF the sage from the lips of Il
Then It's settled" he said, business
like, Offering his hand. Fools bar
gain or motifs bargain"
She rose unassisted. then trusted her
slender fingers to his palm. She said
nothing. The steady gaze of hcr ex-
traordinnry eyes abashed him.
They left the hotel together Whit |
aker got his change of hundred dol
lars at the desk~"Alrs. Morten's" bin, |
OF course, included with his-and |
bribed the bell-boy to take the suit.
case to the railway station and leave !
1t there, together with his own hand. |
bag. Since he had unaccountably con-
ceived determination to continue liv-
Ing for time, he meant to seek out
more pleasant accommodations for the
night.
The rain had ceased, leaving
ragged sky Of clouds and stars in
patches. The air was warm and heavy
with wetness Sidewalks glistcned like
black watercd silk /; street lights mir
rored themselves In fugitive puddcs
in the rondwnys; limbs of trees over
the sidewalks shfvered now
and again in half-hcnrted breeze,
pelting the wayfarers with miniature
showers Of lukewnrm, scented drops.
Whitaker taking his heart and his
fate in his hands, 0ccosted n venerable