Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-04-01
CHAPTER ii.
The Master of the Dirty Mary.


A week before this story opens.
UP1ah Devon had steamed the length
of the lake, anchoring his boat as near
ithaca as he dared. Even to his wife,
Edith. he had not confided why he had
brought her to a town where yawning
prison doors gaped for her every pass
ing hour.
81 won't go, Riah," Mrs. Devon had
cried when her husband had made the
statement that he intended to visit
Ithaca. "You couldn't get me near
that place with a rope around my
neck"
But the very fact ethat she now sat
on a small bench against the boat rail,
gazing moodily at the water, proved
that Uriah Devon had contrived to
have his way.
Occasionally Mrs Devon lifted her
head to listen and turned her eyes to
the west where a narrow path zig
Jagged it's length up the hill to the
boulevard. Into her tortured soul
had come a belief since the night be-
fore, that Tony's "Gloriest Cod"
would send her man home.
Suddenly the sound of heavy foot
steps in the forest path brought her
sharply around. At last he was COM
ing. this man she loved, perhaps
drunk, perhaps to beat her; but new
ertheless he was coming, and that was
all she cared about.
ell Ixy tho
gangplank in silence.
"Where you been?" the woman
forced herself to say. But instead Of
replying, he demanded:
"Where's Tonnibel?"
81 Dunno" was the answer. "a min
ute ago she was over there not ten of
your legs jumps from here. .
Where you been all this week?"
He'd been on a terrible spree, she
decided. He looked as if he had been
drunk for days. That he had some
thing unusual on his mind, she knew,
and she knew, too, it was about Ton
llnibel, for hadn't he asked for the kid
the moment he'd returned?
"It's about time we was doing
things, Ede," he said, turning grimly.
"Pve waited as long as dared. Rege
says Paul Pendlehaven hasn't an inch
leeway before he's in his coffin.'"
Mrs. Devon's face grew deathly
pale.
what do you mean, honey?" she
faltGred.
awe live like rats in hole" took
up the man, after a pause, "while if
Tony was made to do her part, we'd
be on easy street That's what / mean.
We've got to have money and lots of
it. Reggie's willing to marry the kid
if you mind your business afterward.
His marryin' her amt sayin' he'll stick
to her. But we got to have Doodle,
and we can't get it only through her."
"He shan't have 'er," the woman
said, with hard tones and flashing
eyes. GLOW many times We / got to
say it over to you? If that's the why
you've come to Ithaca, you might as
well turn the old scow north and go
back again. He's bum," she went
Ion. "a dude and a fool and every
thing else that's bad He's thief,
too"
= Devon laughed.
$50 am I, Ede," said he. $50 re you
for that matter. If Reggie knew that
Tony was Paul Pendlehaven's kid, we
wouldn't get one d=n cent of her
money. He SWITCHES from the Pendle-
Ihavens and his mother because he
don't get cash enough other ways. A
tfeller's got to have spendin' money"
"Pretty small pickin's," sneered
Edith Devon. "Stealin' from folks al
most in the grave amt my style. Reg
jgie's some second-story man, that
young duffer is"
"You sneaked Paul's kid" tainted
devon. "He wouldn't be almost in
his grave now If you'd kept your
hands off'n Tony"
The woman turned on him savagely,
paying no heed to his words.
"Get your blasted Reggie to steal
enough for us all from the Pendleha-
vens," she said. "God knows they've
got it and to spare. It's better'n
handin' Tony over to i'm. He lives at
Pendlehaven's, don't he?"
"He won't do it," cut in Devon.
''Reggie amt got the nerve to burn his
fingers too deep. Paul Pendelhaven'd
send him up for that, if he caught
hiln. My plan is to get Tony married
to Rege, and before the lids screwed
down on PendIehaven's face, shove
the girl in between John Pendlehaven
and his precious cousin, Reggie's
mother, and then Rege and me gets
Tony's money, sect"
Edith shivered.
81 hear what you say" she NUT
tered, land 'spose I'll do it if you
promise not to let that pup hurt Tony
when he gets her. :. Best let's wait
another year before talkin' marriage
to her, though"
"Nothin' doin'," rasped the man.
"Tony's almost a woman, and she's
eatin' her head off. After she's mar
RED"
"EOu two men'n rag the kid to death