Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-12

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She dropped the brush with . elst'
ter TO the floor. and. turning. caught
Elizabeth by both arms. bursting into
tears. "ile helped you when you had
nothing" she said passionately. at.
due 10 him that you're where you are
now. oh, Elizabeth. YOU
won't lei him die!'
Elizabeth closed her eye. and
swayed in the elder girls grasp; ios
a moment everything seemed TO fade
away from her. leaving her cold and
sick; she opened her eyes with an ei.
tort.
what do you mean! What do you
means' she whispered.
MEAN, Why. that you must &c,
the money to save him." Neita said
fercely. Il don't know ii you care
Tor him-l suppose tou don't or you
wouldn't keep clear OF us both like
you do. What are you made OIL"
she demanded in despair. IF he
loved me as he loves you. do you
think anything in the world would
keep me away from hims ] shouldn't
care il he'd got so wives. She ought
TO be dead, that woman! You don't
know her as | do-you don't know
how bad she is" She let Elizabeth
so so suddenly that the girl almost
fell, but Netta did no, heed her;
she began pacing about the room,
crying and wringing her hands.
Shed sell her soul for money.
She's taken every penny he had,
know" She swung round again.
"She blackmailed him about you, too.
She threatened TO spread all manner
OF lies about you both il he didn't
give her what money she wanted.
She found out that he cared for YOU,
or she imagined she'd found out. and
she made him pay every time. She's
a brute, brute-f wish she was
dead"
Meta broke into fresh sobbing.
She was tired out and her nerves
were on edge. This unexpected visit
from Elizabeth had proved the last
straw, For moment there was 81
lence in the room, then Elizabeth
said in cold little voice:
"You know he would never take
the money from me-you know"
She could not go on; she felt that
her heart was breaking. Meta s
words Of passionate injustice had
hurt her cruelty when the only thing
in the world that mattered was that
Royston was i'll and in trouble.
Meta looked up, her face swollen
with crying.
DO you think I'd let him know il
was from your" she asked brokenly
I'm not such a f-fool as t-that
There are ways it could be done
there are lots of people who owe him
money. He's saint; you're not the
only one he's helped. | could find a
way to make him take it if he killed
me for it." She went back to where
Elizabeth stood and looked at he,
earnestly. "You don't love him
Elizabeth" she said.
Elizabeth raised her eyes; eyes that
were all the more pitiful because they
could not find the relief of tears.
I'D give my life for him." she said
tonelessly. "He knows, and he-he-
sent me away"
There was tragic silence, then
Meta said with a rough humility;
I'm sorry l spoke like fool; for
give me. Elizabeth. but I've been so
miserable" She dried her eyes
fercely. "You must get the money
she said. "You will get it, won't
your"
Eyes"
Elizabeth spoke with quiet conf
dence. If Meta had demanded l,OOC
pounds she would unhesitatingly have
promised it; it no longer troubled
her to know that she had to 60 to
Farmer for it-she hardly gave him
a thought; the money was for Roys.
ton, that was enough; she would
have sold herself body and soul to
help him.
"How much must he have?" she
asked.
Meta laughed mirthlessly.
There's man named Bruton who
owes him 200 pounds" she said. III
you could get that" she broke of,
to add in despair: "But you can't
get all Of that OF course"
Yes, | can," Elizabeth said, I'll
you-lt you are sure you can do the
rest-make him take it, | mean."