Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-19
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~CIJAIT"' His voice was rough with
w emotion. "we'll talk straight
s.,e isn't any other way. IL think
Ioved YOU, Teresa, that night, the
av,t time I saw you, when YOU stood
~ the threshold OF your fathers room.
Tonight know that I love you, and
-" ~
"pave!" ,..
His hold had brought her very close
.,sin TO him. He could see a great
cr,mson tide food and sweep the white
and suddenly averted face. .
s'WnIt - he said again. II think ]
have learned other things as well to-
nirht--that you care, Teresa, too, but
that the stolen money stands between
,on nnd Inc. That is what | mean by
buying you, and your love, with take'
ifI returned the money on that ac-
carnt II would not be because | had
.,ddenIy become honest--which is the
one thing above all else that you ASK
far IL would NOT be for honcsty's
AXE. but because J was n hypocrite
and dishonest with you. and was let
fling the money go because / was get
ting something for 1t that was worth
rnoTe 70 me than the money--because
was making good bargain that was
chesp at a hundred thousand dollars.
az can't make myself believe that I
feel a sense Of honesty any more to-
nisht than I did the night I first took
that money, and ! would be cur to
try to make you think I did
He could feel her hands tremble in
his: he could see the sweet face, the
crimson gone from it. deathly pale
,rsin. Her lips seemed quivering for
words, but she did not speak. And sud-
denly he dropped her hands; and his
own hands clenched. and clenched again,
at his sides. There was biting mock
cry at himself stirring, and moilirg in
his brain. "You fool You fool -
voice cried out. shes yours! Take
beri All you've got to do is change
your tune: she'll believe you-so if
you're not honest, why don't you steal
hsr!'
Listen - It seemed as though he
were forcing himself to speak against
Ma will. '"There is another reason; but,
arrt, SO that you will understand. there
ia Millman. re Is too long a story to tell
Won all Of it. Millman is the man l
spoke of-who Is honest-like you.
toM him when was in prison where
IN money was. and I thought he had
double crossed me. Instead, he gave ii
back 10 me tonight-that is how / got
4 40 SOON" He laughed out sharply.
hsrshly. "But Millman said il I didn't
rive II back to the estate OF the man
from whom I took it. he would pay it
ont OF his own pocket, because, for me,
no had been a thief, too. Do you un-
dsrstand? That's why I said / didn't
know what was going to do. My
God-I-I don't know yet. know well
enough that il tile police were tipped off
tonight. and got the money, that would
let Millman out Of paying it: but that's
not the point. ] cant squeal now, can
I! can't 20 sneaking to the police,
and say: There II is in Daso Georges
safe; can't get my own paws on 1t
srain, so I've turned honest. and you |
can 70 and take II! | wouldn't like !
TO face Millman and tell him the money !
had gone back that way-because !
couldn't help it--because it had been |
taken from me. and l was doing the |
smug act in piker play.
She stepped toward him quickly.
Dave" she whispered tremulously, |
swhat do you mean? What are you
going to dor
| "Tm going to get that money--from
bsro George" he said in fiat voice.
Hll get that money II 60 through
Ael again for II, as I've been through
hen for It already. Then maybe II III
10 back where IL came from. and maybe
II won't; but If it does 60 back, it'll !
90 back from Dave Hrndcrson-not
pago George
She clutched frantically at lSs arm.
"No, no ~ she cried out.
Listen - he said You have said
you meant that money should be re-
burned il II were within your power 10
Scomplish it. I understand that. Well,
IS matter what the result, to Daso
George or to me, | am going down
there to get that money-if / can. But
Il. Remember that! / promise nothing:
90 you are free to leave here; and II
you think, and perhaps you will be :
right, that the surest way to get the
money back Is to 60 instantly to the
police, shall not blame you. II the
police can beat me to it before | settle ,
With Dago George, they win-thnt's all. ,
But In any case, it is not safe for you
to stay in this place, and So" I
II was not thinking of that ~ she
ssid In low voice. "Nor shall leave
this house-unul you do. IL am afraid
for you. You do not know Dago I
8sorge.' I
He did not stir for a moment; then,
With some great, overwhelming i'm
pulse upon him, he took her face in
10Th his hands, and held 1t there up
.urned 10 his and looked into her great
lark eyes until the lashes dropped and '
nd them from his gaze.
Teresa" he whispered low. there
sss some things that are worse than ,
,sng q thief. couldn't lay down !
ny hand now, II wanted to, could T? ,
can't quit now. can I? ! can't :
nawl, I took that money; and, !
vhether l mean to give it back my =
slf, or keep it, I'd rather go out for
lood than tell the police It's there, v
md see the sneer for an honest man /,
arned honest because he had lost his a
,srve, and didn't dare 60 after the h
money and face the risk of show h
own with Dago George, which was the &
MY way In which he could stay dis h
.onsst. Teresa, you see. don't you?" :
10 vcacs was passionate, hungry In
= eernsstness. Theresa, what would
'eu do-play the game, or quit2"