Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-11-22

], / WONDER" she managed to say In
her low, restrained voice-a voice
that, no matter how often 1t broke,
never wholly lost note Of once gen.
tie breeding-"might l." she added,
repeating her plea, speak to John
Selvood right away-just for few
minutesT
Doctor Carpy lifted his eyebrows
with a grating laugh, and as If
things were getting too complicated.
$50 that's what you're hanging
around fort Why didn't you say sof
Well, now, I'll tell you; If you're
worrying about John, don't do 1t. That
boy amt hurted none to speak Of.
Shucksl I never thought"
She caught her breath. "It's not
about him." she exclaimed, in distress,
'far from It'll But I must speak with
him"
"'Fraid it's too late to ketch him
now" objected the doctor, still mys-
titled by her strange interest. "The
boys are waiting to set up another
telegraph pole party. And they're
waiting for John to come down t6
the station before they begin. See
him when he comes back, Meg"
Her lips could scarcely frame
words. 81 must see John Selwood,"
she repeated, with supreme effort
at self-control. IT must see him now.
Who is In there with him?"
"Bill Pardaloe and Bob Scott"
Doctor" she exclaimed, stepping
closer In her almost frantic appeal,
'help me! Ask them to step out
moment-I tell you, I must talk to
him alOne-now."
1t was impossible not to acknowl-
edge her extremity. Carpy reopened
Selwood's door. He spoke to Parda
loe and Scott. look here, boys" he
said, reckoning with his head, "both
Of you. Step out here minute. Meg
wants to talk to John, private"
Selwood, cleaned up and brushed
up as decently as he could be with
his bandaged arm and hands. stood
before the table preparing to go to
thC Uoi Ii. 1lC was puShilho VII hio
cartridge belt; his coat was thrown
over his shoulder. Hearing Marga-
ret's footsteps he looked around One
glance revealed the agony in her
face. He laid unlighted on the table
a cigarette that Scott had rolled for
him, and spoke. "What is 1t, Marga-
ret" He pointed to chair. you're
not hurtr'
Looking at him like one dumb with
emotion, she sat down. When she
spoke, she had already forgotten the
question he had just asked. "Mr. Sell
wood"
He interrupted her. He had taken
his revolver up from the table and
was slowly slipping cartridges back
into the cylinder. "Since when," he
demanded with good-natured uncon-
Germ, Ibid stop being just plain
'John'?"
"Never, to me-never," she said
brokenly. "But tonight come to beg
my life at your thanksgiving, pray
ing you won't deny me. Let me tell
you what I mean-tell you my story.
I was married ten years ago, when
I was eighteen. Oh, yes" she said,
to cut off his surprise, 81 know how
old T look-trouble has done that.
For three years I had the best hus-
band in the world-kind, considerate,
devoted. His friends persuaded him
to 60 into politics. They elected him
city treasurer Of the little town where
we lived in Michigan. That was his
undoing; 1t meant being out nights.
being a good fellow, drinking, spend
ing, wasting.
1T lasted two years. And during
that time fell sick. I was very sick,
q long time, and he did everything
he could in the world to care for me
to relieve me. I cost him so much,
oh, so much for .doctors-more than
I wanted him to spend; but he would
try everything that gave us the least
hope. He said I should have the best
care, and he gave 1t literally, extrav-
agantly, to me. Then-one night he
come home. He had been drinking"
She stopped an instant. 'sIt was the
first time in my life, John, had seen
him in drink" she went on. "He told
me that night his accounts were short
that the next day his books would
be examined; that he must face the
penitentiary-or run away"
In her agony she sat, now twisting
and clasping her fingers, now her
hands; now looking at the floor, now
looking at Selwood imploringly-her
words wrung from her reluctant lips.
"When he told me that" she faltered
on, II was frightened. was so weak
that night And I was wicked. I told
him to go, John-to go at once. But
to write me. And that when he found
some safe place far away in the
West, I would Join him."
Selwood only looked at her-not
unfeelingly, but as one who could
say nothing because he knew Of moth
ing to say. Margaret moistened her
parched lips. "He never wrote me-"
she said, In low, hard voice; eff he
did, I never got the letter. I made up
my mind he must have been hurt, or