The San Francisco call., 1897-10-24

! for freedom from the thralldom of Pins.
If she was at all alarmed she concealed
her feelings admirably, but l was in II
| mental condition now not TO he surprise%
! at aEy turn which her Whimsical nature
might suggest. Her calm self-reliance was
indescribably becoming. She seated her.
! self and crossed her hands over her knees
with Gemure show OF resignation. The
! District Attorneys manner was uncomA
monty serious as he said:
| mo one, to look at you, would easily
take you 10 be the leading spirit OF the
shrewdest gang of criminals that ever in.
| tested this country, and l must confe-s
that, accom- pIished actress as you have
already shown yourself to be, it is ex.
tremely difficult for me 20 balieve it,"
| Notwithstanding his sternness, which
warned her that levity was now out of the
question: there was kindly tone in his
voice His words. evidently more tnan
his manner, had startling effect. The
girl, apparently as though she had heard
something incredible. turned slowly and
faced him, her eyes widening and her face
at first crimsoning and then blanching. L
prepared mvself to witness the finest COM
bat between two acute intellects that ever
it has been my fortune 10 see; and l could
not but feel certain sympathy for the
girl, knowing what an enormous advan-
tage the officer OF the law enjoyed in his
consciousness OF right and power. Was
there no other feeling behind my SYM
pathy? Was there no contrition that in
order to save myself l had brought a
young girl into so hopeless a positienP
And was there not yet sen iment deeper
and tenderer, that fuII knowledge OF my
own sense of wrong was inefficient TO
efface2
''You look like a gentleman" she said,
gazing firmly at the officer, and she spoke
almost in whisper, as though a"%l
rather than frightened. ~ ou look HkeA
gentleman, and yet-and yet-you Insult
mel l don't know what the good God has
put it into your heart to meanl Rob me
if You will and leave me a beggar; can
submit TO that, bat not to insults" Her
lip quivered and her voice came fuller as
she added in a despairing burst: ''Does
it not seem pretty hard for three big men
toto browbeat one poor grim this
way? And yet l had thought that there
was at least one gentleman among you'll"
And she sank into her chair.
The District Attorney firmly but kindly
assured her there was no intention either
to rob or browbeat her aud that he was
grieved only to observe that although she
must know the hopeIessness of her posi-
tion she was so hardened as to be willing
to 60 down cheerfully in the crash which
had overtaken her; he had hoped she
might be glad OF an opportunity to aban-
don evil ways and enter upon better life.
81 don't understand you" she cried.
springing to her feet and trembling in an
Of q
speak out like man."
"Very well," he said, with the utmost
GOODNESS, I'VE know that you are the
genius of a gang OF counterfeiters who
have given US infinite trouble. Not only
hat, but you have made mlsera ble dupe
Of this gentleman by pretending 10 be his
friend in order that you might divert sus-
picion from yourself and your confed-
crate by turning over the counter citing
tools TO him in valSe and then sending
us a note that you knew would insure his
arrest and possibly his conviction, so tnat
atte ntion might be diverted from you,
nd You and your eonfederates thus be
enabled to escape. Could any plol be
more despicable: ?"
The girls face became whittier, and what
seemed like unutterable terror came into
her eyes. She stared at US by turns most
pitifuiIy. Surely | had never seen so ex-
quisite, though so hopeless, acting!
"Counterfeiters? she exclaimed; 81
never saw ounterfeiter in my life" She
turned and looked at me, her ewes swim
ming. "And they were going to convict 4
you as q counterfeiter because l gave you 1
that valise! Why, l would not knowingly
have brought you into danger for all the
worldF' She paused, and / could not get
a word out of my throat. And so you
are having your revenge!" she cried Bit
terly. She buried her face in her hands
and We all sat strangely silent. Presently
she said, very quietly but apparently
somewhat bewildered:
II believe | nderstano it all now, ,
though none of you Will help me. Oh,
what fool l have been! have been
treated far more hamefully than 1 have
treated another"
10 be concluded nsGt week.