The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-08-11

longer. The evening wasstill andy very
hot. She knew that the only ventila-
ton afforded in the prisoners room
was from single slit-like window. At
last she could stand it no longer, and
taking pitcher Of cold water and a
small tin cup, stole out of the gate and
across to the building opposite.
She peered through the bars, but the
interior was in the blacklist darkness.
The man was breathing heavily, groan-
ing with nearly. every breath. She
shook the bars gently once or twice
to attract his attention, and spoke
softly: ~
Say, mister-listen!"
Finally she heard a motion, and in a
moment the man answered weakly:
''What is it?"
cts so hot that I've brought q
pitcher of water. Don't you want a
drink?"
"Yes, yes" he answered thickly and
eagerly. IF you can wait till I pull
myself up"
After some struggling the man stood
at the window. The light from across
the opposite street cast faint glow on
the wall and window, and she could see
that his face was fairly livid and his
eyes bright and staring. The cup
would not go through the bars until
she had bent its rim, he watching her
eagerly. He emptied it thirstily twice.
"You mustn't have any MORE" she
said warningly. Here is cloth wet
in the cold water. Rub your face and
it will refresh YOU"
'I>believe you've saved my life," he
murmured. II felt myself sinking
away with every breath till I heard
your voice."
Il heard you come up the alley with
the policeman" whispered Molly, ''and
I knew you told the truth. I am so
sorry"
swell, you're blessed woman!" said
he, fervently. Both for believing the
story of an unfortunate man, and for
thinking to bring me the water. I'm a
respectable farmer, from 10 miles
west of Veneering land it's true about
the sunstroke. He found me lying on
drunk. have money enough to make
some one smart for this-only there's
the disgrace Of the police court in the
morning."
Dizzy and weak, he leaned against
the bars and groaned at the thought.
eff you've friends in town. maybe
could see some one for you tonight -
whispered Molly, timidly.
The man Strengthened himself. "The
very ideal" he exclaimed. go to DR..
Roberts, on Fourteenth and Locust
streets. He treated me last month
when I was sick. Here's the envelope
he addressed to me himself when he
receipted my bill. Give it to him and
tell him about this
Before he had time to say more,
Molly seized the envelope and slipped
away. The young man felt his way to
the shelf-like berth in the corner and
sat down to rest. Somehow, the dark
ness did not seem so intense as it had
before, nor did he feel exhausted. The
cold water had refreshed him, the
kindly words of the little Samaritan
had strengthened him. His heart felt
warm when he thought of her.
In less than an hour he heard tap
ping on the bars. This time he did not
have to crawl along the floor to reach
the window.
''Dr. Roberts was very angry she
whispered, land went to headquar-
ters to see about your case. He says
that he'll bring the officers right away.
I'm so glad. Good-by."
''But watt" said the prisoner. "Tell
me your name. ] want to know whom
to thank for this great service"
''I'm only Molly Britts," she whis-
pered, land I work for Mrs. Revel]
across the alley. You're welcome, I'm
sure, but it's not likely you'll ever see
me again"
''But I'd like to know why won t, "
was the answer. cam I just to forget
all this? John Derring is his own mas
ter, and he'll probably see you before
he leaves town Tomorrow"
'But-but-I don't want you to see
me-" answered she, glad that the dark
hid her bushes.
'Why?', he urged.
"Oh-because I'm so-ugly!" whis-
pered Molly, in agonized confusion
that made the brand on her cheek
burn and throb.
"Oh!" laughed the young man soft.
ly, tone of relief in his voice. "You'll
have to let me he the judge of that.
Shake hands till tomorrow" as Mol
ly's work-hardened little hand slipped
through the bars into his warm clasp,
land take my God bless you along
with you. Good night"
Molly hurried away just as the po-
licemen with their lanterns turned
into the alley. From her window in
the rear of the house she watched the
group of men out of sight, on their way
from the Jail, turned to look at herself
in the mirror a moment, and then went
to bed to cry herself to sleep and to
dream of feverishly bright eyes and
dark curly hair.
John Derring, pale from his expert
ence of the night before, stood before
Molly in the kitchen the next morn
ing. She blushed and quivered painful
ly, but not by the tremble of an eye
lash did he show that he saw the throb-
bling mark on her face, and from that
moment she worshiped him. Three
months later, she stepped out one
morning, clad in modest gray, and
went with him TO the nearest parson-
age. where they were married, much
to Mrs. Revell's dismay and disgust,
that lady giving speech to some of her