Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-22
LITTLE GRAY LADY.

Threw a ntful glare over the damp and
filthy walls and the gray gowned form OF
Hetter Moore. DR.. Paul Maryland stepped
aside, tl%attening his broad shoulders
against the baluster rail to admit q wider
passage for her benefit.
During the next two weeks this "slum-
ming" doctor and the soberly dressed lit
tie district visitor met half a dozen times
on their separate ways to or from some
den in a crowded alley, and at the end of
a fortnight they actually defled criticism
and spoke. 1t was raining a steady drizzle,
and through the mire Of a dirty court
Paul Maryland saw a familiar form in gray
stepping over the puddles without al UNI
brella.
"Please take NINE, " he said.
But she would only consent to share it.
"These places are not fit for you," said
the doctor later when walking with her
homeward. you're too young, too-too-
Indeed it is scarcely safe for SO young a
girl to venture among the criminals that
are hidden here"
"But l must, - she murmured.
"Ah, you are one of those brave women
willing to risk anything. l had heard
of you long before l had the pleasure of
lighting you down those rickety stairs two
weeks ago."
"You have heard of me?" she asked,
with an abrupt sharpness Of tone which
he did not notice.
Eyes, from the poor wretches whom
you have made your devoted friends, he
exclaimed. st is more often for you they
call in the extremity Of their pain than
for me-"
81 am glad If ! have done any good"
she said, signing with relief.
"Goodr' no echoed. "If the depraved
creatures about here worship anything at
all, it is the little gray lady, as they have
named YOU"
DR.. Paul Maryland was celebrating his
fortieth birthday over a lonely cup of tea.
1t was not often that he was left to enjoy
a meal in peace, and today was not an ex-
ception to the rule. He was still contem-
plating a second slice of cake when he re-
ceived a hasty summons to a case In Law
ender court.
"That's just like him." she growled in
monologue. Hell never be rich while
he doctors them paupers for nothing, and
they take vantage of his goodness, they
do. Now, if Master Jack hadn't turned
out a scoundrel'-
Master Jack was Paul Mayland's young
est brother, his junior by Is years, who
had been left as a sacred trust by their dy-
ing mother to the elders care. Some seeds
Of depravity, perhaps sowed in long gen.
erations past, early developed in young
Jack.
His distracted brother for several years
grieved for his sacred trust" as a thing
lost to him until one night Jack had ap-
peared craving protection from the law
For the sake of his dead mother Paul had
shielded the boy, who, when the danger
wa over, broke loose again, and in the
course of time his dexterity earned him in
the criminal world the sobriquet Of
Lightning Jack"
At Lavender court, in the room where
his patient lay, DR.. Maryland found the
little gray lady kneeling by the truckle bed
on which a consumptive child was dying.
81 sent for you," she said. II knew
you would come if you possibly could"
She had puzzled him from the f1rst-her
absolute loneliness and her reserve. To-
night, walking beside her through the
busy streets, he abruptly put his fancy in
to words.
eyes, 1 lin very tired" she answered.
II hate the work. l hate it,"
"But 1T ism compulsory, " he exclaimed.
"Why do you do it?"
because l must" she said bitterly.
Yes, he loved her. She had guessed it
long ago. 1t was in that moment when
he had once unconsciously revealed his Sc
cret that her work had become suddenly
hateful to herself.
81 love you, Hester; l love you" His
low voice penetrated through the traffic
of the street. II am not a young man,
but my feeling for you is deep and strong
enough to last my lifetime, even unto
eternity" He caught the sharp sob that
vas choked in her throat. CHESTER, " he
cried, "look at mel Oh, my darling, what
is it?"
IT am so happy" she said. "That is
ALL"
How long they walked up and down
the pavement neither knew. They were
jerked back to the reality of things by a
faint, hoarse voice that seemed to have
sprung out Of the darkness beside them.
"Paul, for Gods sake, AVE mel 1t is
the last time l shall trouble you"
go to my house by the back door. I
will join you in ten minutes"
And, catching at Hester s. hand, he hur-
ried her along.
"You are trembling, dearest. That
man has frightened you. He meant no
harm. He is my brother
"Your brotherl' she gasped. "Light-
ming Jack your brother!"
"What do you know of Lightning Jack?
Who are your"
"Come with me to my lodgings" she
said family. II can't tell you here"
Hester Moore sat with her arms stretch
ed across the table, her head bowed on
them in speechless, fearless misery. The
confidence which she had withheld so long
had been wrung from her ct last.
She was no angel Of charity, but a per-
son sent from Scotland Yard to track the
burglar Lightning Jack.
"Well, your victim Is ready at hand, 1"
he said bitterly to the trembling repre-
sentative Of Scotland Yard. "Of course
you will do your duty"
He walked from the room without q
backward glance. For an instant she re-
mained thus, spiritless and dazed.
What had she done to evoke contempt
or forfeit happiness' Born of a detective
father, she had BEEN carefully trained by
the clever parent in certain intricacies Of
che profession, and since his death the work
had been to her a means Of livelihood.
When the dawn showed through the
chinks Of the blind, she threw open the
window and leaned out her face in the
chilly breeze.
Hester, l have been waiting for you,
hoping against hope that you did not go
last night toto Scotland Yard"
"Thank Godr' she said, with shaking
lips.
Death had spared her a terrible task.
Lightning Jack had died in delirium In
the arms Of his brother. 3
One Of the cleverest lady assistants at
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