The Holly chieftain., 1899-05-19
Our Justifiable Crime
And How 1t Ended
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HOLD MAN, I want your advice" I"

Dcbenham broke piece of si-
Ience that had lasted some ten
minutes or so, and during which he had
sat frowning AT the fire, putting at his
;riar in that erratic fashion which de-
notes a perturbed mind. had been
studying his face through haze of to-
bacco smoke, and, being prepared for
his words, answered that he was well
come TO the best counsel | could give,
whereupon he thanked me very ear
uestIy and threw himself back in his
Easy chair.
"It's a rather curious affair" he be-
gan. difiidcntly. ut happened last
night ! wanted to go out to Bayswater
to see my old nurse, who lives there.
took the bus at oxford Circus. AS 1
dare say. you remember it was, a nasty
night. wet and foggy, and the vehicle
vas soon full; in fact, by the time we
reached Westbourne Grove there was
only room for another. Here we picked
up our last passenger. She was young
lady"
And OF course. you contriyed that
,he should sit by you" said.
"You would have done the same your
sclf," Debenham retorted. ANY man
would, for she had the sweetest face.
It's haunted me all night-it has, really.
dare say She was about is. or perhaps
.O-not more. She had brown eyes,
'ery brown eycs-you know, the kind
chat seem to speak, almost-and they
we're shaded by long lashes. She has
L.; thn blvd of hair tn a Z
.wistS into n lot of curls-natural curls,
fou know. wonder why all girls don't
wear their hair that way. Then her
mouth-her mouth"
Never mind her mouth" Il inter
posed. hastily, seeing that he was about
to indulge in an eNtravagant flood of
rhapsody. 1T was an ideal mouth, ]
haven't a doubt. and I'm sure that her
,hin was all that chin ought to be,
out these special features, / take it,
aave nothing TO do with your story"
"Well-er-not exactly. but you'd un-
ierstand fellow raving about her if
you'd seen her. OF course, | can't make
you understand what she was like.
She was the sort OF girl you feel you
IAN never describe"
"Just so; regular unique specimen.
know the kind
Indeed you don't, for there isn't an
other girl in London like her."
"Well. well. then. there isn't" | re-
turned impatiently. The fact was Deb
enham had come to my rooms so often
with the same story that it was becom-
ing trife monotonous.
.She sat down next to me" he went
on. "There wasn't much room, and
she thanked me when moved. She had
the sweetest voice"
"Well, there's nothing curious about
that. believe you said"
I'm coming to it If you'll only give
me time" he returned. in an nggrieved
tone. You've no patience. 1t was
when the conductor came round for
fares. Then she felt for her purse; she
found ii was missing. At first she
thought she must have dropped it, and
searched the floor and under the seat
However, it wasn't there. Poor girl!
never saw anyone so distressed in my
life. 1t seemed she had five pounds in
il, and il was evidently quite fortune
to her. Well, paid her fare for her
and we got out together"
81 don't think you need tell me any
more" | said dryly.
Debenham stared.
"Why not?"
because l know the rest"
How the"
"Ies. I do. You lent her the fv'
pounds, OF course. My dear fellow
you've been had"
81 didn't do anything of the kind!
Debenham retorted. hotly. ssh
wouldn't let me. That's what came t.
ask your advice about. l thought tina
as you were lawyer you might be abl'
20 suggest something. but wish IL
never mentioned it to you"
OF course | hastened to soothe hi
ruffled plumes. and in little while h
went on with his tale. 1t appeared tina
be had seen her home, and that he ha
learned her name. 1t was Charnley-
Kate Charnley. She was dressmake
and lived with her sister.
'And you want to help them, eh?"
said. after time.
'Yes, but it'll be difficult matter