Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-05-11

lies within those 40 rods? These men
think we ought to see. I"
The shrug gave answered both the
open and the underlying question. Sat.
isfied that he would understand it so |
hurried away from him and approached
Mother Jane.
See ~ said l. astonished at the regu-
larity of her features, now that had q
good opportunity of observing them. 81
have brought you money. Let them dig
up your turnips if they will"
She did not seem to perceive me. Her
eyes were wild with dismay and her
lips trembling with a passion far be-
You'd my power to comfort.
"Lizzie!' she cried. "Lizzie! She
will come back and find no home. Oh,
my poor girl My poor, poor girl!'
1t was pitiable. l could not doubt her
anguish or her sincerity. The delirium
of O broken heart cannot be simulated.
And this heart was not controlled by
reason; that was equally apparent to
any one who could see. Immediately
my heart, which goes out slowly, but
none the less truly on that account, was
touched by something more than the
surface sympathy Of the moment. She
may have stolen, she may have done
worse, she may even have been at the
bottom of the horrible crimes which
have given its name to the lane we
were in, but her acts, if acts they were,
were the result of clOudcd mind fixed
hp nnpIS IF ON
other and not the expression Of personal
turpitudo or even Of personal longing
or avarice. Therefore could pity her,
and did.
Making another appeal, pressed the
coin hard into ono of her hands till the
contact effected what my words had
been unable to do, and she finally look
ed down and saw what she was clutch
ing. Then indeed she changed, and III o
few minutes of slowly growing cOmpro-
hension became so quiet and absorbed
that she forgot to look at the men and
even forgot me, who was probably moth
ing more than fitting shadow to her.
"A silk gown" she murmurCd. 1T
will buy Lizzie silk gown. Oh, where
did it como from, the good, good gold,
the beautiful gold, so little, but enough
to mako her look fine, my Lizzie, my
pretty, pretty LiZzic?"
No numbers this time. The gift was
too OvcrpOwCring for her oven to re-
member that it must be hidden away.
To glOat over it, she must keep it in
her hand. | walked away while her de-
light was still vOlublc. Somehow it
eased me to have done her this little
benefit, and | think it casCd the men
too. At all events, every hat was off
when ! passed them again on my way
back to the Knollys gateway.
l had left both the girls there, but
found only one awaiting me. Lucetta
had gone in, and so had Hannah. Why
was soon to know.
"What do you suppose that detective
wants of Lucetta now" asked LOreen
as | took my station again at her side.
"While you were talking over there to
Mother Jane he stepped over here, and
with a word or two induced Lucetta to
walk away toward the house. See, there
they are i'll those thick shrubs near the
right wing. He seems to be pleading
with her. Do you think ought to join
them and find out what he is urging
upon her so earnestly? l don't like to
seem intrusive, but LucCtta is easily
agitated, you know, and his business
cannot be an indifferent one after all he
has discovered going on i'll our house. !"
mo-" agreed, and yet | think
Lucetta will be strong enough to sus-
tain the conversation, Judging from the
very erect attitude she is holding now
Perhaps he thinks she can tell him