The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-07
CHAS. A. G. MILLER.
Special Detective

1 pushed open the door, and, as soon as
my eyes became accustomed to the smoke,
surveyed the room. Half a dozen men sat
in the outer Office. ana in a convivial
way shared the same tobacco pouch in
cigarettes or pipes. Cash books, ledgers
and a big black volume covered the ia
bic, and letters and clippings Uttered an
untidy desk
There is another room at the rear
a room for private conference. It is bleak
and commonplace. and the disorder of it
was visible from the outer Office. 1t was
here that l first met Edith King.
Edith King is only twenty-five years of
age. She is graceful. she is fair and has
a Greek profile and a Burne-Jones mouth.
Her hair is golden and her eyes are hazel
Her nose is delicately modelled and her
complexion is pale. Her manner is both
reserved and confidential and her voice
is convincing
Her eyes, when you talk into them, have
an expression of spellbound concentra-
ton that no man, either sailor or soldier
would think insincere. This is why near
~ one thousand men have talked senti-
ment to their peril. yielding up secrets
and freedom to Edith King. who has lis
tened to their stories of fooHshness that
is wicked. or. for the matter of that.
wickedness which is foolish.
That is why nearly a thousand pairs of
eyes are. looking through bars of military
prisons or frown from the brigs of pris-
on ships. And this is what a thousand
excited tongues would say, If permitted.
with sfrartIfanaO7YS vofcp-
Here's TO the charm that lies In womans
eyes
And lies and lies and lies.
1 found her afable with fine affabili-
ty and modest. at first with a cautious
reserve.
She smiled consciously. hesitsted, then
began slowly TO tell me her story Fast
er and faster came the experiences that
have made up her dramatic career. until
they tumbled forth a confused heap of
memories, failures. successes. laughter
and dreams We like to think Of woman
as veritable angels tender and soft, and
with human clemenoy for unvise human
ity. and it was appalling TO hear the re-
cital OF biighted careers, told in a mat
ter Of fact way. without remorse, with
out regret.
"Of course among all these experiences
you have sympathized with two or one"
I urged, expectantly. I was struggling TO
find feminine tenderness.
When people do wrong they ought 10
be punished. she answered. unconcerned-
". and from my first experience I have
tried to keep that fact in mind"
Here was evidence Of comparison: at
least she had tried. and my spirit rose in
admiration OF the womans pluck as 1
listened TO her story
Poverty is not a refining influence.
she began. and contact with the world
soon robs bread winner Of pity for the
wrong-doer, except pity Of an impersonal
sort.
q was born in Baltimore twenty-three
years ago. in home OF culture. Ny
Grandfather Hefford owned at one time
nearly all the land of Hartford county.
Nd. and my mother. at his death. was
considered very wealthy. She married.
and after my fathers death mother did
not know much about managing. and so.
little by ns;le. in unwise Investments.
her property slipped away She had an
OF The southern wnmans confidence in
human nature and none q the northern
woman shrewdness-
when I vas a little girl In Ions braids
and short frccAs. mother put me n the
Metre Dame Convent at Baltimore whore
I remained several years OF uatH ny
mother had lost her home. and then
was ready for the world with 70 practi-
cal sducatsua and only acco-aq,isaments-
~Of course lels this keenly. and r.
z. rnberes. .sf... too WeI sas r-st c5r'.
Jer II was 4. PhIscefzais had -
c@rc.i T.iace c-erk-ng in ANDY store
Rad ccen - - 5sSt ts-ee weeks whsn
\ la,v WIN enc a e-ers' lay 80 buy /