The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-23
THE DEUCE SHE DID
BY OPIE READ.

| a man is bound over by Justice of
the peace 1t is usual for him to make
detailed statement"
1T is usual for me-"
Then you have been arrested and
bound over before?"
NO; this is the first time"
"You-you tangle me all up. I don't
understand you. But, really. | haven't
learned anything by coming. You SIM
ply say that you are not guilty. We ex-
pected you to say that Can't YOU tell
me Just a little something-somethi
| to help me in the office? forgot to tell
you. but this is my first assignment"
Il never shall forget mine he said.
"Oh, and were you a reporter?'
Eyes; and 1 quit it-because the pa
per changed hands. Never could get
another Job. But 1 have been think
| ing that l might make arrangements
| to send in news from the penitentiary
society news. for instance"
, oh" she said. Frightening. Il might
make something of that. Well, good
bye"
Ferron sat gazing at the chair. Jump
| ing UP he FASTENED to the window and
watched the girl as she was getting on
a car. She did not look back at the
house, and even so little a thing as that
made his heart heavier. "She was sent
as beautiful torture" he said Now
| SildlI udNC d WOIIN HdGutE 10 Dear
than the other one. Go on. vision; that's
all you are"
The vision was going on toward the
office. framing ;Setch in her mind;
and she wrote it with a dash-it was
so full of spirit that it leaped and bub-
bled from her pen: but when she took
1t to the city editor he frowned at it,
declared that it was too long. When,
however, he had read it. with a few
of his Y11aGfeYIxy ha
plimented her and, with a shrug of his
shoulder. dismissed her. The sketch
appeared. vivid light amid a gloom of
ordinary crimes; and the next day
she received a note from F'erron. Il
didn't know that could serve as such
an inspiration. My trial is set for
next Friday Come over"
She was sent to write something
about the trial Her sketch had made
the case important. He smiled at her,
and, though it seemed to send a light
into her heart, she resented it, and
in her report she said few mean
things about him. That would teach
him a lesson. And it did, for the next
day he simply looked at her Then
she was sad and sought an opportunity
to beg his pardon. The jury acquitted
him, and he went away without giving
her chance to speak to him. 81 knew
he was not guilty" she unused. Perhaps
now he might still wish to make his de-
| tailed statement.
| When she went, however, she did not
| pretend to have come for a statement.
Boldly she declared that she had come
| to beg his pardon for having said
mean things about him. He smiled,
and begged her not to think of it. He
had not been offended. He deserved
all that she had said
mo; 1 was cruel. and you so inno-
cent, too"
He laughed. singular how innocent
some can be, isn't it?" he said, looking
into her eyes.
She said yes, and looked down. Then
he spoke and his voice was so solemn
that it startled her. miss Smith, 1
made one confession, didn't II"
Eyes, you confessed your innocence,
and you were not guilty"
Il now have another confession to
make. 1 was guilty.
ooh, you don't mean it."
81 do mean 1t. l was a scoundFel. L
sat here one day muSing over the fact
that the whole world was rascal and
a swindler / needed $4,000, and knew
how l could get the money-by wreck
ing a concern of which L was the man
ager. 1 did it nicely-most delieately.
l was proud of my work OF course, L
was indicted. I knew that would be
QOlle. buL dlSO kHeW IHdl lily WOTk
was so fine that they couldn't prove
anything. And they didn't. Now call
me a scoundrel and bid me goodby.'
Il don't believe YOU" she gasped.
Its true But look here, / have just
squared up with the concern See this
receipt" He handed TO her piece
of paper. The $1,000 had been return
ed She handed back the paper and
sat looking down. Il must co. she
said. She got up, and he followed her
to the door. Il was a scoundrel, but
I'm not now" he said. Il despise my
self for having been weak. Something
made me strong-you made me strong.
Yes, / love you, and my love for you
and dishonesty could not go together.
Until / knew you my soul was unfin-
ished. 1t was barbaric. You"
The tears were on her cheeks. And
you feel sorry for me, do your"
whats become of Miss SMITH" the
city editor inquired.
And reporter replied: Married
that fellow Farron."
1.-The deuce she did,"