The Jackson herald., 1909-09-30
CHAPTER Ii.-continued.


-'Ie stole the money" he broke In. |
Yes, I know he did. I'm not exon |
Grating him; I'm not trying to. 1t was
a crime, and I recognize It, Of course,
and your right to prosecute. II you are
so determined. But put yourself in
his place II you can. He is simply
prodigal In his kindness. There are
more people in town to-day who have
been buoyed up and frightened by
him than by any other man, old or
young. Maybe he did take your money
to help do 1t. But as much as he ever
expected to do anything he expected
TO pay II all back. He stinted himself;
It was only with others he was gen.
-erous. And then his sister-he. wanted
TO make things easy for her IL he
could. lie was ashamed to admit that
he couldn't keep 1t up. Foolish? or
course Il was foolish But you ad.
mire him a little for trying to carry
his end OF the Hemingway string as 1t
had always been kept up. don't you?
You see what it has already cost him.
Don't make It cost him everything
hes got. Give him another chance.
He'll redeem himself You'll see. Try
him"
You ask too much"
Too much only ask what you've
done for fellows that we're rascals and
deepdyed culprits. Surely you can
give him the leniency you gave them.
As for the bad influence. there won't
be any, as you must admit, since no
one knows of II, nor will know OF 1t
II you do as | ask. Let the boy go.
Ankony."
Il can't"
Rubbish. VIII your"
Il will not. Mr.. Twining. must pro
-ceed with the prosecution"
pulled myself in hand with
strong effort.
"lf did what want to do, I'd throt.
tie you. Ankony." said, and I went
out and shut the door between him
and my rage. which was becoming un-
goyernable.
spent the rest of the morning In
n determined effort to find something
to change the course OF events and
save Dan. But all my determination
and eagerness went for nothing. There
was absolutely nothing could lay
hands upon Ankony was inexorable
and vindictive. And no help could
come outside of Ankony. There was
no further appeal to be made to him.
AS | was leaving the office on a
further search. which, admitted even
as l undertook II, promised nothing,
ran face to lace with Barbara in the
hallway. A glance at her showed
me that she knew. She had smiled
through losses and bereavement and
pain, but she was not smiling now.
The Hemingrays knew how to meet
had burned the brightness from her
eyes and scared dry that deeper well
of cheer In her brave heart
She looked at me dimly. as II In
that acute moment did not enter in
and she could not concentrate her
half.paralyzed faculties upon me. II
was startling to see her so. Her face
without q smile, smote me. An agony
of longing to do something. say some
thing, offer something Of help. was
upon me, but felt its futility. What
w, WIN
bowed to her and moved on e
my further office. At the door, how
ever turned to look after her. ant
was astonished to see her pause befor,
Ankony's office. Then I understood
She was going to intercede for Dan
AS the comprehension swept over me
i called to her. ] would not have ne
humiliate herself uselessly. But sh,
did not hear me, and passed in. and
told myself that perhaps, after all
she might move him; certainly an.
man-but Ankony was a monster, no
a man. His pride was always keene
than his emotion. and his pride wa
rsmarting.
I left my door open to be ready
there should be anything ! could d
for her. but when she came down tn
hall Ankony was with her. He wa
all Difference and attention, radiatin
satisfaction and triumph. Yet Bal
bara was smiling-not the old smile
to be sure. but as II in tremendous rt
lief-and the despair had faded fror
her oyes. while her head was LITE
with the old proud poise. and her ste
was not leaden as 1t had been whe
she passed down the hall.