The Montgomery tribune., 1909-09-24
CHAPTER il.-Continued.


HE stole the money" he broke in.
Yes, know he did. I'm not exon
Grating him; I'm not trying to. 1t was
"a crime, and l recognize 1t, of course,
and your right to prosecute. II you are
SO determined. But put yourself in
his place If 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 it. But as much as he ever
expected to do anything he expected
to pay 1t all back. He stinted himself;
1t was only with others he was gen.
serous. And then his sister-he wanted
to make things easy for her If he
could. He was ashamed to admit that
he couldn't keep it up. Foolish? OF
course it was foolish. But you ad-
mire him little for trying to carry
his end of the Hemingway string as it
had always been kept up, don't you?
You see what it has already cost him.
Don't make 1t cost him everything
he's got. Give him another chance.
He'll redeem himself You'll see. Try
him"
you ask too much"
TOO much! l only ask what you've
done for fellows that were rascals and
I~deep-dyed 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
EnnUc nf xuil En0w pf N
If you do as l ask. Let the boy go,
,Ankony."
81 can't"
Rubbish. Will you?"
81 will not, Mr.. Twining. must pro-
.ceed with the prosecution"
pulled myself in hand with a
strong effort.
IF l did what l want to do, III throt.
tile you, Ankony," ! said,N ana Z wclt
--s-Uut and shut the door between him
and my rage, which was becoming un.
tgovernable.
/ spent the rest of the morning in
"a determined effort to find something
to change the course of events and
save Dan. But all my determination
sand eagerness went for nothing. There
. was duSOlulcly uOluluS L COulu lay
hands upon. Ankony was inexorable
:and vindictive And no help could
come outside of Ankony. There was
mo further appeal to be made to him.
AS ! was leaving the office on a
further search. which. admitted even
sas / undertook it, promised nothing, l
ran face to face 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
-vicissitude but not dishonor. Shame
y 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 IL in
that acute moment did not enter in,
land she could not concentrate her
shalf-paralyzed faculties upon me. 1t
was startling to see her SO. Her face,
without 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
scould do. with bound hands?
l bowed to her and moved on to
my further Office. At the door, how
lever, turned to look after her, and
was astonished to see her pause before
iAnkony's office. Then understood: !:
She was going to intercede for Dan.
AS the comprehension swept over me,
4 A called to her. ! would not have her
ahumiliate herself uselessly. But she
did not hear me, and passed In. and !
I told myself that perhaps, after all.
sshe might move him; certainly any
sman-but Ankony was monster not
"a man. His pride was always keener
than his emotion. and his pride was
| .smarting.
left my door open to be ready II
there should be anything could do
for her, but when she came down the
hall Ankony was with her. He was
sall Difference and attention, radiating
satisfaction and triumph Yet Bar,
bara was smiling--not the old smile
to be sure. but as II in tremendous re-
| lief--and the despair had faded from
| 1her eyes. while her head was lifted
| with the old proud poise. and her step
I was not leaden as It had been when
'Ghs passed down the hall.