Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-09-10
CHAPTER Ii.-Continued.

CHAPTER ll.-Continued.
''He stole the money" he broke in.
"Yes. l know he did. I'm not exon
Grating him: I'm not trying to. 1t was
a crime. and recognize 1t. 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 It. But as much Us he ever
expected to do anything he expected
to pay 1t all back. He stinted himself:
,erous. And then his sister-he wanted
to make things easy for her II he
could. He was ashamed to admit that
he couldn't keep It up. Foolish? or
course 1t was foolish. But you ad-
mire him a little for trying to carry
his end Of the Hemingway string Us 1t
had always been kept up. don't you?
You see what 1t 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! only ask what you've
done for fellows that were 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 it. nor will know Of 1t
II you do as l 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 q
strong effort.
IF did what I want to do. I'd throt-
tie you. Ankony." I said. and I went
out and shut the door between him
and my rage, which was becoming un-
governable.
! 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
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 ofice on a
further search. which. admitted even
as ! undertook II. promised nothing. I
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
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 l did not enter In
and she could not concentrate her
halfparalyzed faculties upon me. II
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
could do. with bound hands?
bowed to her and moved on tc
my further office. At the door, how
ever, ! turned to look after her. and
was astonished to see her pause before
Ankony's office. Then | understood:
She was going to intercede for Dan
As the comprehension swept over me
called to her. would not have her
humiliate herself uselessly. But she
did not hear me. and passed in. and
told myself that perhaps. after all
she might move him: certainly any
mau-but Ankony was a monster, moi
n man. His pride was always keenel
than his emotion. and his pride was
smarting.
left my door open to be ready Il
there should be anything l 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 Bar
bara was smil!ng-not the old smile
TO be sure. but rs II in tremendous re
iief-and the despair had faded fron
her eyes, while her head was lifte,
with the old proud poise. and her stel
was not leaden rs II had been whel
I.h