The evening world., 1911-11-11
ssrred thus secretly. It vas her own

Ssrred thus secretly. II was her own
sister-ln-law. who had been the wife
or her one brother. now dead: a woman
Older than herself. more weak than
vicious, yet a criminal by reason OF the
influences to which she had yielded.
After a few years of respectable married
lfe, In which she had become the mother
OF one child. IA girl. Ada had fallen VIC
tim to the charms OF John Darkin, who's
sole merit, IL such It should be termed.
was an exterior handsome In a fam
boyant, bandit fashion. The man was
thoroughly bad. and soon. partly by
persuasion. chiefly by cruelty and
threats OF worse. he noade his wife a
thief. Mrs. Thatcher. In the course Of
her professional duties. had come to
learn of Mrs. Darkin. and she was aware
an %unsavory reputation with the po-
lice. Knowing her to be Maggie's sis
terin-law. II was for the girls sake
that the detective now came to give a
word of warming. "She's suspected by
the police OF a number of small Jobs"
Mrs. Thatcher added. land. to tell the
truth. I'd ordered her away from our
place, II II hadn't been for you"
Maggie's face hardened. swiftly. Her
own misery to-day rendered her less
charitable than her natural kindliness of
heart ordinarily directed her to be.
Don't spare her on my account" she
answered. I'm much obliged to you, of
course. Mrs. Thatcher. for thinking OF
my feelings; but ! just don't care what
happens to her. She deserves all she'll
get. whatever 1t may be. When my
brother. Frank. died. she continued,
with "A sudden ferceness born from the
memory Of wrongs endured at this
woman's hands. "after living two dread
full years OF married life with her, I tried
to do everything ! could for her, Just
because she was his wife. But now
Well. I'm through; that's the size OF II.
You know, ] would nave kept Franks
little girl with me. When she took her
away from me-the girl I'd brought nm
from a baby. been a mother to-when
she did that. n wen West with this
Darkin. why. ! broke OFF having any
thing at all to do with her any more,
Tell me: Was the little girl with
herT"
NO. I don't think So" Mrs. Thatcher
replied. "At least. I didn't notice any
child that seemed to belong with her.
But you can't always tell"
Tho hardness had vanished from
Maggle's face now, at thought of the
girl whom she had loved az her own,
When she spoke again. the soft reson.
ance Of her voice was touched with a
usefulness that moved the listener to
sympathy.
II get a heartache when let NV
self think OF that poor little baby
Her tones grew deeper, as II in rev.
erent wonder. as she went on. Think
OF It. Mrs. Thatcher; l was that lit
tie chilG's mother-for Ave years. |
brought her up, and. for Ave years
she belonged to me: she was mine
mine! God! What's going to become
OF her with a mother like hers and
with Jack Darkin for a father? Jack
Darkin for n father! She hasn't any.
body to guide her. There's nobody 10
care what becomes OF her. And, now
she must be almost fifteen years old
She's almost grown up. What's going
to become of her? It's awful for d
young girl like that. And ! was Just
wrapped up In herr" There were tears
In the tender music of the voice now
II loved her so. She was something I,
: go home to, something to live for
The rush OF emotion was too great
The girl checked herself abruptly
striving I, regain her self-coMtrol.
Mrs. Thatcher patted the sunferin,
|, girls arm, reassuringly,
"There-,here." she murmured, af
!~cct.onatc!y. ~ know. dear."
= Frank was only a boy when h,
!. married her." Maggie went on, NOR
quietly. 1T Just killed him. He
i voice grew harsh. shes CUP famii,
y Jonah. all right. Why, ! get q col,
!. afAvar daWn INV hnrr ~vArw 49, -