The Washington times., 1911-01-19
CHAPTER XIII.

ATT o'clock David. still ahame with
\ bitterness, was entering his room,
when a door across the hall opened and
Kate Morgan looked out. Come into
my house," she snapped in a whisper.
David could not see her face, but her
voice told him she was angry. He fol-
lowed her into the parlUr-cheap col
Ored prints and actresses photographs
on the walls, a rug of Slaring design,
red-and green upholstered furniture that
overcrowded the little room. She closed
the door, then turned, her eyes blazing,
and swOre al him.
"A nice time to be getting home, I've
been waiting for two hours"
For moment he looked at her un-
CCmprehendlngly. oh! you're thinking
Of that robbery. You needn't have
waited. ! told you l wouldn't CO."
Drop that blutting! You know you're
in it,
He started toward the door
"Wher you gOing?" she demanded.
she seized his arm. stepped between
fully at him. She now saw how pale
and drawn his face was. Her wrath
slowly left her. you're tired-bue,"
she said abruptly, but softly.
He nodded. so I'm going to bed
Let's chat a minute FIRST she sail.
-
chairs and pushed him down into it.
And we'll have something to eat, just
yCu and me. I've made dad go to bed.
It's all ready. I'll bring it in here"
She moved little table before him
and went out, could David have seen
the look she held upon him through the
door he would have been puzzled, per
haps startled. After she had made three
trips into the rear of the fiat there were
upon the table plate of sandwiches. a
i I'll, Ia
coffee, all served with neatness that
was astonishing to David, after the
BOwery restaurants.
Now we'll begin" she said, and sat
down on the opposite side of the little
table The food had a wonderful taste
to David, and COffee-it was real coffee
warmed his chilled body. For several
minutes they ate in silence, then Kate
pushed back her chair, lighted cigar
ette, and sat regarding him with eyes
that grew softer and softer.
When he had finished she leaned sud
denly forward and laidla hand on one Of
his.
Il don't like it for you to look this
way, David" she said, abruptly.
He started at the touch and at the
her hand away. why shouldn't 1 call
you, David? We're good pals, amt we?
I'm tired of this miss and mister busi-
ness. Call me Kate"
He was still too surprised to make an
immediate answer, and she went on
softly. You look very bad!'
The remark brought flooding back to
him all the misery and hopelessness of
his position, all his rebellion, and he
forgot his wonder at her overture.
Why shouldn't II" he asked bitterly.
She nodded. Il understand" she said.
THE worlds got no use for man
that's been crook. He's got no chance.
I've seen a lot of boys come back and
swear they'd never touch another Job.
They tried-some Of 'em hard, but none
as hard as you. But nobody wanted
'em. What way was open? Only one
to go back to cracking cribs. They. all
went back" She paused, then added:
Now, 1 want to ask you one square
question, whats the use trytng"'
David was remembering his four-month
futile struggle when he involuntartly
eachoed. What's the use?'
Yes, what?" she continued quickly.
but it owes you the right to live. 1t
owes you that much. If it won't let you
live by working, why, you've got to live
by stealing. There's no other way"
She went on. but David heard no
more His bitterness, his resentment,
were making a fiercer plea. Yes, he
had tried! Could any man try harder?
Rebuff, insult, uttermost poverty. There
was no use in trying Furthermore
whatever. There was left only the sec
ond way-the one road that is always
open, that always welcomes the repent
ant thief whom the world refuses.
why should he not enter this only
road? He had no single friend who
would be painedA He had no faintest
hone of a futuret All that could be
lost was lost The thiefs trade prom
ised him the necessities of life He
had offered to pay the world in work
for these necessities, but the world had
refused his payment. What could he
do, then, but take them? Besides,
would it not be Just treatment Of the
world-of the world that had destroyed
him, of the world that cared more for