Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-25


W. ing in the store She had been
absolutely penniless for two days. and
without food through the gnawing
hours. when she found employment in
a milliner's shop. Followed blessed
interval in which she worked content
eddy. happy over the meager stipend.
since il served to give her shelter and
food honestly earned.
The police informed Mary's employer
concerning her record as convict.
and she was ut once discharged The
unfortunate victim of the law came
perilously close TO despair then. Yet.
her spirit triumphed, and again she
straight. She found cheap position
in a cheap shop. only to be again per-
secuted by the police. so that she
speedily lost the place.
A third time she obtained work and
there. after little. she told her en-
ployer. a candy manufacturer In a
small way, the truth as to her having
been in prison. The man had kindly
heart and he ran little risk. SO lie al
lowed her to remain. When the police
called his attention to the girls GRIM
inal record he paid no heed to their ad-
vice against retaining her services.
The police Drought pressure to bear on
the man. They even called in the as
sistance Of Edward Glider himself.
who obllgingly wrote very severe let
ter 10 the girls employer. In the end.
though unwiilinSly enough. he dismiss
cd Mary from his service.
II was then that despair did come
upon the girl. she had tried with all
the strength Of her to live straight.
Yet despite her innocence. the world
would not let her live according to her
own conscience. 1t demanded that she
! be the criminal ii had branded her-if
| she were to live nj all She still walk
ed the streets falteringly. seeking some
,, place. but her heart was gone from
I the quest Came an hour when she
, thought OF the river and was glad.
/ So she went through the long stretch
/ of ill lighted streets. crossed some rail
/ road tracks TO pier. over which she
Z luTTltu ~ Tue ldI emu. NtAttt II ItlO-
iected out to the fiercer currents Of the
! Hudson. There. With at givin: her
/ self moments pause for reflection OF
hesitation. she leaped out rs far rs
her strength permitted into the coil OF
I waters. But in that final second nat
ural terror in the face of death over.
! came the lethargy of despair-a shrek
burst from her lips.
On the side of the pier man had
Just tied up motorbOat. He STOOD III
in alarm at the cry and was just In
time to gain a glimpse of white face
under the dim moonlight as it swept
down with the tide two rods beyond
him. He threw off his coat and spranc
far out after the drifting body. He
came to it in few furious strokes and
caught it,
Then began the savage struggle tC
save her and himself. The current:
tore at him wrathfully. but he fought
against them with all the fierceneSs OF
his nature. What saved :he two o.
them was the violent temper of Jh'
man. Always il had been the demon
to set him afame. His rage mounted
and gave him new power IN the battle
Under the urge of il he conquered anS
at last brought himself and his charg,
to the shore.
Mary revived to clear consciousness
which was at first inclined towar,
hysteria. but this phase yielded sooi
under the sympathetic ministration
OF the man. His rather low voice wa
soothing 10 her tired soul. and hi
whole sir was at cnce masteEfuI AM
gently tender. ~ men 1nauy sne wa
: able to stand and to walk with tn
support OF his arm she went forwart
slowly at his side without so mucl
even as a question Of whittier.
Joe Carson had performed, perhaps
q his first action with 70 thought Of sci
at the back OF it, He had risked hi
I life 20 save that OF u stranger Tn
sensation vas at once powell and thrill
, ing. Since II was so agreeable b
? meant TO prolong the glow of self sat
isfaction by continuing TO care for thi
, waif of the river.
/ the dripping girl eastward through In
, squalid streets,sntil at last they cam
; TO an adequately lighted avenue. an
] there a taxicab was found II carrie
, them farther north. and TO the east Z
D an apartment house that was rattle
2 imposing, set in street Of humble
{ dwellings.
helped the girl 10 alight and on int
? the hallway. Mary went with hir
quite unafraid. though now with
growing curiosity.
( The two entered and went slowly u
= three fights of stairs On the iandin
l beyond the third flight the door of
: rear tat stood open, and IN the doc