The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-11-21

ness. "She's lying"
Carson agreed. His yes was spoken
in tone of complete certainty. That
Mary, too. was of their opinion was
shown I'm her next words.
$50 you have met me before?
| Where?'
The girl unwittingly made confess
sion in her halting words.
81 can't tell you" There was de-
spair in her voice.
"You must"
The girl only crouched lower
Il can't!' she cried again. painting as
if in exhaustion.
why can't you?"
"Because-because"- The girl could
not go on.
What were you sent up for?"
For stealing"
stealing what?"
Goods"
Where from?"
"The Emporium"
In a fash of intuition the whole
truth was revealed to the woman who
stood looking down at the covering
| creature before her.
1.-The Emporium she repeated
There was tragedy in the single
word Then you are the one who
! The accusation was cut short by the
girls shrek.
Il am not! / am not tell your
For. moment Mary lost her poise
Her voice rose in fare of rage.
You are. You are!'
/ The craven spirit of the girl could
struggle no more. She could only SIT
in a huddled. shaking heap Of dread.
Mary soon mastered her to such an
extent that when she spoke again, as
/! If in self communion, her words came
quietly. yet with overtones of a su-
preme woe.
"Sne did it, Then after little she
addressed the girl with certain won
dering before this mystery Of horror
why did you throw the blame on
me:'
The girl made several efforts before
! her mumbling became ineligible. and
then her speech was gasping, broken
with fear.
Il found out they were watching
me. and was afraid they would catch
me. SO | took them and ran into the
cloak room and put them in locker
that wasn't close to mine and some in
the pocket of coat that was hanging
there. God knows didn't know
whose it was. just put them there
| was frightened
"But they caught you later. Why
didn't you tell them
~ was afraid" came the answer
from the shuddering girl. Il told them
it was the first time | had taken any
thing, and they let me off with year."
/ You cried and lied. and they let you
off with year. | wouldn't cry. |
told the truth-and"-- Mary's voice
broke in q fearless sob. The color had
/ gone out Of her face. and she stood
rigid. looking down at the girl whose
! crime had ruined her life with an ex-
preston of infinite loathing in her eyes.
Aggie took advantage of the pause.
Her voice was acid. Some people are
sneaks-just sneaks!"
!
to the girl. gave her a touch of cour-
age sufficient for cowardly protesta-
! tons. 1t was more like the abuse that
was familiar to her. A gush Of tears
came.
"I'll never forgive myself, neverw
! she moaned.
"Oh, yes, you will" Mary said
| n In
selves pretty easily. Stop crying. No
body is going to hurt you" She thrust
the money again toward the girl and
crowded it into the half reluctant. half
greedy hand. Take it. and get out"
The contempt in her voice rang still
sharper. go. before | change my
mindr'
/ The girl needed no second bidding.
With the money still clutched in her
hand she went forth swiftly, stumbling
little in her haste, fearful lest at the
! last moment the woman she had so
wronged should change in mood and
| take back the money.
Freed from the miasma of that pres
ence. Mary remained motionless for
!
tured heart
"A girl / didn't know" she said be-
wilderedly. perhaps had never spoken
to-who smashed my life like that.
/ Oh, if it wasn't so awful it would be-
funny! 1t would be funnyr'
CHAPTER TX.
A Bridegroom, Spurned.
nX you know-Aggie told you
that Cassidy was up here
from headquarters. He didn't
put u name to it, but I'm on"
! 1t was Carson speaking. Mary regard
! ed him inquiringly. and he continued,
/ putting the fact with a certain brutal
bluntness after the habit Of his class.
II guess you'll have to quit seeing
young Glider. The bulls are wise. His
/ father has made holler."
Don't let that worry you. Joe" she
said TRANQUILITY. She allowed a few
seconds go Dy. then added as if quite
Indifferent. Il was married to Dick Gill