The San Francisco call., 1913-09-22
tcontinued from saturday.
CHAPTER xI--continued

| But she ulQ uOls only, HeT heau
sagged even lower on her breast, and
the shrunken form grew yet more
shrunken. Mary, watching closely,
saw these signs. and in the same in
stant change came over her. Where
before there had been an underlying
suggestion of hardness, there was
now womanIy warmth of genuine
sympathy
TT doesn't suit you?" she said,
softly. Good I was in hopes it
wouldn't. So, here's another plan"
Her voice had become very winning.
Suppose you could go west-some
place where you would have fair
chance, with money enough so you
could live like human being till you
got a start?"
There came a tensing Of the re-
laxed form. and the head lifted a
little SO that the girl could look
at her questioner. And. this time.
! the glance, though of the briefest
was less furtive.
Il Will give you that chance" Mary
| said, simply, IF you really want it."
That speech was like a current of
strength to the wretched girl. She
| sat suddenly erect, and her words
came eagerly.
"Oh. I dor And now her hungry
| gaze remained fast on the face of
| the woman who offered her saliva
tion.
Mary sprang up and moved a step
toward the girl, who continued to
stare at her. fascinated. She was
| now all wholesome. The memory
| of her own wrongs surged in her
| during this moment only to make
her more appreciative of the blessed
ness of seernly life. She was moved
to divine compassion over this waif
| for whom she might prove benefi-
cent providence. There was pro-
found conviction in the emphasis with
| which she spoke her warning.
Then I have Just one thing to say
to you first. If you are going to
live straight start straight, and then
| go through with IL. DO you know
what that means?'
You mean. keep straight all the
| timer" The girl spoke with a force
drawn from the others strength.
II mean more than that" Mary
went on earnestly. II mean, forget
that you were ever in prison I don't
think I care. But wha fever it was.
you have paid for it-a pretty big
| price, too" Into these last words
there crept the pathos of one who
| knew. The sympathy of 1t stirred the
listener to fearful memories.
II have. 7 havei' The thin voice
broke, wailing.
We'll. them Mary went on, Just
begin all over again, and be sure you
stand up for your rights Don't let
| them make you pay a second time.
Go where no one knows you, and
| don't tell the first people who are
kind TO you that you have been
| crooked. If they think you are
| straight why, be it. Then nobody
will have any right to complain" Her
tone grew suddenly pleading. "WiIl
| you promise me this?"
Yes, 1 PROMISE came the answer,
very gravely, quicl1ened with hope.
Good" Mary exclaimed, with a
smile of approval Wait minute
she added, and left the room.
Huh. Pretty soft for some people .
| Aggie remarked to Carson, with a
sniff. She felt no alarm lest she
wound the sensibilities of the girl
She herself had never let delicacy in
terfere between herself and money
1t was really stranger that the
forger, who possessed a more sympa-
thetic nature, did not scruple tc
speak an assent openly. Somehow
he felt an inexplicable prejudice
against this abject recipient Of Mary's
bounty. though not for the world
would he have checked the generous
impulse on the part OF the woman he
so revered. 1t was his instinct on her
behalf that made him now vaguely
uneasy, as if he sensed some malign
influence against her there present
with them.
Mary returned soon. In her hand
she carried a roll of bills She went
to the girl and held out the money
Her voice was business like now. but
very kind.
Take this. 1t will pay your fare
west, and keep you quite a while II
you are careful"
But, without warning, a revulsion
seized on the girl. or sudden she
shrank again and turned her head
away, and her body trembled.
Il can't take it." she stammered
II can't! ] can'tr'
Mary stood silent for moment
from sheer amazement over the
change. When she spoke. her voice
had hardened a little. It is not agree
able to have ones beneflcence fiouted
Didn't you come here for help?'
she demanded.
Yes" was the faltering reply
"but--but-I didn't know-it was
your The words came with g rush
of desperation.
"Then, you have met me before7'
Mary said, quietly.
NO, MOI" The girls voice rose
shrill.
/ Aggie spoke her mind with COM
mendable frankness.
She's lying
And, once again Carson agreed
His yes was spoken in tone OF
complete certainty. That Mary, too
was of their opinion was shown in
her next words.
80, you have met me beforei
Where?"
The girl unwittingly made confess
sion in her hating words.
TT can't tell you" There was
despair in her voice.
You must" Mary spoke with Sc
verify She felt that this mystery
held in ii something sinister to her
self. You must" she repeated i'm
periously.
The girl only crouched lower.
Il can'tr she cried again. She was
painting as if in exhaustion.
why can't your" Mary insisted
She had no sympathy now for the
girls distress. merely a great sus-
picious curiosity.
-because-'' The gir,
could not go on.
Mary's usual shrewdness came to