The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-12-04

and she has just gone to her home. Hop
ing for Mrs. Gaskelrs speedy recovery,
and with all good wishes, I am yours very
truly
Smithson again entered the Office,
even more perturbed than before.
"What on earth is the matter now?'
Glider spluttered suspiciously.
"It's Mrs. Gaskell STILL" Smithson
replied in great trepidation. "She
wants you personally, Mr.. Glider, to
apologize to her. She says that tho
action taken against her is an outrage.
and she is not satisfied with the apol-
ogies Of all the rest Of US. She says
you must make one, too, and that the
store detective must be discharged for
intolerable insolence."
Glider bounced up from his chair
angrily.
'1'll not discharge McCracken," he
vociferated, glaring on Smithson, who
shrank visibly.
But about the apology, Mr.. Glider
he reminded, speaking very defere:'
TALLY. yet with insistence.
"Oh. III apologize" he said witk E
wry smile of discontinue. "1'll m.aie
things even up bit when get &c
apology from Gaskell. | shrewdlE
suspect that that estimable gentleman
is going to eat humble pie. of my bat.
ing. from his wife's recipe And he
will he an honest apology. which mire
won't" And he left the room.
It was ON this same day that Sa-
rah, on one of her numerous trips
through the store in behalf of Glider
was acc0sted by a salesgirl. whose
rame, Helen Morris. she CHANGED to
know.
What on earth do you want?'' Sarah
inquired snappishly.
'sWhat did they a. to Mary Turner?"
"They sent her to prison for three
years.
"Three years?" The salesgirl had re-
peated the words in tone that was in
definable, yet a tone vehement in it's in
credulous questioning "Three years."
she said again, as one refusing to be-
lieve.
Eyes, three years."
Good God" There was no irrever-
ence in the exclamation that broke
from the girls lips. Instead only
tense horror that touched to the roots
Of emotion.
Say" Sarah demanded, with the
directness habitnal to her, why are
you so anxious about it? This is the
third time you have asked me about
Mary Turner. What's it to you, I'd
like to know?"
The salesgirl started violently, and
a deep flush drove the accustomed pal
lor from her cheeks. She was oby1-
ously much disturbed by the question.
"What is it to me?" she repeated in
an effort to gain time. "Why, nothing
nothing at all, only-she's friend of
mine, a great friend of mine. Oh,
yes!'
There was monotone Of desOlation
as she went on speaking in whisper
meant for the ears of no other. Its
awful-three years! Oh, didn't un-
derstand! It's awful-awfulv' With
the final word she hurried off, her at
titude one of wondering grief.
Sarah was thinking intently of Mary
Turner after her return to the Office.
As she glanced up at the opening Of the
door she did not at first recognize the
figure outlined there She remembered
Mary Turner as a tall, slender girl,
who showed an underlying vitality in
every movement, girl with a face of
regular features in which was CON-
plexion Of blended milk and roses, with
a radiant JOY of life shining through
all her arduous and vulgar conditions.
Instead Of this, now she saw frail
form that stood swaying in the door
way, that bent in sinister fashion
which told Of bodily impotence, while
the face was quite bloodless. s..
A man stood beside her, one of his
hands clasped around the girls wrist.
It was Cassidy, from headquarters.
who spoke in a rough, Indifferent voice.
1.-THE district attorney told me to
bring this girl here on my way to the
Grand Central station with her."
"Mr. Glider will be right back. Come
in and wait"
The two went forward very slowly,
the officer, carelessly conscious of bis
duty, walking with awkward steps to
suit the feeble movements Of the girl.
Sarah at last found her voice for an
expression Of sympathy, @
I'm sorry. Mary" she said hesitat-
ingly. I'm terribly sorry. terribly
sorry