The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-12-25

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stand" Then she spoke to Aggie.
Take her to my room and let her rest
there for awhile. Have her drink the
egg and milk slowly and then lie down
for few minutes anyhow"
Half an hour afterward Aggie re.
ported with her charge. who. though
still stumbling Of gait and STOPPING.
showed by some faint color in her face
and an increased steadiness' Of bearing
that the food had already strengthened
her much.
"She would come" Aggie explained.
II thought she ought to rest for awhile
longer anyhow"
I'm all right. / tell you" came the
querulous protest.
Are you quite sure?" Mary said to
the girl. ''Then tell us all about It
this trouble of yours. you know. What
is your namef'
"Helen Norris"
81 don't have to ask If you have been
in prison. Your face shows It,"
II came out-three months ago.
And you'd made up your mind to go
s~traightT'
Yes The word was a whisper.
you were going to do what the
chaplain had told you" Mary went on.
"You were going to start all over
again. weren't your
The bent head Of the girl bent lower
In assent.
ut doesn't work very well, does it?"
"No; I'm whipped"
Mary's manner changed. She spoke
cheerfully for the first time.
We'll, then, how would you like to
work with us?"
"You-you mean that
"Our kind of work pays well when
you know how. Look at us. Suppose
l should stake you for the present and
put you In with a good crowd. All
you would have to do would be to an
swer advertisements for servant girls.
| will see that you have the best Of
references. Then. when you get in
with the right people you Will open the
front door some night and let in the
gang. OF course you will make a get
away when they do and get your BIT
as we'll"
There flashed still another Of the
swift, sly glances, and the lips Of the
girl parted as if she would speak. But
she did not; only her head sagged even
lower on her breast and the shrunken
form grew yet more s%hrunken.
1T doesn't suit you? Good! l was
in hopes it wouldn't. So, here's anoth-
er plan. Suppose you could go west
some place where you would have a
fair chance, with money enough so
you could live like a human being till
you got a start?'
There came a tensing Of the relaxed
form. and the head lifted a little, so
that the girl could look at her ques-
toner.
Il will give you that chance" Mary
said simply, 'if you really want It,"
The wretched girl sat suddenly erect,
and her words came eagerly.
"Oh. dov And now her hungry
gaze remained fast on the. face of the
woman who offered her salvation.
"Then ! have just one thing to say
to you first. If you are going to live
straight start straight. and then go
through with it. Do you know what
that means?'
"You mean keep straight all the
timer" The girl spoke with a force
drawn from the others strength.
81 mean more than that. l mean
forget that you were ever In prison. !
don't know what you have done-l
don't think l care. But whatever 1t
was. you have paid for it-a pretty big
price too"
81 have, | have" The thin voice
broke, wailing.
"Well, then" 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. II
they think you are straight, why, be
1t. Then nobody will have any right
to complain. Will you promise me
this?"
Eyes, / promise" came the answer.
very gravely. quickened with hope.
Good Mary exclaimed, with a
smile of approval. wait a minute"
she added and left the room.
Huh! Pretty soft for some people,"
Aggie remarked to Carson. with a
sniff.
Mary returned soon. In her hand
she carried a roll Of bills. She went
to the girl and held out the money.
take this. 1t will pay your fare
west and keep you quite awhile If you
are careful"
But, without warning, a revulsion
seized on the girl. She shrank again
and turned her head away as her
body trembled.
81 can't take it," she exclaimed. II
can't! can't!
didn't you come here for help2"
"Yes,' was the faltering reply, but
butt didn't know-it was your
Then you have met me beforer"
Mary said quietly.
mo, no!' The girls voice rose shrill.
Aggie spoke her mind with frank
ness. ''She's lying"
Carson agreed. His yes was spoken
in q, tone Of complete certainty. That
Mary, too. was Of their opinion was