The San Francisco call., 1913-09-18
CHAPTER TX
A Legal Document

Mary Turner spent less than an
hour in that mysteriously important
engagement with Dick Glider OF
which she had spoken TO Aggie- After
separating from the young man. she
went alone down Broadway, walking
the few blocks of distance to Slgls-
mund Harris office. On corner ner
attention was caught by the foriorn
face of girl crossing into the slae
street A closer glance showed that
the privation of the gaunt features
was emphasized by the seant gar
ments. almost in tatters. Instantly
Mary's quick sympathies We're
aroused the more particularly since
the wretched child seemed OF apoul
the age she herself had been when ner
great suffering had befallen- 90
turning aside, she soon causnt up
with the girl and spoke an inquiry.
It was the familiar story father
out of work. a sick mother, brood OF
hungry children Some confused
words of distress revealed the fact
that the woebegone girl was even
then lighting the final battle of purity
aca5nsf starvation That she stlli
fought on in such case proved enough
as to her decency of nature, wnole-
some despite squalid SURROUNDINGS.
Maryss heart was deeply moVea' anu
her words of comfort came Win
simple sincerity that was ilhe
new life to the sorely oese'
waff she promised to interest her
self In securing employment for the
father such care as the mother ana
children might need, along win
nroper situation for the girl herseli-
In evidence Of her purpose, sne TOOK
her engagement book from her Dag,
ana set down the street and number
Of the East Side tenement, where the
family possessed the one room tnat
mocked the word home. ana she gave
banknote 10 the girl to serve the
Immediate needs.
When she went back to resume her
nroeress down broadway, Mary felt
herself vastly cheered by the warm
glow within, which is the reward OF
kindly act, gratefully received. Ana'
on this particular morning, she
craved such assuagement OF her
spirit. for the conscience that, IN
snite of all her misdeeds, still nved
was struggling within her. In ner
revolt against q world that had wan
tonly inflicted on her the worst TOR
ments. Mary Turner had thought tnat
she might safely disregard those
nrineinIes in which she had been so
carefully reared. She had belleVed
that nv the deliberate adoption OF
life Of guile within limits allowed
hy the law. she would find solaee for
wants. while feeling that thus she
avenged herself in some slight meas
IRE for the indignities she had un-
dergone unjustly. Yet as the days
passed. days of success as Tar as
her scheming was concerned, TINS
brilliant woman, who had tried 10
deem herself unscrupulous, found
Ia xy failed
TO satisfy something deep within her
soul. The righteousness that was hef
Instinct was offended by the triumphs
achieved through so devious devices
though she resoluteiv set her VIII 70
suppress any spiritual rebellion.
There was. as well, another griev-
ance of her nature, yet more subtle
infinitely more painful. This lay IN
her craving for tenderness she was
wholly woman. Notwithstanding the
yirility OF her intelligence, It's au-
dacity, it's aggressiveness. She haa
heart vearning for the multitudi-
nous affections that are the preroga-
tive of the feminine; she had heart
longing for love. to receive and 10 give
In full measure. And her ilIe
was barren Since the death Of her
father there had been none on whom
She could lavish the great gifts OF
her tenderness. Through the days
of her working in the store, cifcum-
stances had shut her out from all as
sociation with others congenial No
need to rehearse the impossibilities
Of conpanionship in the prison life.
Since then. the situation had not
vitality improved, in spite Of her bet
ter worldly condition. For Carson,
who had saved her from death, she
felt strong and lasting gratitude
nothing that relieved the longing for
nobler affections. There was none
other with whom she had any In
timacy except that. of sort, with
Aggie Lynch, and by no possibility
could the adventures serve as an
object OF deep regard. The girl was
amusing enough. and. indeed, a most
likable person at her best But she
was. after ALL a shallow pated indi-
vidual, without a shred of principle
OF any sort whatsoever, save the single
merit Of answering loyalty 70 her
pals" Mary cherished a certain