The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-11-14
Mary found the prophecy true. Back

in New York she experienced q pow
erty more ravaging than any she had
known in those five lean years OF her
working I'm the store. She had been
absolutely penniless for two days. and
without food through the gnawing
hours. when she found employment In
a milliner's shop. Followed blessed
interval in which she worked content
eddy, happy over the meager stipend,
since 1t served to give her shelter ana
food honestly earned.
The police Informed Mary's employer
concerning her record as convict.
and she was at once discharged. The
unfortunate victim of the law came
perilously close to despair then. Yet,
her spirit triumphed. and again she
persevered in that resolve to live
straight. She found Il cheap position
in cheap shop. only to be again per-
secuted by the police. so that she
speedily lost the place.
A third time she obtained work and
there. after a little. she told her en-
ployer. candy manufacturer in
small way. the truth as to her having
been in prison. The man had kindly
heart and he ran little risk. so he al
lowed her to remain. When the police
called his attention to the girls GRIM
inal record he paid no heed to their ad-
vice against retaining her services.
The police brought pressure to bear on
the man. They even called in the as
sistance of Edward Glider himself,
who obligingly wrote d very severe let
ter to the girls employer. In the end,
though unwillingiy enough. he dismiss
ed Mary from his service.
1t was then that despair did come
upon the girl. She had tried with all
the strength of her to live straight.
Yet, despite her Innocence. the world
would not let her live according To her
own conscience. 1t demanded that she
be the criminal it had branded her-if
she were to live at all. She still walk
ed the streets falteringly. seeking some
place. but her heart was gone from
the quest. Came an hour when she
thought of the river and was glad.
So she went through the long stretch
Of ill lighted streets. crossed some rail-
road tracks to a pier. over which she
hurried to the far end. where it pro-
jected out to the fiercer currents of the
Hudson There. without giving her.
self a moments pause for reflection or
hesitation. she leaped out as far as
her strength permitted into the coil OF
waters. But in that final second nat
ura terror in the face of death over
came the lethargy Of despair-a shrek
burst from her lips.
On the side of the pier man had
just tied up motorboat He stood up
in alarm at the cry and was just in
time to gain a glimpse of white face
under the dim moonlight as it swept
down with the tide. two rods beyond
him. He threw off his coat and sprang
far out after the drifting body. He
came to it in few furious strokes and
caught it.
Then began the savage struggle to
save her and himself The currents
tore at him wrathfully. but he fought
his nature. What saved the two of
them was the violent temper Of the
man. Always it had been the demon
to set him afiame. His rage mounted
and gave him new power in the battle.
Under the urge of it he conquered and
at last brought himself and his charge
to the shore.
Mary revived to clear consciousness.
which was Mt first inclined toward
hysteria. but this phase yielded soon
under the sympathetic illustrations
of the man. His rather low voice was
soothing 90 her tired soul. and his
whole sir was at once masterful and
gently tender. When finally she was
able to stsnd and to walk with the
support Of his arm she went forward
slowly at his side without so much
even as a question of whittier.
Joe Carson had performed. perhaps.
his first action with TO thought of self
ut the back of it. He had risked his
life to save that of stranger. The
sensation was at once novel and thrill
ing. Since it was SO Agreeable he
meant to prolong the glow of self sat
isfaction by continuing to care for this
waif of the river.
Joe Carson. the notorious forger. led
the dripping girl eastward through the
squalid streets until at last they came
to an adequately lighted avenue. and
there a taxicab was found. 1t carried
them farther north. and to the east to
an apartment house that was rather
imposing, set in a street of humblei
dwellings,.
Here Carson paid the fare and then
helped the girl to alight and on into
tue hallway. Mary went with him