Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-12-18
CHAPTER ~.
Inferno.

'iS''tS
THE memorable voice went on in
it's monotone. as if he had not
spoken.
"And when you are really
sick and have to stop work what are
you going to do then? Do you know.
MI. Glider. that the first time a straight
girl steals it's often because she had to
have a doctor-or some luxury like
that? And some Of them do worse
than steal. Yes. they do-girls that
started straight and wanted to stay
that way. But. Of course, some of
them get so tired of the whole grind
that-that"-
'I'm not their guardian. l can't
watch over them after they leave the
store. They are paid the current rate
Of wages-as much as any other store
pays" AS he spoke the anger pro-
voked by this unexpected assault on
him out Of the mouth Of a convict
famed high in virtuous reputation.
"Why," he went on v~ehemently. mo
man living does more for his employ
CCS Judi l w.. NAV SoNS u gill
their fine rest rooms upstairs? I did.
Who gave them the cheap lunchrooms?
Idid!!"
"But you won't pay them enough to
live on"
81 pay them the same as the other
stores do" he repeated sullenly.
"But you won't pay them enough to
live on!'
"And so you claim that you were
forced to steal. That's the plea you
make for yourself and your friends"
II wasn't forced to STEAL" came the
answer, spoken in the monotone that
had marked her utterance throughout
most of the interview. II wasn't fore
ed to steal, and l didn't steal. But, all
the same. that's the plea, as you call
it, that I'M making for the other girls.
There are hundreds of them who steal
because they don't get enough to eat.
1 said 1 would tell you how to stop the
stealing. Well, l have done it. Give
the girls a fair chance to be honest,
You asked me for the names, Mr.. Gil,
der. There's only one name ON which
to put the blame for the whole bust.
ness, and that name is Edward Glider.
Now. won't you do something about
it?"
At that naked question the owner of
the store jumped up from his chair and
stood glowering at the girl who risked
a request so full Of vituperation against
himself.
"How dare you speak to me like
this?' he Numbered.
"Why. | dared" Mary Turner X
planned. because you have done all
the harm you can to me. And now I'm
trying to give you the chance to do
better by the others. You ask MI why
I dare. I have a right to dare. | have
been straight all my life. have want
ed decent food and warm clothes and
"a little happiness all the time I have
worked for you, and l have gone with
out those things just to stay straight.
The end of it all is. you are sending
me to prison for something I didn't do.
That's why I dare!'
Glider could not trust himself just
then to an audible command. He was
seriously disturbed by the gently spo-
ken truths that had issued from the
girls lips. He was not prepared with
any answer. though he holly resented
every word of her accusation.
Cassidy faced about. and in his
mnvamnnf fhnra yyac a ty1p ar fhn wrist
of the girl that set her moving toward
the door. Her realization Of what this
meant was shown in her final speech.
"Three years isn't forever she said
in a level voice. when l come out
you are going to pay for every minute
Of them. Mr.. Glider. There won't be
a day or an hour that | won't remem-
Der that at the last it was your word
sent me to prison. And you are going
to pay me for that. You are going to
pay me for the five years ! have starry
ed making money for you-that too!
You are going to pay me for all the
things l am losing today, and"-
The girl thrust forth her left hand,
on that side where stood the officer.
So vigorous was her movement that
Cassidy's clasp was thrown Off the
wrist. But the bond between the two
was not broken. for from wrist 10
wrist showed taut the steel chain of
the mnnncles, The girl shook the links
OF the handouts In II gesture stronger
than WORKS
"You are going TO INV ~. for this