The San Francisco call., 1913-09-29

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strange, new respect but he could not
let the situation go without protest
protest of the most vehement
Dick he cried, and his big voice
was shaken a little by the force of
his emotion; boy. you are all have
in the world. You will have to free
yourself from this woman somehow"
He stood very erect, staring steadfast-
ly out OF his clear gray eyes into
those Of his son. His heavy face was
rigid with feeling; the coarse mouth
bent slightly In a smile of troubled
fondness. as he added more softly:
You owe me that much"
The sons eyes met his fathers free
ly. There was respect In them and
affection, but there was something
else. too-something the older man
recognized as beyond his control He
spoke gravely, with deliberate con-
viction.
II owe something to her, too. Dad
But Glider would not let the state
ment go unchallenged. His heavy
voice rang out rebukingly, overtoned
with protest
What can you owe herr" he de-
manded. Indignantly ''She tricked
you into the marriage. Why. legally,
It's not even that There's been
nothing more than wedding cere-
mony. The courts hold that that is
only a part OF the marriage actually.
The fact that she doesn't receive you
makes 1t simpler, too. 1t can be ar
ranged. We must get you out of the
scrape.'
He turned and went to the desk. as
IL to sit. but he was halted by his
sons answer. given very gently. yet
with a note of finality that to the
fathers ear rang like the crack OF
doom.
Pm not sure that want to get
out of 1t, father"
That was all, but those plain words
summed the situation. made the issue
| a matter not of advice, but Of the
heart
Glider persisted, however, in trying
to evade the integral fact of his sons
feeling, Still he tried to Ak the issue
on the known unsavory reputation of
| the woman.
you want to stay married to this
jaiIbirdr" he stormed.
| A gust of fury swept the boy. He
loved the woman, In spite of all; he
respected her. even reverenced her.
To hear her thus named moved him to
| rage almost beyond his control But
he mastered himself. He remem
bered that the man who spoke loved
him: he remembered, too, that the
word of opprobrium was no more than
the truth, however offensive 1t might
be to his sensitiveness. He waited a
moment until he could hold his voice
even. Then his words were the stern
est protest that could have been ut
tered, though they came from no ex-
ercise of thought. only out of the
deeps of his heart.
| I'm very fond OF her.
| That was all. But the simple sim
cerity of the saying griped the
| fathers mood as no argument could
have done. There was a little silence.
After all, what could meet such low
| ing loyalty?
When at last he spoke. elders
voice was subdued, a little husky.
Now that you know" he ques-
toned.
/ There was no faltering in the an
Nov. that know" Dick said dis
tinctly. Then abruptly, the young
man spoke with the energy and per-
feet faith In the woman. Don't you
see, father? Why. she liz justified in
a way, IN her own mind anyhow, I
mean. She was innocent when she
was sent to prison. She feels that the
world owes her
j But the older man would not per-
nit the assertion to go uncos,tradfct-
ed. That reference to the vtomans
innocence was an arraignment ~ HIM
self, for 1t had been he who sent her
to the term OF imprisonment
Don't talk to me about her inno-
cence!'' he said, and his voice was
ominous. Il suppose next you will
argue that because she's been clever
enough to keep within the law, since
/ she's got out OF state prison, she's
not criminal. But let me tell you
l-crime is crime, whether the law
touches 1t in the particular case. or
whether 1t doesn't"
Glider faced his son sternly for a
moment, and then presently spoke
tagain with deeper earnestness.
There's only one course open to
you. my boy. You must give this girl
up
The son met his fathers gaze with
a level look in which there was no
weakness.
1--WE told you. dad he began
you must. / tell YOU" the father
insisted. Then he went on quickly.
with tone Of utmost positiveness 1T
you don't, what are you going to do
/ the day your wife Is thrown into q
patrol wagon and carried to police
/ headQuarters--for it's sure to hap
pen? The cleverest of people make
mistakes, and some day she'll make
4 one"
i Dick threw out his hands in a ges-
i ture of supreme denial He was furi-
Gus at this supposition that she would
I continue in her irregular practices.
But the father went on remorse-
lessly.
They will stand her up where the
detectives will walk past her with
masks on their faces. Her picture. OF
course, is already in the rogues' gal
lery, but they will take another. Yes,
and the imprints OF her fingers, ana
the measurements of her body"