The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-01-16

ported with her charge, who, though
still stumbling of gait and %St"opin"
showed by some faint color in her face
and in Increased StcadincSs Of bearin'
that the food had already strengthen"
her much
she would come" Aggie explained
II thought she ought to rest for hWhil'
lOnyer anyhow"
I'm all right. | tell you" came the
uuerulOuS protest
Are Won quite sure?" Mary said +"
the yirl. "1llrn tell us all about it
this trouble Of yours. you know. WhA'
is your nnElef
"Uclcn Norris"
II don't have to ask if you have been
in prison. Your face shows it"
"I-I came o%ut-three months ago"
"And you'd made up your mind to 90
strai"ht?"
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 ovel
again. weren't you?"
The bent head Of the girl bent lowe
in assent.
ut doesn't work very well. does it,"
"No: I'm whipped"
Marv's manner changed She spoke
cheerfuIly for the first time.
"Wcll. then. how would you like to
work with u.s."
"YOu-yOu mean that
"Our kind Of work pays well when
you know how. Look at us. Suppose
| should stake you for the present and
put you in with Il good crowd. All
you would have to do would be to an
swer advertisements for servan 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 Won will make Il get
away when they do and get your bit
as we'll"
There flashed still another Of the
swift. sly chances. and the lips of the
girl parted rs 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.
at doesn't suit you? Good! | 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 q human being till
you got Il Start?'
There came Il tensing of the relaxed
form. and the head lifted Il little. so
that the girl could look at her ques-
toner.
II will -ire you that chance Mary
said simply. IF you really want it,"
The wretched girl sat suddenly erect.
and her words came eagerly.
''Oh. ! do" And now her hungry
gaze remained fast on the face Of the
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.
II mean more than that. | mean
forget that you were eve in prison. |
don't know what You have done-l
don't think | care. But whatever it
was. you have paid for tia pretty big
price too
81 have. | have" The thin voice
broke. wailinG.
well. them Mary went on. Just
begin all over again. and be sure you
stand up for your rights. Don't let
them make o pay a second time.
Go where no n knows you, and don't
you that o have been crooked II
they think you are straight. why. be
it. Then nobody will have any right
to complain. viii you promise me
this?'
Yes. | promise" came the nswer
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! l can'tr
Didn't you come here for helpT'
YES" was the faltering reply. but
butt didn't know-it was your
''Then you have met me befOre?'
Mary said qnietly.
mo, no." The girls voice rose shrill,
Aggie spoke her mind with frank
ness. shes lying"