The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-02-13
ME for Dick Gilder!~
Burke was beaming jOyOu0ly.

he said. with SNUG content. And now,
| then. who did shoot Grggs7 We've
cot every one Of the gang. They're
ali crooks. See here" be went on.
| with y sudden change to the respectful
in his manner. why don't you start
fresh! I'll give you every chance in
the world. I'm dead on the level with
| you this time"
BY now Mary had herself well in
hand again vastly ashamed Of the
| short period Of self betrayal caused By
! the officials ~artifice against her heart
Az she listened to the inspectors as
surances. the knocking expression OF
| her face wa. not encouraging to that
| astute individual. but he ~persevered
manfully.
"Just you wait" he went on cheer
| fully. .'and I'll prove to you that I'm
on the level about this. that I'm really
your friend. There was u letter came
| for YOU to your apartment. My men
brought 1t down to me. I've e It
Here it il. III read 1t to you"
He picked mp an envelope. which had
been lying on the desk. and drew out
the single sheet Of paper 1t contained.
| Mary watched him. wondering much
more than her expression revealed over
this new development. Then. as she
listened. quick interest touched her
features tn Il new life.
This was the letter:
can't go without telling you how sor-
ry | am There won't never be a time
that | won't re- ember it was me got you
sent up: that YOU did time in my place.
amt going TO forgive m yself ever. and l
swear I'm going straight always. Your
true friend HELEN MORRIS
For once. Burke showed Il certain
delicacy. When he had finished the
reading. he said nothing for a long
minute. .....
Mary's eyes were luminous In the
Joy of the realization that for her. after
all. rehabilitation might be In n nea-
sure possible. though nothing could
ever repay the degradation ut years
infinitely worse than lost
Burke's harsh voice. cadenced to q
singular sympathy. broke in ON her
revelie of pleasure and Ut pain.
"You knew this!" he inquired.
Eyes. two days ago"
did YOU tell old (,ildery' he asked.
Mary shook her head in negatiOn.
what would be the use!" she re-
minded him. II had 20 proof. No
one would believe me-"
They'd believe this. Why. this let
ter sets you clear. If old Glider should
see this letter. there's nothing he
wouldn't do to make amends to yon.
He's u square guy himself. II 1t Onea
to that. even II he war hard on you.
Why. this letter wipes out everything"
Then. the insistent question bentinR
at his brain forced him to speak
roughly. building hope or the letters
inestimable worth to the woman be-
fore him.
"Who killed Griggs?"
There was no reply. And, presently,
he went ON. half ashamed owe bis
own intrigue against her.
Say he said. and. for onee. his
voice was c~uriOusly suppressed. "yOu
tell me who shot Griggs. and I'll show
this letter to old Glider Now listen"
he cried eagerly. II give you my word
of honor that anything you say IN here
is just bet ween you and me t'ncOn-
sciously his eyes darted to the window.
behind which the s~tpn0grapher was
busy with his notes.
That single Involuntary glance vas
enough for the keen Instinct Of the
woman to make u guess AZ to the
verify.
"Just tip me Oh to the truth" Burke
went ON ingratiatingly. "und III get
way. Now. there's nObOdy here hut
just you and me-. Come on. now put
me wiser
Are you sure no one will ever
known
Nobody but you and me-" Burke
declared. all agog with anticipation Of
victory ut hast. Il give you my word!'
Mary met the gaze VI the Inspector
fully In the same instant. she flashed
on him Y smile that was dazzling. the
smile Of u woman triumphant In her
mastery Of the situation. Her face
was radiant. luminous with honest
mirth.
She spoke In a most casual voice.
despite the dancing delight in her face.
The tones were dra wied In the mat
ter Of fact fashion Of statement that
leads q listener to answer without
heed to the exact import Of the Ques-
ton. unless very alert indeed. This
ID what she said:
I'm not speaking fond enough. am
l. stenO0ra Dher!e'
And that industrious writer Of short
hand notes. absorbed In hin task.
answered Instantly from his hidden
place In the corridor.
mo. ms'am. not Quite."
Mary laughed aloud, while Burke
nat dumfOunded. She M swiftly.
and went 4 the neareat window. and
with u pull at the cord sent the shade
dying upward. There wax revealed
the busy stenOgrapher. bent over his
pad. A grOan of distress burst from
him. and he fied the place In ignomini-