Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1914-01-15
ard her words came eagerly


!, ard her words came eagerly
"Oh. do, And now her hungry
gaze remained fast on the face of the
woman 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?'
"Yon mean keep straight all the
! time:" The girl spoke with force
| drawn from the others strength.
II mean more than that. | mean
! forget that yon We're ever in prison. I
don't know what you have done-I
| don't think care. But whatever it
| was. YOU have paid for tia pretty big
price too"
Il have. haver' The thin voice
broke. wailing.
Well. then" Mary went on. lust
stand up for your rights. Don't let
them make you pay a second time. :
Go where no one knows you. and don't
tell the first people who are kind to
you that you have been crooked. Ii
they think you are straight. why. be
, it Then nobody will have any right
to complain. Will you promise me
this?''
Yes. ! promise came the answer.
| very sravely. quickened with hope.
| Good" Mary exclaimed. with
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
ives, and keep yon quite awhile if you
are careful
! But. without warning. revulsion
seized on the girl. She shrank again
and turned her head away as her
body trembled
II can't take it," she exclaimed. az
| can't. | can't!'
Didn't you come here for help?'
] Yes was the faltering reply. but
| butt didn't know-it was you"'
Then you have met me beforey'
Mary said Quietly.
NO. no. The girls voice rose shrill-
| Aggie spoke her mind with frank
ness She's lying
Carson agreed His yes was spoken
in tone of complete certainty. That
Mary. too. was of their opinion was
shown in her next words
so you have met me before?
Where"
The girl unwittingly made confes-
sion in her halting words.
Il can't tell YOU" There was de-
spaiE iii her voice.
You must"
The girl only crouched lower.
Il can't" she cried again. painting as.
if in exhaustion.
why can't you?"
Bccause-because'- The girl could
not go on.
What were you sent up for?"
For stealing"
Stealing WHAT" !
Goods
''Where from:"
'"rhe EMPORIUM
In flash of intuition the whole;
truth was ln-caled To the woman Who'll
stood looking down at the covering.
creature nefore her
The Emporium she repeated
There WAS II tragedy in the single,
word Then YOU are the one Who
The accusation WAS cut short by the
girls shrek
II am not. am not. tell yon!
For moment Mary lost her poise
Her voice rose in flare Of rage
You are, You are!''
The craven spirit Of the girl could
struggle no more. She could only sit
In huddled. shaking heap of dread
Mary soon mastered her to such an
extent that when she spoke again. as
if in self communion. her words came
quietly. vet with overtoneS of SUI
preme Woe
See did it,. Then after a little she.
addressed the girl with a certain won.
derins before this mystery pf horror
why did you throw the blame on
me-
The girl made several efforts hefore
her mumb!ing became inteliigihle. ana
then her speech was gasping. l'roken
with fear.
ITO Be Continmed)