The Holbrook news., 1914-10-10
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THE DEUCE SHE DID
By oPIE READ.

write for a newspaper was her ambi- tion. and all she wanted was a chance. Finally a chance came. John Ferron had been charged with defrauding a building association out of $5,000 The amount was not large; Ferron was not a prominent man; the case was good only for stick full" and it was given to the new girl. The suspect ed culprit had been placed under bonds and could be found at his board ing house, the city editor told her. She was elated. Instantly she had be- come a factor of the great city. She thought of her home in the country, the dull life, the daily complaint of the neighbors, the dead eternity of non-eventfulness.
 Ferron was in his room when a servant brought a card bearing the name of Miss Eva Smith," That was all; nothing to indicate her business; but at this Ferron took fright sup posing that she might be another one of those "defrauded" home-seekers. He sighed distressfully and. with the resignation which comes when some times we have reached the limit of calamity. he told the servant to let her come in. The visitors fresh and engaging face for a moment drove calamity back into the dark corner. Ferron Topped out of his chair and invited her to sit down. She did, with a smile, glancing about the room, at the cheap books on shelf, Nl4 v,SA @f of uTol drinking out of an old oaken bucket; at a stuffed owl on a bracket. and then she looked at Ferron. She had expected to see an oldish man, lean and fox-like. She was surprised to see a young fellow, curly of hair and handsome.
 I'm afraid I've come on unpleas- ant business.'' she said.
 He smiled. No matter what your business may be, your coming is pleas ant" he replied.
 Thank you"
 Not at all.''
 For time they sat looking at each other. He cleared his throat. T be- lieve you said something about un- pleasant business
 Yes; l am a reporter, and"
 ''Is that so unpleasant? If it Is, why don't you quit, it?"
 oh, reporting isn't unpleasant it's charming. But l have come to interview you"
 Interview me! have already been interviewed by a justice of the peace and have been bound over. An. what do you want me to say?"
 "Oh, just anything. You might well, say something to defend your self, you know"
 But that wouldn't do any good. 1 am already halfway condemned"
 But it might keep you from be- ing condemned the other half"
 He leaned back in his chair and laughed. She laughed too, and then she told him that he did not look guilty. He thanked her and. replied that he was not. She was pleased to hear 1t, she said; she had not expect ed to get a confession out of him, and thanked him for his confidence in her. But suddenly she looked serious. "Oh. but that wasn't a confession!" she said Tt was simply an assertion. People don't confess except when they acknowledge that they are guilty. about. But you know a woman does not believe a man guilty if be is- agreeable. Only the disagreeable men are guilty
 The man who is disagreeable to women ought to be condemned on general principles-or. rather, on general unprinciples," he replied; and they both of them laughed, and she wondered what time it was. He said that it wasn't late, looking at his watch; but she declared that she must be going. dropping into that serious mood which, in the office, had caused surprise. With this man, however, she could not long remain serious. There was something about him that made her smile. She knew that he might possibly be on the road to the penitentiary. for the justice of the peace had bound him over; but, some how, she felt glad whenever she looked at him. Was he a humorist set in silence to cause laughter? "I must really go," she said, getting up. He did not arise.
 Must you go?" he inquired, with soothing regret in his voice. And then he added: When are you coming back?'
 Coming back? I didn't say that I was"
 'I know you didn't. and that's the reason l asked you.
 She laughed. It was impudent of him, but somehow. it pleased her.
 Why should I come back?"
 ITO get detailed statement when 1 prepare it."
 "Oh, are you going to do that? l don't quite understand; but whenever a man is bound over by justice of the peace is it usual for him to make a detailed statement?'
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