The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-13


Il know you We're. Very we'll then.
You ought TO see that my proposition
is all right Come on. Let's make an
even break If you get the police
back here. what will ii get you? A
lot of newspaper notoriety. What
will 1t get us-this girl love- this lit
tie girl. who is as good as gold from
her heart outward and from her hon
est eyes back into her soul? What
win 1t get lis. say? Why. ten years
in the penitentiary,"
Nell Shivered. and loan cast her
eyes upon the maid sympathizingly as
she murmured Ten years in prison,
A living death"
Il can't interfere The girls a
thief said Mrs. Carr.
There was silence for a few moments,
during which Jack Doogan touched
NellS soft cheek caressingly with the
back of his hand and whispered to her
not to give up. He wouldn't have done
il himself. and If he could have STOP
ped Nell before she darted forward
and tiung herself on her knees at Mrs.
CarrS feet he would have held her
back at any risk
But he was too late. Nell was there.
with her white hands raised in suppl
cation. as she said piteously:
Mrs. Carr. give us chance. He
was going to turn straight for me, just
as he says He is straight at heart.
and he never would have done crook
ed thing again rs long as he lived.
Neither would |. For Gods sake.
Mrs, Carr, give us this one chancew
This is awful, William. what can
say"
She took her husbands arm and
moved away from the kneeling girl,
shaking her head. while William Carr
tried to assemble his vagrant thoughts
into some sort of order. but made an
exceedingly bad job Of the operation.
Jack Doogan shrugged his shoulders
as he watched them.
Don't knuckle down to these dubs.
Nell" he whispered, You don't have
to do it. I'm going to get us both out
Of here. That's Il cinch."
As he seated her and noted the ex-
preston of confidence aud hope in her
piquant face he assumed jaunty air.
Come on. Mr. Cluney. Don't be a
clam Be Il lot of regular fellows. you
and your pals The family amt lost
anything. Their trunk is on taxi
right around the corner waiting for
somebody TO 20 and claim it. and I'll
tell you something that will make you
all feel good.
What is it?''
lust this-you guys didn't steal
thing-nothing at all You think you
did. but Won didn't
II don't see what you mean exactly"
confessed James Cnney. passing his
hand across his forehead, a favorite
movement of his since he had been so
sure he was Il kleptOmaniac.
Il haven't tho faintcst idea of what
vol're driving at added Or WiIlough-
by. Il never opposed had stolen
anything. and the others who may
Rave picked up anything certainly did
not do it with any criminal intent. 1t
was Il mistake"
,'ack Doogan gave vent to a loud.
mocking laugh. Everybody turned and
looked at him Indignantly
"A mistake. eh?" he chuckled Why.
doc, that's one of the oldest. thinnest
excuses you ever hear in courtroom.
OF course it was mistake And there
are more than 1000 guys with short
hair wearing dark gray clothes up in
Sing Sing who made Just that sort of
mistake some time or other. Mistake?
Ha. ha ha.''
You say that none of us stole any
thing in this house" said DR. Will
Ioughby. breaking into Jack Doogan's
laughter. will you kindly explain
what you mean by that?"
Sure | will | stole all that stun
myself and planted 1t on you fellows.
1t was a cinch.'
According to what you say" OBJ
served Cluney. pulling himself to-
gether. I'm not keptomaniac"
"Kleptomaniac nothing was Jack
Doogan's disdalnful reply. Haven't
just told your
Then. of course, I'm grateful, Doo-
gan. And | should like to help you If
could. But II you're thief, why
"Ah, Cut that out. | haven't held
out nickels worth In this house.
and you all know it. That's why I'm
asking you to wipe the state clean and
make n new start"
But you tried to stealr put in DR..
Willoughby.
Il hope you are not really a thief.
MIR Doogan." said Joan coming to him
and smiling.
Thank you, miss replied Doogan.
Go as far as you like. II | only had
you to deal with-bless your innocent
heart-rd been out of this snarl long
ago"
I'm sure you would said Joan
warmly Then. addressing Wilough-
by, she continued. Doctor. can't you
settle all this without sending Mr.. Doc
gan and Nellie to prison: Can't you?"
They've stolen your trunk. remem-
ber.' replied Dr. Willoughby. You are
Interested in this. too. you see."
Joan retorted;
1 think you are very cruel and un-
kind, DIR. Willoughby, Ny trunk is