The Holbrook news., 1914-10-10

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 assignment"
 "I never shall forget mine." he said.
 "Oh, and were you a reporter?'
 Yes; and 1 quit ft-because the pa per changed hands. Never could get another job But I have been think ing that 1 might make arrangements to send in news from tho penitentiary society news, for instance"
 Oh" she said, brightening. "l might make something of that. We'll. good-by"
 Ferron sat gazing at the chair. Jumping up he hastened to the window and watched tEe girl as she was getting on a car. She did not look back at the house. and even so little a thing as that made his heart heavier. She was sent as a beauti- ful torture" he said. Now shall have a worry harder 70 bear than the other one. Go on. vision: that's all you are"
 The vision was going on toward the office. framing a sketch in her mind; and she wrote it with a dash it was so full of spirit that it leaped and bubbled from her zen; but when she took it to the city editor he frowned at it and declared that it was too long. When, however. he had read it, with few sweeps of his mas tering eye, he complimented her and. with a shrug of his shoulder, dis missed her. The sketch appeared. a vivid light amid a gloom of ordinary crimes; and the next day she re- ceived a note from Ferron. ''I didn't know that I could serve as such an inspiration. My trial is set for next Friday. Come ove-."
 She was sent to write something about the trial. Her sketch had made the case important. He smiled at her. and. though it seemed to send light into her heart, she resented it, and in he- report she said a few mean things about him. That would teach him a lesson. And it did. for the next day he simply looked at her. Then she was sad. and sought an opportunity to beg his pardon. The jury acquitted him, and he went away without giving her a chance to speak to him. "I knew he was not guilty" she unused. Per haps now he might still wish to make his detailed statement
 When she went, however, she did not pretend to have come for a state ment Boldly she declared that she had come to beg his pardon for hay ing said mean things about him. He smiled, and begged her not to think O. it. He had not been offended. He deserved all that she had said.
 No; l was cruel. and you so inno- cent, too"
 He laughed. Singular how inno- cent some can be, isn't it?'' he said. looking into her eyes.
 She said yes, and looked down. Then he spoke, and his voice was so solemn that it startled her. Miss Smith, l made one confession. didn't IF"
 Yes, you confessed your innocence. and you were not guilty"
 q now have another confession to make. l was guilty
 "Oh, you don't mean it.'
 ''I do mean it. I was a scoundrel. 1 sat here one day musing over the fact that the whole world was a ras- cal and a swindle. 1 needed $5.000, and knew how l could get the money by wrecking a concern of which l was the manager. I did it nicely most delicately. I was proud of my work. Of course, I was indicted. l knew that would be done But l also knew that my work was so fine that they couldn't prove anything. And they didn't. Now call me a scoundrel. and bid me good-by."
 "I don't believe you" she gasped.
 Its true. But look here, 1 have just squared up with the concern. See this receipt?" He handed to her a piece of paper. The $5,OOO had been returned. She handed back the pa per and sat looking down. T must go," she said. She got up. and he followed her to the door. I was a scoundrel, but I'm not now." he said. "I despise myself for having been weak. Something made me strong you made me strong. Yes, love you. and my love for you and dishonesty could not go together. Until l knew you my soul was unfinished. It was barbaric. You" The tears were on her cheeks. And you feel sorry for me, do your"
 Whats become of Miss Smith?" the city editor inquired.
 And a reporter replied: Married i that fellow Ferron."
 "The deuce she did!"
 Copyright. 1914. by Daily. Story Pub. Col