The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-02-07
q " hen ! they were alone
ss''ins 9,'be .,yo,lr friend. !"
sMary's tone was non

you 81 Mary's tone was non
committal.s i. s Fl. &. s5,. ..s.5F
EYES," Burke declared. heartily.
s"And.~I mean it! Give up the truth
about young Glider. know he shot
Griggs, of course. But I'm not taking
! any stock -in:that burglar story-not.a
little bit!, No court would either.
What was really back Of the killing?
Was he jealous OF Griggs? Well,.s that's
what he might do then. Hes always
been worthless young cub. A rotten
deal like this would be abogtI his gait,
/ guess. Tell me. now, WHY did he
shoot Eddie Griggs?" ~
There was coarsen>ss a-plenty in the
inspectors pretense. but it possessed
solitary fundamental virtue; it play
ed on the heart Of the woman whom he
questioned, aroused it to wrath in de-
Tense Of her mate. In a second; all
poise fed from this girl whose soul
was poisoning in the blest realization
that man loved her purely, unseldsh-
~. Her words came stumbling in their
haste. = - 80 49, :. - = - -
Gle didn't kill him! He didn't kill
him" she fairly Kissed. why. he's
the most wonderful man in the world.
You shan't hurt him! Nobody shall
hurt him! I'll fight to the end of my
life for Dick Gilder!"
Burke was beaming joyously.
'Well, that's just what I thought"
he said, with SNUG content. "And now,
then, who did shoot Griggs? We've
got every one Of the gang. They're
all crooks. See here,"< he, went on,
with a 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 tho
short period of self betrayal caused by
the officials artifce against her heart.
As she listened to the inspectors as
surances, the hooking expression of
her face was not encouraging to that
astute individual, but he persevered
manfully.
"Just you watt" he went on cheer
fully, land I'll prove to you that I'm
on the level about this, that I'm really
your friend. There was letter came
for you to your apartment. My men
brought it down to me. I've read it.
Here 1t is. Ill read it to your
He picked up an envelope, which had
been lying on the desk, and drew out
the single sheet Of paper it contained.
Mary watched him, wondering much
more than her expression revealed over
this new development Then, as she
listened, quick interest touched her
features to new life.
This was the letter:
can't 60 without telling you how sor-
~ I am. There won't never be a time
that I won't remember It was me got you
sent up; that you did time in my place.
ain't going to forgive myself ever. and /
swear I'm going straight always. Your
true friend. s,... HELEN NORRIS.
For once, Burke showed a certain
delicacy. When he had finished tho
reading, he said nothing for a long
minute. -.->- :-.--.
Mary's eyes were luminous fn@the
Joy Of the realization that for her, after
all, rehabilitation might be In mea-
sure possible, though nothing could
ever repay the degradation Of years
Infinitely worse than lost.
Burke's harsh voice, cadenced to q
singular sympathy, broke in on her
: reverie Of pleasure and Of pain.
"You knew this?' he inquired.
Eyes, two days ago."
did you tell old Gilder?' he asked.
Mary shook her head in negatton.
what would be the use?" she re-
minded him. II had no 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 you.
He's square guy himself, if it comes
to that, even if he was hard on you.
Why, this letter wipes out everything
Then, the insistent question beating
at his brain forced him to speak
roughly, building hope on the letters
inestimable worth to the woman be
fore him.
"Who killed Griggs?"
There was no reply. And, presently,
he went on, half ashamed over his
own intrigue against her.
"Say," he said, and, for once, his
voice was curiously suppressed, "you
tell me who shot Griggs, and I'll show
this letter to old Glider. Now, lsten,''
he cried eagerly. II give you my word
Of honor that anything you say in here
Is just between you and me-" Uncon.
sciously his eyes darted to the window,
behind which the stenographer was
busy with his notes.,
That single involuntary glance was
enough for the keen instinct Of the
woman to make "a guess as to the
verify. -: 80: -
"Just tip me of to the truth" Burke
went on ingratiatingly, land I'll get
the necessary evidence in my own
way. Now, there's nobody here but
just you and me. Come on, now-put
| me wise!"
"Are you sure no one will eve'
know?" a<..