The Monroe journal., 1915-07-16

a-tunity was all but lost; then. pluck
ing courage out of the heart of des-
peration. she spoke.
"One moment, IL you please; II
want TO ask you something" she fal-
tered; and he wheeled obediently and
faced her.
Followed a pause. inevitable, but
none the less awkward for the one
who was responsible. Griswold felt
rather than saw, her embarrassment,
and was generous enough to try to
help her.
Il think | know what you wish to
say: you are quite at liberty to say
it," he offered, when the pause had
grown into an obstacle which she
seemed powerless to surmount.
Il thought perhaps-I had hoped
oh, for goodness sake, why did you
do it?" she burst out, no longer able
to fence with the weapons Of Indirect
ness.
He answered her frankly.
1T was the old story Of one mans
overplenty and another mans need.
Have you ever known what it means
to go hungry for sheer poverty's
sake?-but, of course, you haven't"
NO." she admitted.
well, | have; l was hungry that
morning; very hungry. know this
doesn't excuse the thing-to you. But
perhaps 1t may help to explain It."
Il think | can understands little.
But surely"
He stopped her with a quick little
gesture.
II know what you are going to say
that | should have been willing to
work, or even to beg, rather than
steal. | was willing to work; was
not willing to beg. | know 1t Is all
wrong from your point of view; but !
should be sorry to have you think
that | did what | believed to be
wrong"
But think of it; II you are right,
everyone else must be wrong!"
" mo; not quite everyone. But that
Is very large question. and We
needn't go into it. | confess that my
method was unconventional; little
more summary than that of the usu-
rers and the strictly legal robbers. but
quite as defensible. For they rob the
poor and the helpless, while merely
dispossessed one rich corporation of
a portion Of its exactions from the
many"
Then you are not sorry? | saw
you yesterday afternoon and hoped
you were"
He laughed unpleasantly. Il was
sorry, then, and | am now; for the
same reason. have lost the money"
Lost it," she gasped. "How?"
Il had hidden it, and suppose some
one else has found it,. 1t is all right,
so far as the ownership is concerned;
but am still self-centered enough to
be chagrined about it."
"But you must have returned it in
the end. You could never have been
content to keep it."
do you think so?" he rejoined. II
think could have been quite content
to keep 1t. But that is past; 1t is
gone, and | couldn't return it il /
wanted to-"
NO" she acquiesced "and that
makes 1t all the harder"
For you to do what you must do?
But you mustn't think of that. |
shouldn't have made restitution in any
event. Let me tell you what | did.
| had weapon, as you have sead. !
tied 1t up with the money in a hand
kerchief. There was always the
chance of their catching me. and had
made up my mind that my last free
act would be to drop the bundle into
the river. So you see you need not
hesitate on that score"
Then you know what 1t is that
must do?"
"Assuredly. knew 1t yesterday,
when | saw that you had recognized
me. 1t was very merciful In you to
reprieve me, even for a few hours;
but you will pardon me II | say II
was wrong?"
"Wrong!" she burst out. rs 1t gen.
erous to say that to me? Are you SO
Indifferent yourself that you think ev-
eryene else is Indifferent, tool"
He smiled under cover Of the dark
ness.
Il know you are not Indifferent; you
couldn't be. But you must be true to
yourself, at whatever cost. VIII you
go To Captain Mayfeld now?"
She hesitated.
Il thought of doing that, at first"
she began, postponing to more con-
venient season the unnerving refiec-
ton that she was actually discussing
the ways and means of 1t with him.
1T seemed to be the simplest thing
to do. But then | saw what would
happen; that | should be Obliged"
Again he stopped her with ges-
ture.
Il understand. We must guard
against that at alkhazards. You must
not be dragged into 1t, you know,
even remotely"
Il wrote a letter toto Mr.. Gal
II.