Putnam patriot., 1915-09-03

Andrew made no answer in words, but went to his bureau, from which he took out iapanned tin box. which he unlocked with a key from his ring. He brought forth photograph, which he passed to the curious Creegan.
 \ single glance sufiiced the man. He stared at Andrew in stark amazement.
 Well. I'll be -7 he gasped. Maggie Maggie Flint He regarded the photograph again, astounded. "S9g." he demanded cHHEty. looking up again. "how did that come here?"
 Andrew put forth his hnnd. possessed himself of the photograph aud restored it to the box, which he carefully locked and replaced in the drawer before an- swerine. then at last he turned to the imBatleHtly waiting Creegan. whose thick lips were twitching from nervous excitement.
 Now suppose he said evenly, flor example. that you planned to steal some valuable jewels you have heard spoken off"
 Creegan's eyes grew furtive.
 Like the Wainwright sparklers, hey?"
 And let us suppose further An drew continued imperturbably, that you were apprehended in the act
 The supposition appeared to discon- cert Creegan. if one might judge by the thick furrows in his forehead and the savage tightening of his lips.
 Say. vou." he grunted. Just you parade the kind of talk l know. Get thatE'
 Suppose you get pinehed collared, " Andrew amended tranquilly. And. furthermore let Us suppose that the owner of the jewels was of an old and honorable family and at this particular time a nominee for high office. Now. do you think he would risk scandal by prosecuting you if it so chanced that you recognized in his wife some one you had known in very different cir cumstances. some one named, let us say. Maggie Ilint?''
 \ silence fell in which Andrew stood fmmobile. impassiye. regarding his new tool with calm yet piercing scrutiny, and Creegan rested agape. his widened eyes fast on the other. striving dumbly to digest the bewidering fact that the girl with whom he had wandered fond ly in the streets of Chicago years be- fore was become in very truth the mis- tress of this mansion. At last he shook his head incredulously.
 "No,r he muttered it can't be Mag gie-the wife of that swell guy. Vain wright"
 But it isr' Andrew retorted sharp ly. and the words carried conviction.
 Gee! Maggier' he mumbled con fusedly. Well. I'm son of gum
 q am to understand. then. the Mas tor Mind suggested suavely. that you know the lady?'
 Creegan's dull face lishtened instant ly. Something of the bestiality bred out of evil years fell from him.
 Do [? Why. I knew her from way back. Guess she come from pretty good stock, though her old man was down and out whea I knew 'em. She had darn poor piFin'S. Maggie had. Any other skirt with her looks would have gone to the had liekettv split; but not her, Wofket IT racfofles ana then got job after her father died as nurse girl Kept straighter'n q string all the time. I got foolish over that kid my eelf. I'd just about made up my mind to marry her when she was caught with the goods and sent to stir Never could see why she did it. IL want like her to steal tried to find her when flie come out but there want nothln sloin'. And I was dinpy over her. GeeE' he concluded sheepishly. Can you see fne bein' dippy over skirtE'
 Andrew then said:
 And. if you should be caught. for further defense you might perhaps say that robbery was not your intent. but that instead you were here for meet Ing with the lady-at her request