The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-30
Her Mothers LII. Might Depend on II

Her Mothers Life Might Depend on Il
smile cheerily as she entered her moth.
er's room. As soon az supper was
eaten and cleared away, she made an
excuse to go out.
Two minutes later Tom came home.
Opening the door Of the suite he
looked about him in horror at the
squalid poverty of the rooms. Then
with cry Of "Motherl Motheri" he
flung himself upon his knees at Mrs.
Morrisey's bedside.
With his mothers arms about his
neck and his mothers dear voice whis-
pering love words In his ear, he was,
for the moment, almost happy; for
the first time in two fearful years.
Presently, he asked:
'Where is Mabel?"
"She had to go out to see about
position" said his mother. "she will
he back in 4 little while. Go to the
kitchen and get yourself some supper"
As he crossed the kitchen Toms
eye fell upon a crumpled letter that
lay on the floor where 1t had dropped
from Mabel's blouse. He picked II up
its envelope was gone-and his eye
fell on Henry Rokeson's signature. In
unbelieving dismay he read the mis-.
sive. Then, snatching up his hat he
rushed from the house.
Mabel. arriving at the Rokeson man.
sion. was conducted by man servant
to the library where Henry sat await
Ing her. He rose eagerly to greet
her. She ignored his outstretched
hand and said Soldly In reply to his
fervid greeting:
"You said you had position to
offer me. II 1t is within my power
to accept 1t, I must do SO. My moth
er's life depends on 1t. What Is the
position, pleasef"
II want you to be my wife," he an.
swered, abruptly. II love you. I
have always loved you. As my wife
you will have enough money to"
you wrote about position" she
interrupted. unheeding. please tell
me what 1t g"
1.-THE position Of my wife. T."
II would rather starve," she retort.
ed. turning to leave the room. GOOD
night"
She made as though to pnss through
the doorway. But he clasped her in
his arms. imploring her to reconsider,
and dacIo rIno QUAR- ond oyor III. "a
miration for her. She struggled vain.
~ to free herself. Their swayIng and
interlocked figures were silhouetted
for an instant against q lowered win.
dow shade.
At the same moment q step sounded
on the veranda outside. A baud
tugged at the fastenings Of the win
dow. Henry switched of the lights,
dragged Mabel from the room and
thrust her out of the house by the
front doorway. Then, calling his valet.
he ran back into the library ond
turned on the light again just as Tom
Morrisey burst in through the. win.
dow.
where is my sister. you houndT
yelled Tom. springing at him. "what
have you done with herr
He grappled fiercely with Henry.
seislng him BY the throat as though
seeking to tear the truth from him.
The valet s.atched up a chair and
brought It crashing down upon Toms
head. Tom. stunned and helpless. col.
lapsed to the floor.
His first thought, when he came to
his senses. an hour later, in a police
station cell, was:
II can't tell the truth about It
without bringing Mabel's name into
the story. For her sake I must keep
SILENT"
Six weeks later Tom Morrisey-
tried and convicted on charge Of
housebrecking and assault-faced a
Judge; for the third time In his TWEEN.
ty.five years Of life.
"Thomas Morrisey." said the Judge,
solemnly. "a jury Of your peers has
found you guilty. This is your third
conviction in SIX years. You are a
hardened and confirmed criminal. It
Is my painful duty to sentgnce you to
a minimum Of twenty yesrs' impris.
onment at hard labor"
And not only the Rokeson's and
their kind are to blame In similar
situations but many more must share
the burden when It really is deter.
mined, who's Guiityi'
(END OF WHO'S GUnTYp 81.
! 31Esa