The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-12-01

rest OF my Imprisonment, and when
/ came out / meant TO find you and ask
you to come away with me somewhere
where we could begin cur lives
again"
Molly laughed scornfully. "You
| thought / wanted a jailbird. / sup
pose" she tauD.ed him. What have
you to say now why l shouldn't tele-
phone for the police?
II guess there's nothing" answered
Tom hopelessly. ut was my last try,
| Just TO get some money"
That's what you told the judge at
your trial."
Molly" said Tom. IF you'll let me
go I'm through with it. 1t was for
your sake
For my sake? How dare youl Did
ever know the nature of your life?
Did | dreamy"
| II know you didn't, Molly. But 1
wanted to get little money for you.
I've been hunting for you-God knows
how hard I've tried to find you. And
/ never dreamed you'd be living here,
the wife of a rich man. let ne go,
Molly, for the Lords sake. 1t isn't the
punishment l care about, it's the
thought of having seen you, and seeing
you again in the court, and going
through all that I've gone through once
more"
Il know that talk" said Molly bit
terly. How much have you taken?"
L II inst croft int
the house"
Il suppose I'll have TO let you go,
them" said the girl, musing. God
knows don't want to have to go into
the court again either. You can go.
Tom
God bless you. Molly" answered
Tom eagerly. I'll live straight now,
l swear"
He turned and made his way toward
the door, switched off the light and
was feeling his way along the corridor
when he heard the footsteps of the old
man on the stairs above him.
A light was switched on somewhere
on the first floor Tom Linton hid
himself behind the window curtains
of the hall through which he had
come. AS he waited there, breath
less he saw the old man descend the
stairs.
Il thought / saw u light on below,
he heard him mutter to himself, as
old men sometimes do. And he
passed into the library. Tom was
about to dash for the window when
TO his amazelnent, he saw Molly
emerge from the door nearest the hall
entrance, while at the same time the
old man came out of the other. The
two met almost face to face.
What is it? Who are your de
manded the old man testify. 1t was
evident that he die not know her anC
had no idea how she had happened
into the house.
II made a mistake" Molly faltered
II was told to come here-a
friend"
The old man broke into chuckiine
! laughter. Clearly he put the worst
construction upon the girls presence
and yet not the natural one.
II guess I'll do as well as your
friend, won't /, my dear?" he asked
leering at her.
"How dare your cried Molly, fam
ing up.
Z well, how d;ire you come into ny
b house," retorted the old man. And
stepping toward her, he chucked hel
b under the chin.
I Suddenly, as Molly screamed. Ton
e bounded forward. He caught the ole
+ fellow by the throat and shook hin
n like q rat you hound ~ he shouted
o "Lem,ne go!' whimpered the other.
q "How dare you insult lady VIII,
e comes into your house by mistaken"
g "Lemme 60 1t was mistake al
/ round" muttered the old man. II,
/ wriggle1 out of Toms hands. Il apol
n Ogize," he mumbled. Il didn't NEAR
i any harm. thought"
Come" said Tom, giving Molly hi
g arm. And together they left tn,
|. house-this time both by the from
e door. They passed the policeman OF
his beat. but he hardly looked at them
~ Il lHty SlOppeO-
: What does it mean, Molly?" asked
e Tom.
: II went there to steal" Whispered
V the girl.
n You were never there befOreY
g She shook her head. "Oh, Tom, yol
n may as we'll know the worst now.
r have become q thief. After the tria
h I was markell couldn't earn 81
) honest living. Everyone bounded me
e Then 1 tried your way. And that wa
a why l didn't let you know where
f was. / knew you were looking for me
Tom, and / wanted some money, I,
t meet you, 10 take you West with me
and I didn't want you TO dream"
e THAT you had become what | am,
answered Tom grimly. Molly" h
n continued. ''the past is gone now. For
h tune has brought Us together. So let
2 go West and play the straight game
: dear-just as we are. let's work on
$ way out there. or beg, but let's do
!. together. because we want each 9th
:. er's help TO live the way we mean TO.
q Mortified.