Williams news., 1916-12-28

I promised me-"
 Listen, Molly" said Tom. "When you went away last time you said you'd come back. And you didn't come back. l was waiting for you all the rest Of my Imprisonment, and when came out I meant to find you and ask you to come away with me somewhere where we could begin our lives again" .t.
 Molly laughed scornfully. "You thought l wanted a jailbird, I SUD- pose," she taunted him. "What have you to say now why I shouldn't tele- phone for the police?"
 q guess there's nothing" answered Tom hopelessly. 'It was my last try, .. just to get some money"
 That's what you told the judge at your trial"
 Molly" said Tom, eff you'll let me go I'm through with it. It was for your sake"
 'For my sake? How dare you! Did I ever know the nature of your life? Did dream-?"
 q know you didn't, Molly. But I wanted to get little money for you. I've been hunting for you-God knows how hard I've tried to find you. And I never dreamed you'd be living here,
 the wife of rich man. I-let me go, Molly, for the Lords sake. It 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.'
 q know that talk" said Molly bit terly. "How much have you taken?"
 Nothing, I swear. I just got into the house,
 q suppose I'll have to let you go, then," 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, Mollyr' answered Tom eagerly. "Pn live straight now, I 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 F man on the stairs above him. , A light was switched on somewhere , on the first floor. Tom Linton hid
 himself behind the window curtains l of the hall through which he had
 come. As he waited there, breath
 less, he saw the old man descend the
 stairs.
 q thought I saw 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 amazement, 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 youT de manded the old man testify. It was evident that he did not know her and had no idea how she had happened into the house.
 q made a mistake" Molly faltered. TT was told to come here-a friend-'
 ; The old man broke into chuckling laughter. Clearly he put the worst construction upon the girls presence
 and yet not the natural one.
 q guess I'll do as well as your
 friend, won't I, my dear?" he asked,
 leering at her.
 "How dare your' cried Molly, Ham,
 ing up.
 y "Well, how dare you come into my h house?" retorted the old man. And,
 stepping toward her, he chucked her h under the chin. d Suddenly, as, Molly screamed, Tom e bounded forward. He caught the old r fellow by the throat and shook him a like a rat. You hound P he shouted. o "Lemme go !" whimpered the other. d "How dare you insult a lady who e comes into your house by mistaken" e "Lemme go. It was a mistake all d round," muttered the old man. <He l. wriggled out of Toms hands. q apol- n ogize," he mumbled. q didn't mean d any harm. I thought
 Come" said Tom, giving Molly his e arm. And together they left the l. house-this time both by the front e door. They passed the policeman on
 his beat, but he hardly looked at them. e At convenient corner they stopped. l. What does it mean, Molly? asked e Tom. l. TT went there to steal" whispered y the girl.
 n "You were never there before?' e She shook her head. 'Oh, Tom, you a may as well know the worst now. l r have become a thief. After the trial h I was marked-I couldn't earn an j. honest living. Everyone bounded me. e Then tried your way. And that was a why I didn't let you know where l f was. knew you were looking for me,
 Tom, and I wanted some money, to t meet you, to take you West with me, d and I didn't want you to dream" e "That you had become what I am,'
 answered Tom grimly. Molly" he