The Washington herald., 1916-06-25
EIGHTH STORY.

Margaret Graeme had amazed her
friends by dropping out of the social
world for a time, and returning to IL
with the queer statemen: that she had
been taking a course in law.
People wondered what John Leonard
would think of this freak on the part of
the pretty but strong-willed girl to whom
he had so long been engaged.
But Leonard was not given to airing
his opinions for the benefit of the pub
lie. Moreover, he was used to Margaret $
eccentric ways. Indeed, he had tolerated
them in half-amused fashion ever since
he and she had been children together.
Then. too. he had new interests OF his
own. just then. tnat so absorbed him as
10 leave little time or thought for lesser
matters.
The Explorers club. Of which he was
a member. was organizing an expedition
into the unpOpUlated hintarlands of Bra
zil-an expedition which Leonard had
largely financed and which he was to
lead.
Preparations for this six months alb
sence from New York engrossed his
whole attention for weeks. At length all
was ready. and his passage was booked
on a Brazil-boUnd steamer which was to
sail at a. m. on New Years day.
In the early afternoon of New Years
Eve. Leonard called at the Graeme house
to say gOod-by to Margaret. He had
hoped to spend his last evening with her.
before starting on the journey. But there
were still a dozen 'lats things" to attend
to before sailing; so he made his cell
earlier in the day.
He found Margaret in the living-room
OF her fathers home, waiting for him
with an eagerncss she had not shown
toward his visits for manv a long day.
For a moment he felt conscience
half year from a girl who seemed to
love him so dearly But Margaret's first
words undeCeived him.
Congratulate me- she exclaimed.
I've just had the most wonderful bit Of
luck. I was afraid you wouldn't call be-
fore I had to 80 out. And I wanted to
tell you"
What is the wonderful news" he
asked gaily masking his chagrin that
her greeting was so impersonal and that
she had thought of going out on this
let afternoon he could be with her
what has happened? Have they de-
cided to admit you to the bar. after only
seven months of law study? Or" shade
CT hope in his voice, have you decided
TO merry me today and come to Brazil
with me-"
Neither OF those miracles has hap
pened," she told him. But something
HallOran has promised to make me his
secretary! Think Of that"
I'm trying to think Of it," said Leon
ard in perDlexity. But il doesn't make
sense to me. Why should a well-to-do
girl want to be any mans secretary-and
deprive some needy girl of a good Job.
And who is Mr. HallOran?' -
Who is Mr.. Halloran?' she echoed, ig-
nOring his first question. Next you'll
be asking Who Is Theodore Roosevelt? .
or Who is Andrew Carnegie Don't you
read the papers at all? Or has that silly
Brazil expedition taken up all your mind ?
Mr.. Charles Morchouse Halloran, my
ignorant friend. is the new district at
torney who was elected last November
and who takes Office tomorrow morning
And
OH grunted Leonard in disgust.
That HallOran?"
"Well?" she snapped. You needn't
speak Of him as If he were an ashcart
driver He is one Of the most brilliant
criminal lawyers in America and every
body says he will be governor or United
States senator some day. lie
He Is one Of the most unsCrupulous
and corrupt machine politicians in the
city" Contradicted Leonard. And II
he ever rises to a higher office, he'll get
1t in the same way and for the same
purpose as he got the district attorney
ship-through graft and for graft
You shan't speak SO of HIM" said the
girl, sharply. Mr.. Halloran g a friend
OF mine. and of fathers. too. And I
wont hear him villifed. even by you"
But he"
He appreciates my ability and my am
bitions for a career" she hurried on,
enthusiastically. He is going to make
me his secretary, and to help me show
what a woman can do when for once she
IS given a fair chance"
a fair chance for what?" demanded
Leonard. in some irritation. ITO become
the instrument Of social system that Is
so merciless and so unjust that It be-
longs in the Fifteenth century rather
than in the Twentieth? Don't take up
that sort Of work. Margaret. Don't do
IT. It's not suited to any woman. Least
Of all to a woman who has been brought
up as you have"
Isn't it," she sneered. "I suppose you
have the fossil old idea that a woman s
place Is in the homer
IF there is n nobler place than the
home. ! don't know where il is" he re-
turned. But I'm not insisting that
women stay there. They have ventured
into a thousand honorable fields OF en-
deavor. But the position of secretary to
the district attorney isn't one OF them.
Certainly not for you, dear. You have no
right to"
Il have a right to do as please
You have not" he denied. mo one
has. Edwin Msrters father thought he
had a right to do as he pleased So he
left his money to charity instead of leav-
ing It to the son he had never trained to
earn living. And, as a result of his
fathers injustice. Martel Is dead broke q"
I'm not interested in your friend Ed
win MarteL =
ssRut 7 am .fptarrunta5 Tao,ard .sr,-.
so much interested in him that I'm going
to take him on my Brazil trip as one of
my assistants. 1t will give him work
and livelihood and teach him to rough
II while he Is shaping his plans for the
future. made him the offer today and
he's accepted it I'm to meet him at
Dorieys at half past eleven tonight to
give him his final instructions. and he
Know this doesn't interest YOU" he fin