The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-12-21

SsSS7
Her Mothers Life Might Depend on It.
smile cheerily as she entered her moth
er's room. AS soon as supper was
eaten and cleared away. she made an
excuse to go out.
Two minutes later Tom came nome.
Opening the door of the suite he
looked about him In horror at the
squalid poverty of the rooms. Then
with q cry Of Mother! Mother !" 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 MabelT" ,
"She had to go out to see about a
position" said his mother. "She will
be 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 ii had dropped
from Mabel's blouse. He picked it up
Its envelope was gone-and his eye
fell on Henry Rokeson's signature. In
unbelieving dismay he read the mis-
sive. Then, snatchins up his hat he
rushed from the house.
Mabel, arriving at the Rokeson man.
sion, was conducted b. a man servant
to the library where Henry sat await
ing her. He rose eagerly to greet
her. She ignored his o~utstretched
hand and said coldly in reply to his
fervid greeting:
you said you had q position to
offer me. II 1t is within my power
TO accept 1t, I must do 30. My moth
er's life depends on 1t. What is the
position, please"
II want you to be my wife," he an
swered, abruptly. 81 love you. I
have always loved you. As my wife
you will have enough money to"
"You wrote about a position" she
interrupted, unheeding. please tell
me what 1t Is"
1.-THE position Of my wife. /"
81 would rather starve," she retort-
ed, turning to leave the room. "Good
night"
She made as though to pass through
the doorway. But he clasped her in
his arms, implorlpg her to reconsider,
and declaring over and over his adj
miration for her. She struggled vain
ly to free herself. Their swaying and
interlocked figures were silhouetted
for an instant against q lowered win
dow shade.
At he same moment q step sounded
on the veranda outside. A hand
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 and
turned on the light again just as Tom
Morrisey burst In through the win
dow.
Where is my sister, you hound?'
yelled Tom. springing at him. What
have you done with herr"
He grappled f1ercely with Henry.
Selling him by the throat as though
seeking to tear the truth from him.
The valet snatched up q chair and
brought 1t 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 1t
without bringing Mabel's name into
the story For her sake I must keep
silent"
Six wesSs later Tom Mcrrisey-
tried and convicted on charge Of
housebreaking aud assault--faced q
judge; for the third time IN his twen-
ty-fve years of life.
Thomas Horrisey." said the tadge,
solemnly. "a Jury Of your peers has
found you guilty. This IL your third
conviction In six years. You are .
hardened and confirmed criminal. Il
Is my painful duty to sentence you 10
q minimum of twenty years impris-
onment at hard labor"
And not only tho Rokeson's and
their kind are to blame In similar
situations but many more must share
the burden when II really Is detsr.
sained. who's Griltyr'
fHNN ry WHO'S GUILTY. co..