The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-22

teresting side light on the Clean Candi- date. v Kennedy's laugh was mirthlessly harsh.
 "Oh, don't-don't," she dropped to the l floor, her head on a chair. l He made no effort to comfort her. For the first time he heard her sob seemingly unaffected. Then when finally she grew more quiet
 Its not only my career, Margaret it's yours. Those letters published-what will it mean to you?" | "Oh if only Pm to suffer- wouldn't t care" recklessly. But they'll use them to defeat youl Is there no way-of stop ping it? If I went to him?" eagerly If 1 l made a personal appeal?" | It'd only make matters worse," with curt cruelty. Then abruptly, T can't stay l longer now. I'll do what I can-and let you know"
 "oh, don't leave me like that! I can't | bear it-I can't'' | T don't want to be harsh, Margaret but you'd better let me go.' | That was all. The next moment he was gone.
 1 In the tortured hours that followed Mar garets mind leapt constantly to Norwood. 1 He had helped her once before. Could i he help her now? At any cost she must avert the ruin of the man she loved. | Who had taken the letters-and how? |? | Her suspicious instanly encirced the new l hall boy A few days ago she had found : him in her partment-confused he had explained that there was a smell of smoke, and he had come in through the fire escape. There had been no trace of smoke, and now she knew he had stolen the letters-that he was one of | Brady's tools.
 Half an hour later, her reddened eyes
 subdued by a close-1Ieshed veil, Mar garet was at Norwood's office, excitedly | relating these facts
 There's nothing I wouldn't do for you | Margaret he assured her. You know
 that. If your happiness depends on get ting back those letters-we must get then same way. knew the chief of police personally"
 But Margaret feared the publicity ot Iputting it into the hands of the police That the letters were from Kennedy was the one point she had withheld. With some reluctance Norwood yielded to her plan-that they follow Wilkins the hallboy. that evening when he went off duty Though they could not bribt Brady, they might be able to bribe his tool
 At 10 minutes of they were waiting ir Norwood's car before private residence
 a few doors beyond Margaret's apart ment. It was just s when the hallboy hurried by and took car at the corner 1 Their driver having been coached, kept almost abreast of the street car. They had reached the outskirts of the city before Wilkins got off. Turning down a Idimly lit street, he entered a small frame cottage.
 Leaving their car at discreet dis tance, they approached the house. The front was dark, but from under the drawn shades of the side window leaked
 a strip of yellow light. Unheeding Nor woods whispering protest. Margaret fol lowed him around the house to the lighted window.
 By stopping they could see under the shade the back and shoulders of two mer lat table.
 Not on your life,' gruffed an angry Ivoice. "I'll give you five hundred for the iletters-not cent more! That's al they're worth"
 Tt is, eh?' the laugh held a sheer Well, I guess you'll double that-or yor lwon't get 'em.''
 Wilkins voice!" whispered Margaret clinging quiveringly to Norwoods s arm. Then the sound of a pushed back chail and Wilkins moved in their line of view
 In his hand was the ribbon-bound pack age of 1ette~si
 | To ha