The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-03-01

blSleh, molly, Salu IOIn. 'Wnen
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 | meant to find you and ask
you to come away with me somewhere
where we could begin our lives
again"
Molly laughed scornfully. "You
thought / wanted iai,bird, / sup
pose she taupted him. "What have
you to say now why 1 shouldn't tele-
phone for the police?"
Il 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, eff you'll let me
so I'm through with it. Ii was for
your sake"
For my sake? How dare you! Did
ever know the nature of your life?
Did l dream-?"
II know you didn't, Molly. But l
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 me go,
Molly, for the Lords sake. 1t isn't the
| punishment | 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?"
Nothing, l swear. l just got into
the house"
II suppose I'll have to let you go,
| then" said the girl, musing. "God
| knows l don't want to have to go into
the court again either. You can go,
Tom"
"God bless you, Mollyr answered
Tom eagerly. "Ill live straight now,
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 l saw a 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
twoanet almost face to face.
"What is it? Who are your" de-
manded the old man testify. 1t was
evident that he did not know her and
had no idea how she had happened
into the house.
Il made a mistake" Molly faltered.
II 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
Il guess I'll do as well as your
friend, won't l, my dear?" he asked,
leering at her.
"How dare you'll" cried Molly, fam
ing up.
"Well, how DIRE you come into my
house,? retorted the old man. And,
stepping toward her, he chucked her
under the chin.
Suddenly, as Molly screamed Tom
bounded forward. He caught the old
fellow by the throat and shook him
like rat. "You hound !" he shouted.
"Lemme gow whimpered the other.
How dare you insult a lady who
comes into your house by mistaken"
"Lemme CO. 1t was a mistake all
round" muttered the old man. He
wriggled out of Toms hands. II apol-
ogize," he mumbled. 81 didn't mean
any harm. l thought"
Come" said Tom, giving Molly his
arm. And together they left the
house-thls time both by the front
door. They passed the policeman on
his beat, but he hardly looked at them.
At convenient corner they stopped.
what does it mean, Molly?" asked
Tom
'T-Iwent there to STEAL" whispered
the girl.
"You were never there before"
She shook her head. "Oh, Tom, you
may as well know the worst now. 1
have become a thief. After the trial
| was markell couldn't earn an
honest living. Everyone bounded me-
Then l tried your way. And that was
why | didn't let you know where |
was. knew you were looking for me,
Tom, and wanted some money, to
meet you, to take you West with me,
and l didn't want you to dream"
"That you had become what / am"
answered Tom grimly. "Molly," he
continued, "the past is gone now. For
tune has brought us together. SO let's
go West and play the straight game
dear-just as we are, let's work our
way out there, or beg, but let's do it
together, because we want each 9TH
er's help to live the way we mean to-"
Mortified.