The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-08-30


kept quiet about the business, not dis
cussng office affairs with outsiders, he
would make her Christmas present of
some shares.
Gussie was notsso innocent and dull.
After a while she began to have suspi-
cions about the business, so one day as
it drew near the holidays, she ventured
to suggest that she would rather have
her Christmas present in money than
larger amount in shares.
$50" said Austin, ''you doubt their
value?" Gussie didn't know what to
say, but he read her mind, and jumped
to the conclusion it was better to have
her friendship than her enmity.
every WE'LL" he said. "You shall
have the money instead, If you wish. l
like your work, and / don't think you
talk about the business, so I'm going
to make you proposition. If you'll
help me still further in ways I shall
suggest, l will make you my confiden-
tial secretary with a percentage of
profits. But it must be CONFIDENTIAL
you understand. The moment you
speak a word outside that ends it,"
Gusse promised faithfully, and kept
her promise. Money began to come in
to her in such amounts that she started
n bank account. Then one day Austin
did not appear at the office. When she
telephoned his hotel, she was told he
had left town the night before, and
they could not say where he had gone.
Worried and anxious people began to
call at the Office and ask for Mr.. Aus
tin. Gussie answered their questions
with suavity and tact. The next day
officers Of the law closed the office and
took charge Of Gussie as witness,
while newspapers had. astounding
revelations regarding the enormous
swindling operations of Mr.. Frank b.
Austin.
In the Jail where Gussie was con-
fined Mrs. Travers often came to help
any hapless woman prisoner she could.
She pitied Gussie, whom she believed
to be innocent, and asked her about
her people. At first the girl evaded
her, but finally told how she had not
seen them for a long time. Mrs. TRAY
ers, whose religion had made her very
patient and loving with all humanity,
came often to see Gussie, and her talks
with the girl had the effect of max
ing her see many things in a new
light. One day greatly to her surprise,
hDF mr.
sic stood still in her establishment, but
the mother, with streaming eyes, cried
out: "Gussiew and took the girl in
her arms. GuSsie's head, like very
tired chlds, went down on the COM
forting motherly breast; and Mrs.
Travers, knowing that if ever a girl
needed a mother, it was just then, left
them together.
Everyone believed the little typist in
nocent, and the time of her release
was only a few days off. Mrs. Trav-
ers had secured her another position,
and it was all planned that a neat lit
tie fiat was to be rented for Gussie, her
mother and the two children. The ia
Their had died almost year ago, and
the brother next to Gussie was working
in another city.
1t was the day before Gussie's re-
lease, nothing had been proved against
her, and the good little woman, Mrs.
Travers, had come to tell her how she
had everything ready. The girl stood
I'D to meet her with new, strange
light in her eyes. Her face was pale,
but resolute.
81 am not going tomorrow" she said.
"I must tell you. There is only one
way. You have shown me the way.
/ knew that business was crooked.
must tell them so. There are few
hundred dollars. in the bank, he said
was my percentage. want to give that
I'D. / shall go TO prison instead OF
home to mother. But it is right, isn't
it2'
"Yes," said the little woman. ut is
right" And she took the girl in her
arms and kissed her. Then she went
out and had a conference with high
and mighty powers in the law, and the
girls confession and her poor little
money she returned, together with
Mrs. Travers' plea freed Gussie. But
out of the prison came another girl
than she who went in. The light of a
new, high ideal shone in her face.
Mother and the little home were a
haven of rest, and life took on great
er meaning.