Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-02


Her words were those of soul in
torment. and for the moment she
seemed to have forgotten my pres
ence. Yet in a minute she spoke
again in her natural voice.
Pardon me, Mr. Glace. Suppose
we speak Of something else"
nodded assent. you have lived
In San Francisco" suggested.
u was born and raised there" said
Miss Foote.
"And how long have you been
deteetive?'
Three years"
II suppose" said |, that you have
met some pretty gripping things in
the line you have followed. My work
is mostly with thieves and major
criminal actions. Yours, take it, has
been more along sociological lines9"
eyes" She seemed to consider for
a moment before she went on.
Would you like to hear one in
stance of the work of these people we
are fighting at PRESENT."
Every much" rejoined
Il was thinking of that when ]
made my outburst a few moments
ago." she explained. 1T was in San
Francisco that if happened, too There
was girl--a young girl--pretty, OF
course.
They don't bother with the ugly
ducklings they have to have the fair
est flowers,
well. ii doesn't matter who she
was or what she was doing, does it?
She was good girl, Mr.. Glace. but
fond OF pleasure, and the least bit
headstrong, as your spoiled beauty is
apt to be, but she was clean at heart
as ] happen to know.
AT the same time she was from
people OF moderate means, SO that
when she found employment she took
It. She was employed In photo
graphers shop.
Zone day man. young man,
came there to sit for picture.
"He saw this girl and as a GUS
toner he addressed her. From that
time on he made 1t point to see her
and gradually they became friendly.
He began to show her some little at
tentions. He took her to places OF
amusement. and sometimes to dinner
at a cafe. After time he asked her
to marry him.
"She told her mother--her father
was dead and her mother objected,
There was scene. of course. You
see knew the people well,
"A few days later she went with
the man to dinner. and he persuaded
her to elope. She never came home
again. and she never was married.
This man took her to a place, and
placed her in a room, telling her to
wait there until he could arrange for
the ceremony. Shortly after he had
left her a woman came to her room
and told her everything was ready
and that she was to accompany her
to place where the man was wait
ing.
INSTEAD, she took her to one Of the
places where these people detain their
victims.
Not until she was shut In and
hopelessly lost did the girl suspect.
Then she decided to die rather than
submit to the fate she had rushed for
ward TO meet.
"She had some Photographic proofs
in an envelope in her bag and upon
the backs Of these she wrote what
had happened. and the name OF her
betrayer, sealed them up and address
ed the envelope to me.
"She managed to throw this out of
a window, where II was found by some
one passing and sent to me- Then
then she took The pin out Of her hat,
and stabbed herself straight through
the left breast"
Lucille Foote drew her kerchief and
wiped her eyes.
II ought to cut that OUT she OBJ
served in moment "but you sc" |
had known the girl since she was
baby, and when her mother learned OF
her death, the shock killed her also.
And what good did 1t do---what end
Ala a vnrvpoh
"And the man?' inquired.
went free as men do said
Miss Foote. He simply disappeared.
The girl had his picture in her room
nj her home. and we had his descrlp-
ton of course, but he was not found.
yet he murdered that girl Just as
surely AS If his hand had guided the
pin instead of hers, when IT pierced
her heart. Don't you think girl
driven TO thing like that ought to
have a chance to come back and try 1t
over? II not, what would become Of
herr"
II think" 7 rejoned, that girl
forced TO such choice, who chose
death 10 dishonor, ought to go TO
little white and gold room in the very
highest heaven
Lucille FoOte turned toward me and
I thought that she seemed pale In the
moonlight. and that her eyes were