The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-03-11
CONFESSIONS
OF A Wife
THERE IL NJ StCH THING
A. MERCY

Annie spent the day with mo re-
Gently. Naturally she talked a great
deal about Tim. and she could not
talk about Tim without talking about
Harry Symone az they are 30 bound
up together In city affairs.
20 you know Miss Margaret 70
she said. that Tim ana his honor
almost came to clash the other
night over an ordinance that Tim
wants the city council 10 pass1'
"'ril veto L.. said Mr. symonc
Then every one will rims IN. that
old story OF yours, your honor. said
Tim
"iNr symone looked as tho he
would strike me for minute. An
nte. said Tim. hut YOU see ! had 90
tell him. for | knew lust what that
damnable dirty sheet that II always
going for him would say.
nut his honor cooled down as
he looked me IN the eye and held
out his hand
"'"Forgive me. commissioner he
right and are warning me IA a
friendly spirit. but surely you have
known me long enough aud well
enough To realize that am simply
going TO do what think Il right. no
mattoc how u affects my despicahle
past n Is because ! have "a past.
and because Il follows me Just as a
scandal does the name OF a woman.
that / understand. a. do few men.
just what these poor women whose
regulations are sinirched have 10
bear
what have Co suffer IL de.
served and intend II can. Ia
even things up for the women who
walk the streets
For heavens sake. what do
you mean. your honor I asked
hreathlrHsly.
"'"wcli. Tim" he said. IT II
about this new ordinance which pre-.
vide. that every woman caught so.
iicttng on the street shall be arrest.
ed and committed 20 Jail TO await
trial In the morning
what are you going TO DO with
them. sir I asked hiuntly
"'"it " up TO you. Mr. Commits,
sion~r. 20 keep them or the streets ="
"'"Tcll me how TO do ~. your
honor"
"''I don't know commissioner.
That IN not my Iob have troubles
enough OF my own" said his honor
with laugh. Then came out the
real reason why he was going 10
veto the ordinance You see. Annie.
We have succeeded In keeping that
Martha Marlin case out Of tho pa.
peers 80 FAR. but u IL ever comes 10
trial. good night. nurse
What ~ the Martha Marlin
ease Tim asked.
1t H. a pretty bad affair he an
swered with a sigh Last week one
% our rs cops IN citizens clothes
brought IN woman whu he said
had solicited him on the street Tho
woman was Of rather refined type.
and. a. I happened 20 b. az the cen.
trai office. they called me OVER 10
hear the story. thinking Il would BE-
u
when I presented the ordinance.
But Great Scott, heartily
wished had not gone
The woman owned up that she
had aeco@tsd the man "But l did
not do II until he had smiled and
nodded 20 me" she said
Did you do this. Horton" !
asked
Ito hcsitated, and then said.
Well commissioner. I was perhaps
grinnlnE little at Joke had
heard few minutes before.
You see. Miss Margaret the dirty
Eralpcen encouraged her as fnr a.
possible without actually speaking.
just 80 Tim wnR talking to her.
Mr.. Symone happened In. He had
been over 20 the central office 20 sec
TIN and they told him where Tim
was
''He walked w TO Tim and listen.
ed 20 the wnois story. and pretty
hard luck EtarF IL was II made me
almost wonder II there was any
merry for . woman In the world"
No. Annie" / interrupted softly.
there ~ no mercy for any one
Mercy Ia chimsrn that some one
invented. once upon q time whom he
d'd not want his subjects 10 realize
that every one In this world. man
woman or child has TO pay In strict
Justice. nn, only for his sins but for
his mistakes
fIA IA. la.s..a..H