Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-05
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
THE girl followed him.


said in IN odd. contiding voice. "IhcH
gave il TO me. you sec, and maybe IT
will help that I've never been called by
IT.. They used to call me Pen or Penny
Ia bad penny. I suppose you think
"Your name, he said trlgldlH' OF AT
least the one Bender knows you by
the one you went by in Chicago Is
Marta Sills.
She made an articulatc sound Sug
gestive Of dismay.
.'That is one of my names. she ad-
mitted. Il had forgotten | gave that
one to Bender"
He made no comment.
.You said" she continued pleading
ly. that there was no excuse for me
and girls like me. Maybe you would
find one il YOU knew what we are up
against, Every one knocks instead OF
boosts, and tells us how low down we
are. Just as il a mirror were held
up to an ugly looking girl. and >he
were asked how any one who looked
like that could expect to be different
Suppose l should tell you I'd been to
rcformatories and places where had
IL
ms ] did with Bender so as to be kept
froln being sent up. There is no mercy
for those who exhibit any glimpses
of intelligence. YOU see. ms time l
thought l was a goner for life until
YOU pried me loose. All doors seemed
closed. but YOU opened the window. NO
me was ever really kind to me before.
except Salvation Army woman and
some one else"
'.What was the name Of that some
one else?'' he interrupted.
She hesitated. and for the first time
seemed confused.
"was it." he demanded, Joe
Gary?"
son. she gasped. Then quickly
recovering, she continued: You re
quite detective for an acting one. If
you were the real thing, you'd be
regular Sherlock Holmes and make a
clean sweep of crooks.
''Answer my question
''It doesn't seem necessary to tell
you anything; you know so much. |
seem to know that name. Was he at a
dance in Chicago-let me see. lurri-
cane Hall?' she asked seronely. as
this his part of the country, and shall
zee him.
"It was his part of the country. You
cannot see him."
A wistful note crept into her voice
as she said:
~ should like TO see him just once.
hut I suppose you won't tell me where
he is. l don't dare let on to you how
grateful l really feel to you, because
] might lose my nerve and I've just
got to hang on to that It's my only
asset in trade. We have to use lots OF
bluff.
Besides. someway you make me feei
contrary. Maybe ] am the, lightning
and you the thunder.
''Nyhy did you leave Chicago?' he
asked abruptly. Bender said that was
where you drifted from. ! want the
real reason-the absolute truth
1t was very dark now. but she could
feel his eyes. as piercing as search
lights. demanding the truth.
''The gate was open and just walked
out, or maybe / stole out. l didn t
follow Jo, because he didn't say where
he lived-just the hill country. I'll tell
you the real reason-thieves don't al
ways lie-I had been sick and the doc
tor said air like this for mine, and so
] followed this trail. ! picked it up
here and I'd have been all right if
hadn't run up against that lightning
chaser Of a Bender. / guess folks are
keener out this way than they are in the
cities. More time to hunt crooks,
maybe"
''No," he denied "It isn't that. It's
because we have q beautiful, clean coun
try, and we are going to-"
.'Have no blots on the landscape
she interrupted. 81 suppose Bender
catches them and you reform them. Is
that the system? Well, no one can be
GOOD till they are comfortable. I'm
not very strong yet, and I'm not USED
10 being out untethered like this. I'm
cold and sleepy. If you don't object
I'll crawl into your old wagon if
can find it in the dark.
She caught a note of contrition in q
muffied exclamation.
'swaitr'
She heard him walk on to the car anG
come beck. Then she felt coat wrap
ned snugly about her.
He guided her to the clumps of tree
and spread q robe on the ground.
..Sit down here he said peremp'
torily. -,
she gave a little smile of victor!
which, il he had seen it, would haV'
etrapRled all his new born compassion.
ssWhy didn't you tell me your stor!
,n The first placer" he demanded.
ssWben you are out in the worl'
slone, you know" she said sagely
and every one is taking shot at you
YOU have to put out bluff of bravado
same as porcupine shoots out hi
ouills.r
sIe gave another murmur OF -ym
pnfhy.
.sDon't feel too bad about 1t, Kin
I<Uft, becaune being knocked abou
okarpens sous wits and makes you al