The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-27
Mysterious Mary
Had a Past and
Made a Future

board to send in Miss Wesley. In tripped Mary
Milcent She was half way in the room to the
desk when she saw the visitor. She stopped
her little heels, flushed, blanched; expression
which Sandy Mac Walrus had never dreamt that
pquant, pretty face could strike, formed there be-
tween her lips and her eyes.
$50, it's you, Mullen?" she spat, with hard
steady voice. ''wel, guess that's the blowof.
Wait'H get my hat"
Gust a moment, Miss--Mary," said Mao Wal
rus, as she turned. "Id like to do something for
you. This is quite a surprise, but maybe"
'fYeh, maybe. What's the use, now?''
'sNo one knows exception, Lord! Informa-
toni It was she who told me. And she's got
circulation like WIZ. It must be over half the
office by this time Too bad, too bad"
Thanks, Mr.. Mac Wallace But guess I'll get
my hat. / blew the home town because everybody
knew me and couldn't have any sort of chance
there after what I'd done. 1 worked in a coal Of
flee there, and handled checks, and was kid
who hadn't ever had anything, and it looked so
easy just to write yourself money, so went demo-
cratic But nobody believes you can wake
up after good scare and take tumble to
yourself
"And they keep mixing up stealing with other
things that haven't got anything to do with it.
Every loafer on Main Street thought he could
make free with me just because I'd forged
check So beat it. That was wrong, too, but
meant right IN that, as You know, Mr.. Mac Wal
lace. l tried to make good here, didn't II"
'fYou surely did, and your work and department
have been most satisfactory. The officer tells me
the report at the Y. W. C. A. is also commendable
So would like to do anything can. What would
you suggest"
"If you'll let me make a proposition" cut in
6ana 1a&%a
out anything about her past, just as if you never
got jerry to it, an just sayin' she was good work
err here. Then she can get another job, an you
can sign papers as her guardeen on parole. After
she's twenty-one she's free; this is the juv-nyle
court, you see.'
"W-would you do that, Mr.. Mac waIlace?"
asked Mary Milicent.
"Y-yes. That is, I don't like to tell white lies
ION the companys stationery, and if this ever came
out somewhere else, and they found this corpora
ton had recommended "a girl with a-well, this
is financing corporation you see, and if this got
out on the street-oh, hate to put any trifling
possibilities in your way like that, Mary, but this is
delicate; very delicate. I'm anxious to help you,
to save you, but"
But" said Mary, "you can't. know. Well
I'll go back and take the fall. They had me in
the women's ward of the Jail for three days and
nights while was waiting trial, and stood that,
so guess can take the rest of it and live Good
by, Mr.. Mac Wallace-you've been nice to me.
Say to the bunch that l."
mo, no, Mary. can't let you go like that, and
have it on my conscience that sat by and did
nothing while you went to prison. W-win you
marry met"
evil what? Mr.. Mac Wallace-~you've-~
"No, haven't. The company doesn't own mo
outside of here"
"But--besides lot Of other ticklish questions
everybody in theren know all about me. How will
it sound for the auditor of big financing and
bond syndicate to be married to a crook with a
conviction over her head, paroled to her husband
check-shover, too? 1WhatIl the street say about
that?" r
I'll guess--I'm afraid you're right, Mary. It
wouldn't do"
mo, but if Mullen will parole me to you and let
me stay in town, I'll get job on my own, prob
ably in some other commercial line. I'll take care
of the recommendations, my own way. Would you
do that for me, Mr.. Mac Wallace?- wanted
to marry me minute ago."
"Y--yes, guess that would be all right Mo-
body would know that except the two of us and
Mr.. Mullen. Go along home. Give me the papers,
Mr.. Mullen--Ill sign"
Mary Millicent got another job two days later
in the office of tannery. And Mac Walrus hired
an old maid with crooked nose to take the va
Gated adder. And Mullen troubled Mary Millicent
no more, nor did she give her parole guardian any
cause to stay awake nights But
The romantic little elevator boy, bereft when
Mary Millicent left, who heard about her wicked
criminal past, and who was in love with her that
it hurt, started on career of forgery and was
roundly spanked for slipping the corner grocer
counterfeit check for two dollars. And within
year, Mary Millicent married the son of the rich
tanner, whom she showed letters from her min
lister, her high school principal and the Y. w. C. A.
And the society paragraphs referred to the
Official