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THE GRADY COUNTY PROGRESS, CAfRO, GEORGIA.
Copyright, 1913, by tho H. K. Fly company.
you've got about her?" Gar-
son demanded.
book back Into bis pocket. “Just now
you’re posing us Mary Turner's cousin.
You served two years in Burnsing for
blackmail. You were arrested in Buf
falo', convicted and served your stretch.
Nothing on you? Well, well!"
Again there wns triumph in the of
ficer’s chuckle. He went on speaking
with obvious enjoyment of the extent
to which his knowledge reached.
“And the head of the gang is Mary
Turner. Arrested four years ago for
robbing the Emporium. Did her 'stretch
of three years."
“Is that all you’ve got about her?"
Garson demanded with su<;h abrupt
ness that Cassidy forgot his dignity
sufficiently to answer with an unquali
fied yes.
“Nothing in your record of her about
her coming out without u friend In
the world nnd trying to go straight?
You ain’t got nothing in that pretty
little book of your’n about your going
to the millinery store where she finally
got a job nnd tipping them off to where
she comp from?”
“Sure, they wns tipped off. We got
to protect the city.’’
"Got anything in that record of
your’n.” Garson went on venomously,
“about her getting another job nnd
your following her up again and hav
ing her thrown out? Got it thereabout
the letter you had old Gilder write, so
that his influence would get her
canned ?"
"Oh. we had her right the first time."
“You did not. She was railroaded
for a job she never done. She went
in honest, and she ennie out honest."
"And that’s why she’s here now with
a gang of crooks,"-Cassidy retorted.
"Where else should she be?" Garson
demanded violently. “You ain’t got
nothing in that record about my jump
ing into the river after, her. That's
where I found her—a girl that never
done nobody any liurm. starving be
cause you police wouldn't give her a
chance to work. In. the river because
she wouldn’t take the only other way
that was left her to make a living, be
cause she wns keeping straight! Have
you got any of that in your book?" -
“Anyway," the officer went on. with
a new confidence, now that his eyes
were free from the gaze that had
burned into his soul, “you've got to
clear out'the whole gang of you—and
do it quick.”
"Wfe don’t scare worth a cent," Ag
gie snapped, with the virulence of a
vixen. “You can’t do anything to us.
We ain’t broke the law." There came
a sudden ripple of laughter, and the
charming lips ^urved joyously as she
added, “Though perhaps we have beut
it a bit”
“Well, you've got the tip,” Cassidy
returned, somewhat disconcerted, after
a’stolid fashion of his own. "Its up
to you to take it, that’s all. If you
don’t one of you will make a long visit
with some people out of town, and it'll
probably be Mary. Remember, I’m
giving It to you straight”
Cassidy turned and went noisily out
of the drawing room. As she-heard
the outer door close bohlud the defec
tive Aggie’s expression grew vicious.
“The truck horse detective!” she
sneered. “An eighteen collar and a
six and a half hat! He sure had his
nerve trying to bluff us!"
“Perhaps it wasn’t a bluff, Aggie,”
Garson suggested.’
“Well, what have, we done, I’d like
to know?"
yer hiTHT lilfteTTy, - that •’uonerin Hast
ings cannot afford such publicity."
"Oh, as for that,” Mary suggested
evenly, nnd now there was a trace of
flippancy in her fashion of speaking.
"I’m sure the police would keep your
complaint a secret. Really, you know,
Sir. Irwin. 1 think you had better take
your troubles to the police rather than
to me. You will get much more sym
pathy from them."
The lawyer sprang up with an air of
sudden determination.
“Very well, I will then." he declared.
Mary pushed in his direction the
telephone that stood on the table.
"3100 Spring,” she remarked encour
agingly, "will bring an officer almost
immediately." She leaned bnck In her
chulr and surveyed the bullied man
tfmusedly.
“Nevertheless,” he -rejoined, "you
jknow perfectly well that General Hast
tugs never promised to marry this girl.
You know”— He broke off as Aggie
entered the drawing room.
Now. the girl was demure in seem
ing almost beyond belief—a childish
creature, very fair and dainty, guile
less surely, with ttiose untroubled eyes
of blue, those softly curving lips of
warmest red and the more delicate
bloom and the rounded cheeks. There
were the charms of innocence and sim
plicity In her manner us she stopped
just within tlie doorway, whence she
regarded Mary with a timid, pleading
gaze, her slender little form poised
lightly as if for flight.
“Did you want me, dear?” she asked.
“Agnes.” Mary answered affection
ately, "this is Mr. Irwin, who has
come to see you in behalf of General
Hastings."
“Oh.” the girl murmured, her voice
quivering a little as tile lawyer, after
a short nod, dropped again into his
sent, “oh, I’m so frightened!" She
Garson answered with a note of
weariness that was unlike him.
“It ain't what you have done.” ho
said quietly, "it’s whnt they can make
a Jury think you've done. And. once
they set out to get you—God, how
they cab frame things! If they ever
start out after Mary”— lie did not
finish the sentence, but sank down
into his chair with a grolm that wus
almost of despair.
CHAPTER VII.
A Legal Document.
ARY TURNER .spent less than
an hour in that mysteriously
important engagement with
Dick Gilder of which she had
spoken to Aggie. After separating
from the young man she went alone
down Broadway, walking the few
blocks of distance to Siglsmuud Har
ris’, office.
Harris regarded his client with an
appreciative eye us he bowed in greet
ing uial invited her to a seat.
"I sent your cousin. Miss Agues
Lynch, the release which she is to sign.”
he explained, “when she gets that
money from General Hastings. I wish
you'd look it over when you have time.
It's all right. I'm sure, but I appreciate
your opinion of tilings. Miss Turner—
particularly of legal documents."
“Thank you,” Mary said. "And have
you heard from them yet?"
"No," the lawyer replied. “1 gave
them until tomorrow. If 1 don’t hear
then 1 shall start suit at once." Then
the lawyer's ma'nuer became unusually
bland and self satisfied as he opened
a drawer of the desk and brought
forth a rather formidable appearing
document, bearing a most impressive
seal.
1 “Y’ou will be glad to know.” he went
on nuctiously. "that 1 wus entirely
successful in carrying out that idea of hurried, fluttering, to a low stool be-
yours as to the injunction. My dear hind the desk beside Mary's chair, and
Miss Turner, Portia was a squawking there she sank down, drooping slightly
baby compared with you." and catching hold of one of Mary’s
“Thank you again." Mary answered hands as if in mute pleading for pro
as she took the legal paper. For a tection.
moment her glance run over the words j “Nonsense!” Mary exclaimed sootli-
of the-page. | tngly. “There's really nothing at all to
“it’s splendid!" she declared. “Did he frightened about, my dear child,
you have much trouble In getting It?" ; You mpstn’t be afraid. Agues. Mr.
"Why, no." he declared. “But at the Irwin says that General Hustings did
outset when I made the request the no t promise to marry you. Of course
judge just nearly fell off the bench. y ou understand, my dear, that under
Theu I "showed him that Detroit case no circumstances must yon say any-
to which you had drawn my attention, thing that isn’t strictly true, and that
nnd tile upshot of it all was that ho
gave me what i wanted without a
whimper. He couldn’t help himself,
you know.”
That mysterious document with the
imposing seal reposed safely in Mary’s
bug when she returned to the apart
ment.
Mary had scarcely received from Ag-
gie an account of Cassidy’S threaten
ing invasion when the maid announced
that Mr. Irwin laid called.
"Show him In.” Mary directed.
“Who’s the gink?” Aggie demanded.
“You ought to know. He’s the law
yer retained by General Hastings in
the matter of a certain breach of prom- -■-*(■■■■■ na . - v .
lse salt." . i i J
“Hope he’s brought the money.”
“Leave the room now.” Mary order
ed. “When I call to you come In, but
be sure mid leave everything to me.
Merely follow my lend. And, Agnes—
be very ingenue.”
“Oh, I’m wise—I’m wise." Aggie nod
ded as she harried out toward her bed
room. “I’ll be a squab—surest thing
you know!"
Next moment Mary gave a formal
greeting to the lawyer wko represent
ed the man she planned to mulct ef
fectively.
Irwin lost no time In coming to tho
point
“1 called in reference to tills suit
which Miss Agnes Lynch threatens to
bring against my client, General Hast
ings."
"it’s not a threat," Mr. Irwin. “The
suit will he brought.”
“You realize, of course, that this Is
merely plain blackmail.”
"If it’s blackmail. Mr. Irwin, wh; f *'"ittjiiiiiH '! flri
don’t you consult the police?"'
Mary turned to the maid, who nov
entered in response to the hell she ha-
sounded a minute before. "Fann;
will you ask -Miss Lynch to come ii
please?" Then she faced the lawyi
again, with an aloofness of millin'
that was contemptuous. ."Really, M
Irwin," she drawled, "wily don't ye
take tills matter to the police?"
J "You know perfectly well.” the,lav.
, •
cried' fnlterlngly." "And t' wish* tie
wouldt Hu’s such a delightful old gen
tleman!"
The lognl representative of the da-
llghtfu! old gentleman scowled disgust
edly at this outburst.
"Was that promise inndoin writing?"
"No," Aggie answered gushingly.
"But all Ills loiters were in writing,
you know. Such wonderful letters!
So lender nnd so—or—Interesting!"
"Yes, yes. I dure say,” Irwin agreed
hastily, with some evidences of cha-
81111.
"Hat you’re quite sure, Agnes,” Mary
questioned gently, “that General Hast
ings did promise to marry you?"
“Oh., ,ves." Aggie declared tensely.
'Why. I would swear to It." The
limpid eyes. sc. appealing in thuir soft
luster, went first to Mary, then gazed
trustingly into those of the routed at
torney.
“We're beaten," he confessed deject
oitiy. turning his glance toward Mary,
whom plainly lie regarded us Ids renl
adversary In the combat on Ids client's
behalf. “I'm going to he quite frank
with you. Miss Turner, quite frank,"
he stated, with more geniality, though
with a very crestfallen air. “Wecan’t
afford any scandal, so we’re going to
settle at your own terms." ile took
from Ids pocket a thick hill case and
from this a sheaf of banknotes, which
lie laid on the desk bufore Mary, with
a little laugh of discomfiture over hav
ing been beaten In the contest.
As lie did so Aggie thrust forth an
avaricious baud, hut It was caught ami
held by Mary before It reached above
the top of the desk, anil (he avaricious
gesture passed unobserved by.the at
torney.
"We can’t fight where ladles are con
cerned." he went on, assuming us best
“Oh, I’m so frightened!"
if he did not promise to marry you you
inve no case—none at all. Now, Ag-
ies, tell me. Did General Hastings
iromise to marry you?”
-m yen—oh. res, Indeed!” Aggie
he might contrive a chivalrous tone.
“So, if you will just hand over Gen
eral Hastings’ letters, why, here's your
money. Y'ou have the letters, haven’t
you?" he demanded abruptly.
Aggie coyly took a thick bundle from
its resting place on her rounded bosom.
“They never leuve me," she said.
"Well, they can leuve you now. Jill
right,” the lawyer remarked unsympa
thetically. He readied quickly for
ward for tile packet, which Aggie ex
tended willingly enough. But It was
Mary, who, with a swift movement
caught and held It. ,
"I think.” Mary explained tranquil
ly, “that you had better sec our lawyer.
Mr. Harris, in reference to this. We
women know nothing of such details
of business settlement."
"Oh, I see." he suld disagreenbl.v.
with a frown to indicate his complete
sagacity In the premises.
“I thought you would, Mr. Irwin.”
Mary returned. “If you'll take the
money to Mr. Harris Miss Lynch will
moot you In his office at 4 o'clock this
afternoon, nnd, when her suit for dam
ages for breach of promise has been
legally settled out of court, you will
get the letters. Good afternoon, Mr.
Irwin.”
The Inwycr made a hurried bow
which took in both of tho women, and
walked quickly toward the door.
“Oh, you forgot your marked money.
Mr. Irwin," Mary said.
Tile lawyer wheeled nnd stood stur-
ing at tlie speaker with a certain sheep
ishness of expression that bore wit
ness to tlie completeness of his dis
comfiture. Without a word he wnllt-
ed bnck to tlie desk, picked up tin*
money and restored It to the bill case.
"Young woman.” lie said emphatical
ly. "you ought to have been a lawyer."
And he took his departure, while Mary
smiled in triumph and Aggie sat gap
ing astonishment. -
“You’ve darn nenr broke my heart,"
she cried, bouncing up violently, "let
ting nil that money go out of the
house. Say, how did you know it was
marked ?”
“I didn’t” Mary replied blandly!
“But it was a pretty good guess, wasn’t
,it?”» Couldn't you see that all lie want
ed was to get the letters and huve us
lake the marked money? Then, my
simple young friend, we would have
been arrested very neatly Indeed—for
blackmail.”
“Gee!" she cried.’ "That would have
been fierce! And now?" she question
ed apprehensively.
Mary's answer repudiated any possi
bility of fear.
‘.‘And now." she explained contented
ly, “lie really will go to oiir lawyer.
There lie will pay over that same
marked money. Then be will get the
letters lie wauls so much. And Just
because It’s n strictly business trans
action between two lawyers, with
everything done according to legal
ethics’’—
“And it’s actually the same old
game!” Agglp mused.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Thlaf.
ARY wns in joyous nptfltt* aft
er her victorious mutching of
lirutus against a lawyer of
high 8tmullug In Ills profes
sion when she had entered the tele
phone booth, which had been Installed
111 nn extra closet of Imr bedroom for
the sake of greater privacy on occa
sion. During her absence from the
drawing room Garson again came into
the apartment aeekiug her. On being
told by Aggie as to Mary's where
abouts he sat down to await her re
turn, listening without much Interest
to tho clmtter of the adventuress. The
mold appeared and said:
“There’s a girl wants to see Miss
Turner."
"She says it’s Important. I guess
the poor thing’s in Imrd luck from the
look of her," the kindly Fannie udded.
“Oh, then, she'll be welcome, of
course!" Aggie declared, and Garson
nodded In acquiescence. "Tell her to
come in and wait, Fanule. Miss Turn
er will lie here right awuy." She turn
ed to Garson ns the maid left the
room. "Mary sure Is an easy boob,"
she remarked cheerfully. “Bluss her
soft heartl"
A minute Inter a girl perhaps twen
ty years of age stepped Just within
the doorway mid stood there with eyes
downcast after one swift, furtive
glHnce about her, Her whole appear-
unce was that of dejection. Her soil
ed blnok . gown, the cringing posture,
the pallor of her face, proclaimed the
ubject misery of her state.
“Are you Miss Turner?" she asked
lu a voice broken by nervous dlsmny.
“Really. I am very sorry,” Aggie re
plied primly, "hilt I am only her cou
sin. Miss Agnes Lyuch. Rut Miss
Turner is likely to be bnck nay nilu-
nte' now."
“Can I wait?” cume the timid ques
tion.
"Cortululy." Aggie answered hospi
tably. "l’leuse sit down."
As the girl obediently snnk down on
the nearest chair Garson addressed
her sharply, so that the visitor started
uneasily at the unexpected sound.
“You don't know Miss Turner?"
“No." came the faint reply.
"Theu. what do you want to see her
about?"
"She once helped a girl friend of
mine, aud 1 thought—1 thought"—
“You thought she might help you."
Gnrsou Interrupted.
"You have been in stir—prison, I
mean." Aggie hastily corrected the
lapse into underworld slang.
Came a distressed muttering of as
sent from the girl.
The conversation was put to an end
by the entrance of Mary, who. stopped
short on seeing the limp figure hud
dled In the chair.
“A visitor. Agnes?" she inquired.
At the sound of her voice the girl
looked up nnd spoke with some degree
of energy.
“You’re Miss Turner?” she question
ed-
“Yes.":Mary said. Her words rang
kindly mid she smiled encouragement.
A gasp hurst frnm tlie white lips of
the girl, and she cowered as one,strick
en physically.
“Mary Turner! Oh. my God! I"-
filie hid her face within her arms and
sat boat until her head rested oh her
knees in an abasement of misery.
Vaguely startled by the hysterical
outburst from the girl. Mary's Immedl
ate thought was that here was u piti
ful Instance of one suffering from star
vation.
“Joe." she directed rapidly, "have
Fannie bring a glass of milk with an
egg and a little brandy In it. right
away.”
The girl in the chair was slinking
soundlessly under tlie stress of her
emotions, A few disjointed phrases
fell from her quivering lips.
“I didn't know—oh. I couldn't!”
“Don’t try to talk Just now," Mary
whrned. 'reassuringly. “Wait until
you’ve had something to oat.”
■ Aggie, who lin'd observed develop
ments closely, now lifted her voice In
tardy lamentations over her own stu
pldtty.
"Wliy, the poor gawk’s hungry!” she
exclaimed. “And I never got the dope
on her. Ain’t I the simp!"
The girl regained a degree of self
control and showed something of for
lorn dignity.
“Yes." she said dully, "I'm starving."
Mary regurded tho afflicted creature
with that sympathy horn only of ex
perience.
"Yes." she snid Boftly. “I under
stand.” Then she spoke to Aggie
"Tuke her to ray room nnd let her rest
there for awhile. Have her drink the
egg and milk slowly nnd then lie down
for a few minutes anyhow."
Half an hour afterward Aggie re
ported with her charge, who. though
sllll shambling of gait and stooping,
showed by some faint color In her face
aud nil Increased steadiness of bearing
that the food had already strengthened
her much.
“She would come." Aggie explained
“I thought she ought to rest for awhile
longer anyhow."
“I’m all right. I tell you." entne the
querulous protest.
"Are you quite sure?" Mary snid to
the girl. "Then tell us nil about It—
this trouble of yaw's, you know. What
Is your name?”
“Helen Morris."
“I don’t huve to nsk tf you have been
In prison. Your face shows it.”
“I—I came out—three months ago.”
"And you’d made lip your mind to go
straight?”
"Yes." The word wns a whisper.
“You were going to do what the
chaplain had told you." Mary went on.
“You 1 were going to start all over
again, weren’t you?"
The bent head of the girl bent lower
In assent
“It doesn’t work very w<
“No: I’m whipped,"
Mary’s manner changed. She spoke
cheerfully for tho first tiino.
“Well, ihen. how would you like to
work with us?"
“You—you mean tlint”—
“Oar kind of work pays well when
you know how. Look at us. Suppose
I should stake you for tho present nnd
put you In with n good crowd. All
yon would lilivp to do would be to an
swer advertisements for servant girls.
I wj'l see that you huve the best of
references. Then, when you get in
with the right people you will open the
front, door some night aud let in ♦he
gang. Of course you will make a get
away wlieu they do and get your bit
as well."
There flushed still uuother of the
swift, sly gluuces. and the lips of the
girl parted as If she would speak. But
she did not: only her heud supged even
lower on her lironst ami the shrunken
form grew yet more shrunken.
"it doesn't suit you? Good! I was
In hopes It wouldn't So, here’s anoth
er plan. Suppose you could go west-
some place where you would have a
fair chance, with money enough so
you could live like n human being till
you got u sturt?”
There enme a tensing of the relaxed
form, and’the head lifted a little, so
that the girl could look ut her ques
tioner.
“I will give you that chance,” Mary
Bald simply, “If you really'want It."
Tho wretched girl sat suddenly erect,
anil her words dune eagerly.
"Oh, I do!" And now her hungry
goze remained fust on the face of the
womnu who offered her salvation.
"Then I have just one thing.to say
to you first. If you are going to live
straight start straight, nnd then go
through with It. Do you know wbat
that means?"
“Y’ou mean keep straight all the
time?" The girl spoke with a force
drawn from the ot tier’s strength.
"I menu more than that. 1 mean
forget that yon were ever lu prison. I
don’t know what you have done—I
don't think l care. But whatever It
was, you have paid for it—a pretty big
price too."
"1 linve. I have!" Tho thin voice
broke, walling.
“Well, then," Mary went on. “Just
begin all over ngnln, aud he sure you
stand np for .your rights. Don’t let
them make you |<ny a second time.
Go where no one knows you, and don’t
tell tile first people who are kind to '
you that you have been crooked. If
(hey think you are straight, why, be
IL Then nobody will have any right
to complain. Will you promise me
this?"
“Yes, I promise,” came, the answer,
very gravely, quickened with hope.
"Good!" Mary exclaimed, with a
smile of approval. “Walt a minute,"
she added and left the room.
"Hull! Pretty soft for some people,”
Aggie remarked to Garson, with a
sniff.
Mnry returned soon. In her hand
she carried n roll of bills. She went •
to the girl and held out the money.
"Take this. It will pay your fare
west aud keep you quite awhile if you
are careful." .
But, without warning, a revulsion
seized on the girl. She shrank again
and turned her head away as .her
body trembled.
"I can’t take It!" she exclaimed. “I
can’t! I can’t!”
"Didn’t you come here for help?”
“Yes," was the faltering reply, “but
—bat—I didn't know—it wns you!"
"Then you have met me before?”
Mary said quietly. I .
“No, no!” The girl's voice rose shrill.
Aggie spoke her mind with frank
ness. “She’s lying."
Garson agreed. His yes wns spoken ’ '
In a tone of complete certainty.- That
Mary, too, wns of their opinion was
shown in her next words.
“So you have met me before?
Where?”
The girl unwittingly made confes
sion in her halting words.
"I can’t tell you." There was de
spair in her voice.,
"You must."
The girl only crouched lower. '
“I can’t!" she cried again, panting as ■ ’
If in exhaustion. : ’ ’
"Wliy can’t you?" ’
“Because—because”— Tho girl coui(l
not go on.
•'What were you sent up for?’’
"For stealing."
“Steuling what?"
“Goods."
“Where from?'
“The Emporium.”
In a flash of intuition the whole
truth was revenled to the woman wijo
' '-I :'
i, does It?”