Newspaper Page Text
/
* '4
I
# ' *" "O!*
■jjgjf ^8! '
f
f
V m
- t ’•
V __
f r
v2>/
(r~
• • A Powerful Story of • •
• • Adventure, Intrigue and Love • •
T
LAW
• • By MARVIN DANA from the • •
c • play of BAYARD VE1LLER • •
Copyright. i:M3. by the H. K. Fly Com
pany. The play "Within the law" is
copyrighted by Mr. Veiller and this
novel izat ion• of it Is published by bis
permission. The American Play Com
pany Is the sole proprietor of Ihe ex
clusive rights of the representation
gnd performance of "Within the Law"
In all languages.
SYNOPSIS
Mar\ r Turner, an orphan, faces the
world and its complex problems alone
at the age of sixteen. Her mother
died at her birth and her sole legacy
from an indulgent but poor father is
a character well instructed In the ex
cellent principles that had been his.
The girl secures employment at the
Emporium, a department store owned
by Edward Gilder. The struggle for
existence is a bitter one. Five years
elapse. Valuable silks are stolen.
The thefts are traced to Mary’s de
partment and some of the good** is
found in her locker The girl, though
innocent of the thievery, is arrested,
tried and sentenced to three years in
prison.
Now go on with the story.
TODAY’S INSTALLMENT.
- In the 13 years of his life every gift
that money could lavish had been his.
If the sum total of benefit was small,
at least there remained the consoling
fact that the harm was even less.
Luxury had not tapped the strength
of him. He had not grown vicious as
have so many of his fellows among
the sons of the rich. Some instinct
held him aloof from the grosser vices.
HI? were the trifling faults that had
their origin chiefly in the Joy of life
* which manifest occasionally 1n riotous
extravagances, of a sort actually to
harm none, however absurd and use
less they may be.
So much one might see by a glance
Into the face. He was well groomed,
of course: healthy, all a-tingle with
vitality. And in the clear eyes, which
avoided no man's gaze nor sought any
i woman’s unseemly, there showed a
’.soul untainted, not yet developed, not
‘ yet debased. Through all his days
Dick Gilder had walked gladly, in
the content thut springs to the call of
one possessed of a capacity for en
joyment; possessed, too, of every
means for the gratification of desire.
As yet the man of him was unre
vealed in Its integrity. No test had
been put upon him. The flres of suf
fering had not tried the dross of him
What real worth might lie under this
sunny surface the future might deter
mine. There showed now only this
one significant fact—that in the first
moment of his return from journey
ing? abroad he sought his father with
ail eagerness, and was sorely grieved
because the meeting must still be de
layed. It was a little thing, perhaps.
Sarah Explained.
Yet it w as capable of meaning much
concerning the nature of the lad. It
revealed surely a tender heart, one
responsive to a pure love. And to
one of his class there are many forces
ever present to atrophy such simple,
Wholesome power of loving. The abil -'
Ity to love cleanly and absolutely is
the supreme virtue.
Sarah explained that Mr. Glider
had been called to the Court of Gen
eral Sessions by the judge.
Dick interrupted her with a gust of
laughter.
“What’s dad been doing now?” lie
'demanded, his eyes twinkling. Then a
j®mitU.seent grin shaped itself on his
«lips. "Remember the time that fresh
3 cop attested him for speeding?
* Wasn't ho wild? I thought he would
I have tin* whole police force dlscharg-
Jed. He smiled again. ‘‘The trouble
lis." lie declared, sedately, “that sort
•of thfng requires practice. Now.
* when I'm arrested for speeding, I'm
»not in the least flustered—oh, not a
% little bit! But poor dad! That one
4experience of his almost soured his
i whole life, it whs near the death of
* him—also of the city’s finest .”
j By this time the secretary had re
gained her usual poise, which had
•been somewhat disturbed by the tr-
t ruption of the young man. Her face
shone delightedly as she regarded him.
4.0CAL DRUGGIST
MAKES STATEMENT
/( Says Dodson’s Liver Tone Is the
Best Remedy for Constipation
and Shirking Liver He Has
Ever Sold.
Every person who has tried Dod- *>
« son’s Liver Tone and knows how \
ft surely and gently it starts the liver S
U to working and relieves biliousness s
if you go to your druggist for it. >
statement about Dodson’s Liver s
Tone.
"It is a purely vegetable liquid. <
that entirely takes the place of \
! Scalomel, harmless and pleasant to s
the taste, that has proved its*. If (
the most satisfactory remedy for a S
slow-working liver that most of (
our customers have ever tried. A $
large bottle sells for flftj cents. c
and we do not hesitate to give the )
* money back to any person who \
tries a bottle on the strength of ■
this statement and is not satisfied s
with the result.”
In these days of doubtful medi-
cines and dangerous drugs, a
[j statement like the above is a
pleasant assurance that Dodson’s
|j Liver Tone is a reliable remedy
If.for both children and grown-ups.
*S In buying a bottle for immediate
■ \ or future us#' it is well to make
*5 sure you are get mg the genuine
Dodson’s Liver Tone and not some
1> spurious imitation that has cop-
< led our claims, but do not stand
P ack ^heir guarantee. You may
l ' in ■ ' a- ’• it • * genii!it
bear out the druggist in this
There was a maternal note of rebuke
in her voice as she spoke:
"Why, we didn't expect you back
for two or three months yet.”
Once again Dick laughed with an
infectious gayety that brought a smile
of response to the secretary’s lips.
"Sadie,” he explained confidentially,
"don’t you dare ever to let the old
man know. He would be all swollen
up. It's bad to let a parent swell up.
But the truth is, Sadie, I got kind of
homesick for dad—yes, just that!"
He spoke the words with a sort of
shame-faced wonder. It is not easy
for an Angol-Haxon to confess the
realities of affection in vital intima
cies. He repeated the phrase in a cu
riously appreciative hesitation, as on<
astounded by bis own emotion. “Yes,
homesick for dad!”
Then, to cover an excess of sincere
feeling, he continued, with a burst of
laughter:
"Besides, Sadie, I was broke,”
The secretary sniffed.
"The cable would have handled that
end of It, I guess," she said, suc
cinctly.
There was no word of contradiction
from Dick, who from ample experi
ence knew that any demand for funds
would have received answer from his
father.
"But what is dad doing in court?”
he demanded.
Sarah explained the matter with
her usual conciseness:
"One of the girls was arrested for
stealing.”
The nature of the son was shown
then clearly in one of Its best aspects.
At once he exhibited his instinct to
ward the quality of mercy, and, too.
\ his truth In the father whom he loved,
by bis eager comment.
"And dad went to court to get her
out of the scrape. That's Just like the
old man!”
Forgot All About It!
Sarah, however, showad no hint of j
enthusiasm. Her mind was ever of
the prosnlr sort, little prone to flights
Tn that prosale quality was to be
found the explanation of her depend
ability as a private secretary. So,
now. she merely made a terse state
ment :
Shewas tried to-day and convicted.
The Jud K e sent for Mr. Glider to come
down this morning and have a talk
with him about the sentence."
There was no lessening of the ex
pression of certainty on the youn*
man’s face. He loved his father, and ’
he trusted where he loved
“Tt will be all tipht," he declared
In a tone of entire conviction. "Dad’s
heart Is us biff as a barrel He’ll pet
her off.”
Then of a apdden Dick gave a vio
lent start. He added a convincing
groan.
"Oh, T.ord!" he exclaimed, dismal- :
!v. There was shame In his voice. "T
forgot all about It!”
The secretary regarded him with an
expression of amazement.
"All about what"" she questioned.
Dick assumed an air vastly more
confidential than at any time hitherto.
He leaned toward Ihe secretary’s desk
and spoke with a new seriousness of
manner:
“Sadie, have von any money" I’m
broke! Vtv taxi has been waiting out
side all tills time."
"Why, yes." the secretary said,
cheerfully. "If you will "
Dick was discreet enough to turn
his altentlon to a picture on the wall
opposite while Sarah went through
those acrobatic performances obliga
tory on women who take no chances
of losing money hv carrying It in
purser.
"There," she called | after a few
panting seconds, and exhibited a
flushed face.
Dick turned eargerly and seized the
hank note offered him.
( “Mighty much obliged. Sadie." he
, said, enthusiastically, "Hut 1 musl
: run. Otherwise, this wouldn’t he
l enough for the fare!" And, so sav-j
I ing, he darted out of the room.
CHAPTER m
Only Three Years.
W HEN at last the owner of the
store entered the office hi?
face showed extreme irrita
tion. He did not vouchsafe any greet
ing to the secretary, who regarded
him with an accurate perception of
his mood. With a diplomacy born of
long experience, in her first speech 1
Sarah afforded an agreeable diversion
to her employer s line of thought.
Mr Hastings, of the Empire store,
called you up, Mr. Gilder, and asked me
to let him know when you returned.
Shall i get him on the wire?"
The man s face lightened instantly,
and there was even the beginning of a
smile on his lips as lie seated himself
at the great mahogany desk
"Yes. yes!" he exclaimed, with evi
dent enthusiasm The smile grew in i
the short interval before the connection
was made When, finally, he addressed,
his friend over the telephone, his tone? j
were of the cheerfulesi
What Did They Do With Her?’!
"Oh. good morning Yes. certainly. )
Four will suit me admirable. . . t
Sunday'.' Yes, if you like. We can go’
out after church, and have luncheon at *
the country club ” After listening a ‘
moment he laughed in a pleased fash-*
ion that had in it a suggestion of con- 1
-clous superiority "My dear fellow.” ■
he declared briskly, "you couldn’t beat !
me in a thousand years. Why. 1 made i
the eighteen holes in ninety-two only j
last week ' He laughed again at the]
answer over the wire, then hung up
the receiver and pushed the telephone
aside, as he turned his attention to the
papers neatly arranged on . the desk
ready to his hand.
The curiosity of the secretary could
not be longer delayed
"What did they do with the Turner
girl?" she inquired in an elaborately
casual manner.
Gilder did not look up from the heap
of papers, but answered rather harshly,
while once again his expression grew
forbidding.
*"I don't know -I couldn’t waft,’’ he
said. He made a petulant gesture jls
he went on: "I don't see why Judge
Lawwir bothered me about* the matter.
He Is the one to imixjsc sentence, not
I. I am hours behind with my work-
now ”
For a few minute? he gave himself
up to the routine of business, distribut
ing the correspondence and other va
rious papers for the action of subordi
nates, and speaking his orders occasion
ally to the attentive secretary with a
quickness and precision that proclaimed
the capable executive. The observer
“But I do want to
meant by talking in the
pick-pocket. ’ ’
know,’’ Mary continued, "What you
public street yesterday with a common
j
\un
/
would have realized at once that here
was a nmn obviously fitted to the con
trol of large affairs. The ability that
marches inevitably to success shtfwed
unmistakably *in the face and form, and
in the fashion of speech. Edward Gil
der was a big man physically, plainly
thb possessor of that abundant vital
energy which is a prime requisite for
achievement in the ordering of modern;
business concerns. Force was, indeed,
the dominant quality of the man His
tall figure was proportionately broad,
and he was heavily fleshed. In fact, the
body was too ponderous, spiritually and
mentally, as well as materially. The
fact was displayed suggestively in the
face, which was too heavy with its
prominent Jowls and aggressive chin
and rather bulbous nose. But there
was nothing flabby anywhere. The am- |
pie feature!* showed no trace of weak
ness. only a rude abounding strength.
There was no lighter touch anywhere.
Evidently a just man according to his
own ideas, yet never one to temper
Justice with mercy. He appeared, and
was. a very practical and most prosaic
business man. He was not given to a
humorous outlook on life He took it
and himself with the utmost serious
ness He was almost entirely lacking
in imagination, that faculty which is
essential to sympathy.
$1,000 For Free Ice.
"Take this," he directed presently,
when he had disposed of the matters
before him. Forthwith, he dictated the
following letter, and now his voice took
on a more unctuous note, as of one
who is appreciative of his own excel
lent generosity.
"Editor The Herald:
"Dear Sir—Inclosed And my check for
a thousand dollars for your free ice
fund. It is going to be a very hard
summer for the poor and 1 hope by thus
starting the contributions for your fine
charity at this early day that you will
he able to accomplish even more good
than usually. Very truly yours."
He turned an inquiring glance toward
Sarah.
"That's what I usually give, isn’t it?”
The secretary nodded energetically.
"Yes," she agreed In her brisk man
ner. "that’s what you have given every
year for the last ten years.”
The statement impressed Gilder pleas
antly. His voice was more mellow as
ho made comment. His heavy face was
radiant, ami he smiled complacently.
"Ten thousand dollars to this one
charity alone!” lie exclaimed. "Well,
it is pleasant to be able to help those
less fortunate than ourselves.” He
i*au?ed. evidently expectant of lauda
tory corroboration from the secretary.
But Sarah, though *he could be'tact
ful enough on occasion, did not choose
to meet her employer’s anticipations
just now For that matter, her inti
mate services permitted on her part
some degree of familiarity with the au
gust head of the establishment Be
sides, she did not stand in awe of Gil
der. as did the others in his service.
No man is a hero, to his valet, or to
his secretary. Intimate association is
hostile to hero worship. So. now. Sa
rah spoke nonchalantly, to the indig
nation of the philanthropist:
"Oh. yes, sir. Specially when you
make so much that you don’t miss it."
Gilder's thick gray brows drew down
in a frown of displeasure, while his
eyes opened slightly in sheer surprise j
over the secret arm A unexpected re- j
mark. He hesitates for only an instant J
before replying with an air of great
dignity, in which was a distinct note
of rebuke for the girl’s presumption.
"The profits from my store are large,
I admit, Sarah. But I neither smuggle
my goods, take rebates from railroads,
conspire, against small competitors, nor
do any of the dishonest acts that dis
grace other lines of business. So long
as I make my profits honestly, I am
honestly entitled to them, no matter how-
big they are»”
The secretary, being quite content
with the havoc she had wrought in her
employer’s complacency over his chari
tableness, nodded, and contented her
self- with a demure assent to his out
burst.
"Yes, sir,” she agreed, very meekly
Gilder stared at her for a few sec
onds, somewhat indignantly. Tnen, he
bethought himself of a subtle form of
rebuke by emphasizing this generosity.
Demarest Tells the News.
"Have the cashier send my usual five
hundred to the Charities Organization
Society,” he ordered. With this new
evidence of his generous virtue, the
frown passed from his brows. If, for
a fleeting moment, doubt had assailed
him under the spur of the secretary’s
words, that doubt had now vanished
under his habitual conviction as -to his
sterling worth to the world at large.
It was, therefore. with his accus
tomed blandness of manner that he
presently acknowledged the greeting of
George Demarest, the chief of the legal
staff that looked after the firm's af
fairs. He was aware without being told
that tiie lawyer had called to acquaint
him with the issue in the trial'of Mary
Turner.
"Well, Demarest?” he inquired, as
the dapper attorney advanced into the
room at a rapid pace, and came to a
halt facing the desk, after a lively nod
in the direction of the secretary.
The lawyer’s face sobered, and his
tone as he answered was tinged with
constraint.
"Judge Lawlor gave her three years,”
he replied, gravely. It was plain from
his manner that he did not altogether
approve.
But Gilder was unaffected by the at
torney’s lack of satisfaction over the
result. On the contrary, he smiled ex
ultantly. His oritun'd voice took on a
deeper note, as he turned toward the
secretary.
He Dictates the Notice.
"Good!” he exclaimed. "Take this. Sa
rah." And he continued, as the girl
opened her notebook and poised the pen
cil: "Be sure tq have Smithson post a
copy of it conspicuously in all the girls’
dressing-rooms, and in the reading-
room, and in the lunch-rooms, and in
the assembly-room." He cleared his
throat ostentatiously and proceeded to
the dictation of the notice:
"Mary Turner, formerly employed in
this-5iore. was to-day sentenced to pri
son for three years, having been con
victed for the theft of goods valued at
over four hundred dollars. The manage
ment wishes again to draw attention on
the part of its employees to the fact
that honesty is always the best policy
. Got that"
"Yes, sir." The secretary’s voice was
mechanical, without any trace of feel
ing. She was not minded to disturb
her employer a second time this morning
by injudicious comment.
“Take it to Smithson," Gilder contlnn-
[an*l tell him that 1 wish him to
to its being posted according to
actions at once.”
In the girl made her formal res
ponse in the affirmative, then left the
room.
Gilder brought forth a box of cigars
from a drawer of the desk, opened it
and thrust it toward the waiting law-
ycr. who, however, shook his head in
refusal, and continued to move about
the room rather restless. Demarest
paid no attention to the other's Invi
tation to a seat, but the courtesy was
perfunctory on Gilder’s part, and he
l ardiy perceived the perturbation of his
caller, for he was occupied in selecting
and lighting a cigar with the care of a
connoisseur. Finally, he spoke again,
and now* there was an infinite content
ment in the rich voice.
"Three years—three years! That ought
to be a warning to the rest of the girls.”
He looked toward Demarest for ac
quiescence.
'1 lie lawyer’s brows were knit as he
faced thQ proprietor of the store.
"Funny thing, this case!” he ejacu
lated. "In some features, one of the
most unusual I have seen since 1 have
been practicing law’.’’
The smug contentment abode still on
Gilder’s face as he puffed in lelisurely
ease on l?ls cigar and uttered a trite
condolence.
"Very sad!—quite so! Very sad case.
I call it.”
Demarest went on speaking, with a
show of feeling:
"Most unusual case, in my estimation.
You see, the girl keeps on declaring her
innocence. That, of course, is common
enough in a way. But here, it’s differ
ent. The point is, somehow’, she makes
her protestations more convincing than
they usually do. They ring true, as it
seems to me.”
Not Quite Enough Proof.
Gilder smiled tolerantly.
"They didn’t ring very true to the
Jury, it would seem.” he retorted. And
his voice was tart as he added: “Nor
to the judge, since he deemed It his
duty to give her three years.”
"Some persons are not very sensitive
to impressions in such cases. I admit,”
Demarest returned, coolly. If he meant
any subtlety of allusion to his hearer, it
ailed wholly to pierce the armor of com
placency.
"The stolen goods w r ere found in her
■ < ker,” Gilder declared In a tone of
finality: "Some of them. I have been
given to understand, were actually in
he pocket of her coat."
"Well,” the attorney said with a smile,
“that sort of thing makes good-enough
circumstantial evidence, and without
circumstantial evidence there would be
few convictions for crime. Yet, as a
lawyer, I’m free to admit that circum
stantial evidence alone is never quite
ife as proof of guilt. Naturally, she
ays some one else must have put the
stolen goods there. As a matter of ex
act reasoning, that is quite within the
measure of possibility. That sort of
thing has been done countless times.”
Gilder sniffed indignantly.
"And for what reason%” he demand-
• ■!. "It’s too absurd to think about.”
"In similar cases," the lawyer an
swered. "those actually guilty of the
ns have thus sought to throw sus
picion on the innocent in order to avoid
on themselves when the pursuit got
>o hot on their trail. Sometimes, too,
«uch evidence has been manufactured
merely to satisfy a spite against the
one unjustly accused.”
"It’s too absurd to think about," Gil
der repeated, impatiently. "The judge
nd the jury found no fault with the
evidence.”
Demarest realized that his advocacy
behalf of ihe girl was hardly fitting
i the part of the legal representative
of the store she was supposed to have
obbed. so he abruptly changed his line
>f argument.
"She says that her record of five years
n your employ ought to count some
thing in her favor.”
Gilder, however, was not disposed to
be sympathetic as to a matter so fla
grantly opposed to his interests.
"A court of justice has decreed her
guilty,” he asserted once again, in his
ponderous manner. His emphasis indl-
ated that there the affair ended,
Demarest smiled cynically as he strode
io and fro.
"Nowadays,” he shot out, "we don't
all them courts of justice: we call
rhem courts of law.”
Gilder yielded only a rather dubious
smile over the quip. This much he felt
hat he. could afford, sinoe those same
courts served his personal purposes well
‘ndeed. , ‘
"Anway,” he declared, becoming gen
ial again, "it’s out of our hands. There's
nothing we can do‘ now."
"Why, as to that," the lawyer re
plied, with a hint of hesitation, "I am
not so sure. You see,_the fact of the
matter is that, though I helped to prose-
ire the case, I am -not, a little bit
proud of the verdict.” x
Gilder raised his eyebrows in unfeign
ed astonishment. Even yet he was quite
without appreciation of the attorney’s
reeling in reference to the conduct of
he case.
"VY’hy?” he questioned, sharply.
"Because,” the lawyer said, again
alt ing directly before the -desk, “In
pite of all the evidence, against her, 1
• m not sure.that Mary Tprner is guilty
-far from it, in fact!!”
Gilder uttered an ejaculation of con-
iempt f but Demarest went on resolute-
ly. ' ‘
“Anyhow,” he explained, "the girl
wants to see you, and I wish to urge
ou to grant her an interview."
“What’s the Use?”
Gilder flared at this suggestion, and
scowled wrathfully on the lawyer, who.
perhaps with professional prudence, had
turned away in Ills rapid pacing of the
room.
"What’s the use?” Glider stormed. A
latent hardness revealed itself at the
prospect of such a visitation. And along
with this hardness came another singu-
ar revelation of the nature of the man.
For there was consternation 1^ h1s voice,
as he continued in vehement expostula
tion against the idea. If there was
harshness in his attitude there was,
too, a fugitive suggestion of tenderness
alarmed over the prospect of undergo
ing such ah interview with a woman.
"I can't have her crying all over the
office and begging for mercy,” he pro
tested, truculently. But a note of fear
lay under the petulance.
Demarest’s answer was given with as
surance.
"You are mistaken about that. The
girl doesn’t beg for mercy. In fact,
that’s the whole point of the matter.
She demands justice—strange as that
may seem, in a court of law’!—and noth
ing else. The truth is, she’s a very-
unusual girl, a long way beyond the
ordinary salesgirl, both in brains and
in education."
"The less reason, then, for her being
a thief," Gilder grumbled in his heavi
est voice.
"And i>erhaps the less reason for be
lieving her to be a thief,’’ the lawyer
retorted, suavely. He paused for a mo
ment, then went on. There was a tone
of sincere determination in his voice.
"Just before the judge imposed sen
tence, he asked her if she had anything
to say. You know, it : s just a usual
form—a thing that rarely means much
of anything. But this case was differ
ent, let me tell you. She surprised us
all by answering at once that she had.
It’s really a pity, Gilder, that you didn’t
wait. Why, that poor girl made a—
damn—fine speech!”
The lawyer’s forensic aspirations
showed in his honest appreciation of
the effectiveness of such oratory from
the heart as he had heard in the court
room that day.
“Pooh! pooh!” came the querulous ob
jection. "She seems to have hynotlzed
you." Then, as a new thought came
to the magnate, he spoke with a trace
of anxiety. There were always the re
porters. looking for space to fill with
foolish vaporings.
"Did she say anything against me,
or the store?”
"Not a word,” the lawyer replied,
gravely. His smile of appreciation was
discreetly secret. “She merely told us
how her father died when she was 16
years old. She was compelled after
that to earn her own living. Then she
told how she had worked for you for
five years steadily, without there ever
being a single thing against her. She
said,’too, that she had never seen the
things found in her locker. And she
said more than that! She asked the
judge If he himself Understood what it
means for a girl to be sentenced to
prison for something she hadn’t done.
Somehow, Gilder, the way she talked
had its effect on everybody in the
courtroom. I know! It's my business
to understand things like that. And
what she said rang true. What she
said, and the way she said it, take
brains and courage. The ordinary
crook has neither. So. I had a suspi
cion that she might be speaking the
truth. You see, Gilder, it all rang true!
And It’s my business to know how
things ring in that way.” There was
a little pause, while the lawyer moved
back and forth nervously. Then he
added: "I believe Lawlor w’ould have
suspended sentence if it hadn't been for
your talk with him.”
There were not wanting signs that
Gilder was impressed. But the gentler
fibers of the man were atrophied by
the habits of a lifetime. What heart he
had once possessed had been buried in
the grave of his young wife, to be resur
rected only for his son. In most things,
he was consistently a hard man. Sinfce
he had no Imagination he could have no
real sympathy.
He whirled about in his swivel chair,
and blew' a cloud of smoke from his
mouth. When he spoke his voice was
deeply resonant.
Property Has Rights.
"I simply did my duty,” he said.
“You are aware that I did not seek any
consultation with Judge Lawlor. He
sent for me and asked me what I
thought about the case—whether I
thought it would be right to let the girl
go on a suspended sentence. I told him
frankly that I believed that an exam
ple should be made of her, for the sake
of others who might be tempted to
steal. Property has some rights, De
marest, although it seems to be get
ting nowadays so that anybody is likely
to deny it.” Then the" fretful, half-
alarmed note sounded in his voice again,
as he continued: "I can’t understand
why the girl wants to see me.”
The lawyer smiled dryly, since he had
his back turned at the moment.
"Why,” he vouchsafed, "she just said
that, if you would see her for ten min
utes, she would tell you how to stop the
thefts in this store.”
Gilder displayed signs of triumph. He
brought his chair to a level and pound
ed the desk with a weighty fist.
"There!” he cried. "I know' it. The
girl wants to confess. Well, it’s the
first sign of decent feeling she’s shown.
I suppose it ought to be encouraged.
Probably there have been others mixed
up in this.”
Demarest attempted no denial.
"Perhaps,” he admitted, though he
spoke altogether without conviction.
“But,” he continued insinuatingly, "at
least it can do no harm if you see her.
I thought you would be willing, so I
spoke to the District Attorney, and he
has given orders to bring her here for
a few minutes on the way to the Grand
Central Station. They’re taking her up
to Burnsing, you know. I wish, Gilder,
you would have a little talk with her.
No harm in that!" With the saying
the lawyer abruptly went out of the of
fice, leaving the owner of the store
fuming.
CHAPTER IV.
Kisses and Kleptomania.
“Hello, Dad!”
After the attorney’s departure, Gilder
had been rather fussily going over some
of the papers on his desk. He was ex
periencing a vague feeling of injury on
account of the lawyer's ill-veiled ef-
forts to arouse his sympathy in behalf
of the accused girl. In the instinct of
strengthening himself against iho pos
sibility of yielding to what he deemed
weakness, the magnate rehearsed the
facts that justified his intolerance, and,
indeed, soon came to gloating over the
admirable manner in which righteous
ness thrives in the world-. And it was
then that an interruption came in the
utterance of two words, words of af
fection, of love, cried out in the one
voice he most longed to hear—for the
voice was that of his son. Yet he did
not look up. The thing was altogether
impossible! The boy was philandering,
Junketing, somewhere on the Riviera.
His first intimation as to the exact
place would come in the form of a cable
asking for money. Somehow’, his feel
ings had been unduly stirred that morn
ing; he had^ grown sentimental, dream
ing of pleasant things. . . . All
this In a second! Then he looked up.
Why, it was true! It was Dick’s face
there, smiling in the doorway. Yes, it
was Dick, for it was Dick himself! Gli
der sprang to his feet, his face sudden
ly grown younger, radiant.
"Dick!” The big voice was softened
to exquisite tenderness.
He Felt the Tension.
As the eyes of the two met the boy
rushed forward, and in the next mo
ment the hands of father and son
clasped firmly. They were silent in the
first emotion of their greeting. Pres
ently, Gilder spoke, with an effort to
ward harshness in his voice to mask
how much he was shaken. But the
tones rang more kindly than any he had
used for many a day, tremulous with
affection.
"What brought you back?” he de
manded.
Dick, too, had felt the tension of an
emotion far beyond that of the usual
things. lie was forced to clear his
throat before he answered with that as
sumption of nonchalance which he re
garded as befitting the occasion.
“Why, I just wanted to come back
home,” he said, lightly. A sudden rec
ollection came to give him poise in this
time of emotional disturbance, and he
added hastily: “And, for the love of
heaven, give Sadie five dollars. I bor
rowed it from her to pay the taxi. You
see, Dad, I’m broke.”
“Of course!” With tf»e saying, Ed
ward Gilder roared Gargantuan* laugh
ter. In the burst of merriment his pent
feelings found their vent. He was still
chuckling when he spoke, sage from
much experience of ocean travel. “Poker
on the ship, I suppose.”
The young man, too, smiled reminis
cently as he answered:
“No, not that, though I did have a
little run in at Monte Carlo. But it was
the ship that finished me, at that. You
see, Dad, they hired Capt? in Kidd and
a bunch of pirates as stewards, and
what they did to little Richard was
something fierce. And yet that wasn't
the real trouble, either. The faot is,
I just naturally went broke. Not a
hard thing to do on the other side.”
“Nor on this,” the father injected,
dryly.
“Anyhow, it doesn’t matter much,”
Dick replied quite unabashed. “Tell me.
Dad, how goes it?”
To Ije Continued To-morrow.
• «■ *•
Satisfy
Your Sweet Tooth
with Velva, the syrup in the red can. Make
-fig—good things for your kiddies with it, and for their —
daddy, too—try it for smothering batter cakes—
wheat, corn, rice. Serve it with waffles and spread
it on muffins. Quality? Fine. Flavor? Nothing better.
makes great cakes and cookies, desserts and candies.
Use it for fudge and you ’ll know what real fudge is.
No syrup is as good as Velva—none so smooth,
none so full of real, true, old-time flavor. Proof
will come out of your first can. Send for book
of Velva recipes. No charge. Velva in the green
can, too, if you prefer it. At your grocer’s. Ten
cents up, according to size.
PEN1CK & FORD, Ltd.
New Orleans, La.
Cup Cakes
\\\W0
/ cupful Red Velva Syrup, 1-2 cupful
butter, 1-2 cupful sugar, 1 egg, 1-2
cupful milk, 2 teaspoonfuls powdered
cinnamon, 11-2 teaspoonfuls bakim
powder. 2 1-2 cupfuls flour, pinch of
salt. Beat me,butter and suear teeeitier until
creamy, then add the eec. well briten the
syrap, milk flour, salt, cinnamon pud bakinz
Pfveder Mix welt and dh'idainto tattered ana
Poured sentjians. Bake m a moderate oven for
Jl) minutes.
t I