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/ * '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