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〃Stealing　what？〃　　Mary　said。

〃Goods。〃

〃Where　from？〃　

A　reply　came　in　a　breath　so　low　that　it　was　barely　audible。

〃The　Emporium。〃

In　a　flash　of　intuition；　the　whole　truth　was　revealed　to　the　woman　who　stood　looking　down　at　the　cowering　creature　before　her。

〃The　Emporium！〃　she　repeated。　　There　was　a　tragedy　in　the　single　word。　　Her　voice　grew　cold　with　hate；　the　hate　born　of　innocence　long　tortured。　　〃Then　you　are　the　one　who〃

The　accusation　was　cut　short　by　the　girl's　shriek。

〃I　am　not！　I　am　not；　I　tell　you。〃

For　a　moment；　Mary　lost　her　poise。　　Her　voice　rose　in　a　flare　of　rage。

〃You　are！　You　are！〃　

The　craven　spirit　of　the　girl　could　struggle　no　more。　She　could　only　sit　in　a　huddled；　shaking　heap　of　dread。　The　woman　before　her　had　been　disciplined　by　sorrow　to　sternest　self…control。　　Though　racked　by　emotions　most　intolerable；　Mary　soon　mastered　their　expression　to　such　an　extent　that　when　she　spoke　again；　as　if　in　self…communion；　her　words　came　quietly；　yet　with　overtones　of　a　supreme　wo。

〃She　did　it！〃　Then；　after　a　little；　she　addressed　the　girl　with　a　certain　wondering　before　this　mystery　of　horror。　　〃Why　did　you　throw　the　blame　on　me？〃　

The　girl　made　several　efforts　before　her　mumbling　became　intelligible；　and　then　her　speech　was　gasping；　broken　with　fear。

〃I　found　out　they　were　watching　me；　and　I　was　afraid　they　would　catch　me。　　So；　I　took　them　and　ran　into　the　cloak…room；　and　put　them　in　a　locker　that　wasn't　close　to　mine；　and　some　in　the　pocket　of　a　coat　that　was　hanging　there。　　God　knows　I　didn't　know　whose　it　was。　　I　just　put　them　thereI　was　frightened〃

〃And　you　let　me　go　to　prison　for　three　years！〃　There　was　a　menace　in　Mary's　voice　under　which　the　girl　cringed　again。

〃I　was　scared；〃　she　whined。　　〃I　didn't　dare　to　tell。〃

〃But　they　caught　you　later；〃　Mary　went　on　inexorably。　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　then？〃　

〃I　was　afraid；〃　came　the　answer　from　the　shuddering　girl。　　〃I　told　them　it　was　the　first　time　I　had　taken　anything　and　they　let　me　off　with　a　year。〃

Once　more；　the　wrath　of　the　victim　flamed　high。

〃You！〃　Mary　cried。　　〃You　cried　and　lied；　and　they　let　you　off　with　a　year。　　I　wouldn't　cry。　　I　told　the　truth　and〃　Her　voice　broke　in　a　tearless　sob。　　The　color　had　gone　out　of　her　face；　and　she　stood　rigid；　looking　down　at　the　girl　whose　crime　had　ruined　her　life　with　an　expression　of　infinite　loathing　in　her　eyes。　Garson　rose　from　his　chair　as　if　to　go　to　her；　and　his　face　passed　swiftly　from　compassion　to　ferocity　as　his　gaze　went　from　the　woman　he　had　saved　from　the　river　to　the　girl　who　had　been　the　first　cause　of　her　seeking　a　grave　in　the　waters。　　Yet；　though　he　longed　with　every　fiber　of　him　to　comfort　the　stricken　woman；　he　did　not　dare　intrude　upon　her　in　this　time　of　her　anguish；　but　quietly　dropped　back　into　his　seat　and　sat　watching　with　eyes　now　tender；　now　baleful；　as　they　shifted　their　direction。

Aggie　took　advantage　of　the　pause。　　Her　voice　was　acid。

〃Some　people　are　sneaksjust　sneaks！〃　

Somehow；　the　speech　was　welcome　to　the　girl；　gave　her　a　touch　of　courage　sufficient　for　cowardly　protestations。　It　seemed　to　relieve　the　tension　drawn　by　the　other　woman's　torment。　　It　was　more　like　the　abuse　that　was　familiar　to　her。　　A　gush　of　tears　came。

〃I'll　never　forgive　myself；　never！〃　she　moaned。

Contempt　mounted　in　Mary's　breast。

〃Oh；　yes；　you　will；〃　she　said；　malevolently。　　〃People　forgive　themselves　pretty　easily。〃　　The　contempt　checked　for　a　little　the　ravages　of　her　grief。　　〃Stop　crying；〃　she　commanded　harshly。　　〃Nobody　is　going　to　hurt　you。〃　　She　thrust　the　money　again　toward　the　girl；　and　crowded　it　into　the　half…reluctant；　half…greedy　hand。

〃Take　it；　and　get　out。〃　　The　contempt　in　her　voice　rang　still　sharper；　mordant。

Even　the　puling　creature　writhed　under　the　lash　of　Mary's　tones。　　She　sprang　up；　slinking　back　a　step。

〃I　can't　take　it！〃　she　cried；　whimpering。　　But　she　did　not　drop　the　money。

〃Take　the　chance　while　you　have　it；〃　Mary　counseled；　still　with　the　contempt　that　pierced　even　the　hardened　girl's　sense　of　selfishness。　　She　pointed　toward　the　door。　　〃Go！before　I　change　my　mind。〃

The　girl　needed；　indeed；　no　second　bidding。　　With　the　money　still　clutched　in　her　hand；　she　went　forth　swiftly；　stumbling　a　little　in　her　haste；　fearful　lest；　at　the　last　moment；　the　woman　she　had　so　wronged　should　in　fact　change　in　mood；　take　back　the　moneyay；　even　give　her　over　to　that　terrible　man　with　the　eyes　of　hate；　to　put　her　to　death　as　she　deserved。

Freed　from　the　miasma　of　that　presence；　Mary　remained　motionless　for　a　long　minute；　then　sighed　from　her　tortured　heart。　　She　turned　and　went　slowly　to　her　chair　at　the　desk；　and　seated　herself　languidly；　weakened　by　the　ordeal　through　which　she　had　passed。

〃A　girl　I　didn't　know！〃　she　said；　bewilderedly；　〃perhaps　had　never　spoken　towho　smashed　my　life　like　that！　Oh；　if　it　wasn't　so　awful；　it　would　befunny！　It　would　be　funny！〃　A　gust　of　hysterical　laughter　burst　from　her。　　〃Why；　it　is　funny！〃　she　cried；　wildly。　　〃It　is　funny！〃　

〃Mary！〃　Garson　exclaimed　sharply。　　He　leaped　across　the　room　to　face　her。　　〃That's　no　good！〃　he　said　severely。

Aggie；　too；　rushed　forward。

〃No　good　at　all！〃　she　declared　loudly。

The　interference　recalled　the　distressed　woman　to　herself。　　She　made　a　desperate　effort　for　self…command。　Little　by　little；　the　unmeaning　look　died　down；　and　presently　she　sat　silent　and　moveless；　staring　at　the　two　with　stormy　eyes　out　of　a　wan　face。

〃You　were　right；〃　she　said　at　last；　in　a　lifeless　voice。　〃It's　done；　and　can't　be　undone。　　I　was　a　fool　to　let　it　affect　me　like　that。　　I　really　thought　I　had　lost　all　feeling　about　it；　but　the　sight　of　that　girlthe　knowledge　that　she　had　done　itbrought　it　all　back　to　me。　　Well；　you　understand；　don't　you？〃　

〃We　understand；〃　Garson　said；　grimly。　　But　there　was　more　than　grimness；　infinitely　more；　in　the　expression　of　his　clear；　glowing　eyes。

Aggie　thought　that　it　was　her　turn　to　voice　herself；　which　she　did　without　undue　restraint。

〃Perhaps；　we　do；　but　I　dunno！　I'll　tell　you　one　thing；　though。　　If　any　dame　sent　me　up　for　three　years　and　then　wanted　money　from　me；　do　you　think　she'd　get　it？　　Wake　me　up　any　time　in　the　night　and　ask　me。　　Not　muchnot　a　little　bit　much！　I'd　hang　on　to　it　like　an　old　woman　to　her　last　tooth。〃　　And　that　was　Aggie's　final　summing　up　of　her　impressions　concerning　the　scene　she　had　just　witnessed。



CHAPTER　XII。　A　BRIDEGROOM　SPURNED。　

After　Aggie's　vigorous　comment　there　followed　a　long　silence。　　That　volatile　young　person；　little　troubled　as　she　was　by　sensitiveness；　guessed　the　fact　that　just　now　further　discussion　of　the　event　would　be　distasteful　to　Mary；　and　so　she　betook　herself　discreetly　to　a　cigarette　and　the　illustrations　of　a　popular　magazine　devoted　to　the　stage。　　As　for　the　man；　his　reticence　was　really　from　a　fear　lest　in　speaking　at　all　he　might　speak　too　freely；　might　betray　the　pervasive　violence　of　his　feeling。　　So；　he　sat　motionless　and　wordless；　his　eyes　carefully　avoiding　Mary　in　order　that　she　might　not　be　disturbed　by　the　invisible　vibrations　thus　sent　from　one　to　another。　　Mary　herself　was　shaken　to　the　depths。　　A　great　weariness；　a　weariness　that　cried　the　worthlessness　of　all　things；　had　fallen　upon　her。　　It　rested　leaden　on　her　soul。　　It　weighed　down　her　body　as　well；　though　that　mattered　little　indeed。　　Yet；　since　she　could　minister　to　that　readily；　she　rose　and　went　to　a　settee　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　room　where　she　arranged　herself　among　the　cushions　in　a　posture　more　luxurious　than　her　rather　precise　early　training　usually　permitted　her　to　assume　in　the　presence　of　others。　　There　she　rested；　and　soon　felt　the　tides　of　energy　again　flowing　in　her　blood；　and　that　same　vitality；　too；　wrought　healing　even　for　her　agonized　soul；　though　more　slowly。　　The　perfect　health　of　her　gave　her　strength　to　recover　speedily　from　the　shock　she　had　sustained。　　It　was　this　health　that　made　the　glory　of　the　flawless　skin；　white　with　a　living　white　that　revealed　the　coursing　blood　beneath；　and　the　crimson　lips　that　bent　in　smiles　so　tender；　or　so　wistful；　and　the　limpid　eyes　in　which　always　lurked　fires　that　sometimes　burst　into　flame；　the　lustrous　mass　of　undulating　hair　that　sparkled　in　the　sunlight　like　an　aureole　to　her　face　or　framed　it　in　heavy　splendors　with　its　shadows；　and　the　supple　erectness　of　her　graceful　carriage；　the　lithe　dignity　of　her　every　movement。

But；　at　last；　she　stirred　uneasily　and　sat　up。　　Garson　accepted　this　as　a　sufficient　warrant　for　speech。

〃You　knowAggie　told　youthat　Cassidy　was　up　here　from　Headquarters。　　He　didn't　put　a　name　to　it；　but　I'm　on。〃　　Mary　regarded　him　inquiringly；　and　he　continued；　putting　the　fact　with　a　certain　brutal　bluntness　after　the　habit　of　his　class。　　〃I　guess　you'll　have　to　quit　seeing　young　Gilder。　　The　bulls　are　wise。　　His　father　has　made　a　holler。

〃Don't　let　that　worry　you；　Joe；〃　she　said　tranquilly。　She　allowed　a　few　seconds　go　by；　then　added　as　if　quite　indifferent：　〃I　was　married　to　Dick　Gilder　this　morning。〃　　There　came　a　squeal　of　amazement　from　Aggie；　a　start　of　incredulity　from　Garson。

〃Yes；〃　Mary　repeated　evenly；　〃I　was　married　to　him　this　morning。　　That　was　my　important　engagement；〃　she　added　with　a　smile　toward　Aggie。　　For　some　intuitive　reason；　mysterious　to　herself；　she　did　not　care　to　meet　the　man's　eyes　at　that　moment。

Aggie　sat　erect；　her　baby　face　alive　with　worldly　glee。

〃My　Gawd；　what　luck！〃　she　exclaimed　noisily。　〃Why；　he's　a　king　fish；　he　is。　　Gee！　But　I'm　glad　you　landed　him！〃　

〃Thank　you；〃　Mary　said　with　a　smile　that　was　the　result　of　her　sense　of　humor　rather　than　from　any　tenderness。

It　was　then　that　Garson　spoke。　　He　was　a　delicate　man　in　his　sensibilities　at　times；　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　he　followed　devious　methods　in　his　manner　of　gaining　a　livelihood。　　So；　now；　he　put　a　question　of　vital　significance。

〃Do　you　love　him？〃　

The　question　caught　Mary　all　unprepared；　but　she　retained　her　self…control　sufficiently　to　make　her　answer　in　a　voice　that　to　the　ordinary　ear　would　have　revealed　no　least　tremor。

〃No；〃　she　said。　　She　offered　no　explanation；　no　excuse；　merely　stated　the　fact　in　all　its　finality。

Aggie　was　really　shocked；　though　for　a　reason　altogether　s