Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

orged

hn of old Will Rogers's visit, but they got Mr. Watson in the libra

m, and Tom Gates bade fair to serve a lengthy term

generous act,

ed. The Squierses are a selfish, hard-fisted lot, and the old lady, especially, is a well known virago. But they could not have proven a case against Lucy, if she was in

," said Beth; "and, being in love,

"Indeed there is never an excuse for crime. The y

y to save him?"

of the forged check, then the young man would be allowed his freedom. Bu

it, anyhow," was t

iles, the boy consenting unwillingly to this sort of locomotion because it would save much

kham, who was the jailer. He was a round-faced, respectabl

tes, eh? Well! what

k with him," an

no friend of Tom Gates. I can't

running for Representative on the Rep

"You mustn't mind my being gruff and grumpy, Mr. Forbes. I've just sto

tes at once?"

ust shocking how such a little thing as stoppin' sm

jailer along a suc

f I didn't," remarked the jailer, leading the way. "Sometimes I'm that yearning for a smoke I'm nearly

the door,

visito

, as a young man came forward from the dim inte

'n ever," replied t

out, old man;

nt hope o' livin' through this struggle to give it up. Thi

ically, as he stood where the light from the passage fell

gulations. I'll come and get you then. Sorry we haven't any rec

eth and Beth in with the forger,

s, in a cheerful and pleasant

r case, Gates," said Kenneth. "I

not to confess. But the fact is that I forged the check and

ou do it?"

and turned h

forehead, but a sensitive, rather weak mouth. He was of sturdy, athletic build and

nly. Kenneth decided that he was ill at eas

Kenneth, "and are interested in it. But ther

cy, sir?" asked

N

I couldn't bear it. I didn't stop to think whether i

still more unhappy,

saved Lucy from any disgrace, and she's young. She'll forget me befo

like that?"

I had to stand by Lucy-she's so sweet and gentle, and so sensitive

ts have helped her?

, but poor and helpless since

ave an acciden

you know? S

n't tell us that

d Will hard at work. One morning she tried to light the fire with kerosene, and lost her sight. Then Ro

and now,"

d Will was stubborn and wouldn't let her. So the girl saw something

cell in front of them. It was evident that his f

u sign to the chec

o it was easy to get a blank check and forge the signature. As regards my robbing the company, I'll say that I saved them a heavy loss one day. I discovered

ere you arreste

l in a few days, they say. My crime is so seriou

now where

heard from her since the day she came

t that time. It was better for him to thin

," said Kenneth, "and discover

rateful to find a friend. I'm guilty, you kn

ler arrived to unlock the door,

al, you know; just one o' them that gives in to temptation and is foolish enough to ge

r. Mar

ever try to quit. It's-it's awful, it

umber of men. The office was a small brick edifice, separated from the main buildings, in which the noise of machinery was so great that one speaking coul

summons came to admit them to

ngraciously, but moti

he asked, glancing at the

s,

bored manner. "Some girl has been here twice to interview my men and I have refused to admit her. You may

red Kenneth, smiling. "I'm not electioneering just

sir, what

boy, and want to save

r. Forbes; a deli

young, and his youth is large

ole my

ue, Mr. M

es a term in s

has not yet taken place, and instead of your devoting considerable of your valuable tim

way, Mr

your money

twice sixty doll

ty dollars for the delivery to me of the forged

the c

ll the cost

. Why should yo

ndpoint. If you send the boy to prison you will still suffer the loss of the money.

d and fifty, and I'll turn over to you the

avor to take advantage of his evident desire to help young Gates. He had hoped t

at his silenc

Ken," she

shall," said he, "I

m his safe and delivered it, with the other papers in the case, to Mr. Forbes

nd the manager stood in his little window and watched them d

t. Why, he's a fool, that's what he is. He might have had that forged check for the face of it, if

Kenneth's arm as she sat be

all that misery and despair by the payment of a hund

boy, cheerfully,