Within the Law: From the Play of Bayard Veiller

fe any greeting to the secretary, who regarded him with an accurate perception of his mood. With a diplomacy bor

up, Mr. Gilder, and asked me to let him know

was even the beginning of a smile on his lips

e short interval before the connection was made. When, finally, he addr

pleased fashion that had in it a suggestion of conscious superiority. "My dear fellow," he declared briskly, "you couldn't beat me in a thousand years. Why, I made the eighteen holes in ninety-two only

e secretary could n

urner girl?" she inquired in

apers, but answered rather harshly, while

went on: "I don't see why Judge Lawlor bothered me about the matter. He

y, plainly the 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. Perhaps, in that characteristic might be found a clue to the chief fault in his nature. For he was ponderous, spiritually and mentally, as well as materially. The fact was displayed suggestively in the face, which was too heavy with its prominent jowls

him. Forthwith, he dictated the following letter, and now his voice took on a m

EDI

w York

ing to be a very hard summer for the poor, and I hope by thus starting the contributions for you

truly

nquiring glanc

I usually giv

ry nodded e

ner, "that's what you have given e

oice was more mellow as he made comment. His hea

is pleasant to be able to help those less fortunate than ourselves." He

on her part some degree of familiarity with the august head of the establishment. Besides, she did not stand in awe of Gilder, as did the others in his service. No man

y when you make so much

eer surprise over the secretary's unexpected remark. He hesitated for only an instant before replyi

lroads, conspire against small competitors, nor do any of the dishonest acts that disgrace other lines of b

ght in her employer's complacency over his charitableness, nod

she agreed,

indignantly. Then, he bethought himself of a su

is generous virtue, the frown passed from his brows. If, for a fleeting moment, doubt had assailed him under the spur of the

of George Demarest, the chief of the legal staff that looked after the firm's affairs. He was aware w

d into the room at a rapid pace, and came to a halt facing th

and his tone as he answered

replied, gravely. It was plain from his

over the result. On the contrary, he smiled exultantly. His oritu

re to have Smithson post a copy of it conspicuously in all the girls' dressing-rooms, and in the reading-room, and in the

n convicted for the theft of goods valued at over four hundred dollars. The management wishes again to dr

any trace of feeling. She was not minded to disturb her

tell him that I wish him to attend to its be

ormal response in the affi

the room rather restlessly. Demarest paid no attention to the other's invitation to a seat, but the courtesy was perfunctory on Gilder's part, and he hardly perceived the perturbation

e a warning to the rest of the girls." He

knit as he faced the p

n some features, one of the most unusual I

r's face as he puffed in leisurely ease o

timation. You see, the girl keeps on declaring her innocence. That, of course, is common enough in a way. But here, it's differ

miled to

retorted. And his voice was tart as he added: "Nor to the

admit," Demarest returned, coolly. If he meant any subtlety of allusi

red in a tone of finality. "Some of them, I have been giv

tions for crime. Yet, as a lawyer, I'm free to admit that circumstantial evidence alone is never quite safe as proof of guilt. Naturally, she says some one else mus

iffed ind

he demanded. "It's too

picion on the innocent in order to avoid it on themselves when the pursuit got too hot on their trail. Some

repeated, impatiently. "The judge and t

fitting on the part of the legal representative of the store she was

ve years in your employ ought t

o be sympathetic as to a matter so

asserted once again, in his ponderous manner. Hi

cynically as he

on't call them courts of justi

ip. This much he felt that he could afford, since thos

nial again, "it's out of our hands

am not so sure. You see, the fact of the matter is that, though I hel

Even yet, he was quite without appreciation of the att

questioned

the desk, "in spite of all the evidence against her, I am

tion of contempt, but Dem

wants to see you, and I wish to ur

lly on the lawyer, who, perhaps with professional pru

ular revelation of the nature of the man. For there was consternation in his voice, as he continued in vehement expostulation against the idea. If there

nd begging for mercy," he protested, truculent

wer was given

tter. She demands justice-strange as that may seem, in a court of law!-and nothing else. The truth is,

her being a thief," Gilder g

oice. "Just before the judge imposed sentence, 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 wa

appreciation of the effectiveness of such oratory fro

Then, as a new thought came to the magnate, he spoke with a trace of anxiety. Th

thing against me

ound 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, tak

of a lifetime. What heart he had once possessed had been buried in the grave of his young wife, to be resurrected only

blew a cloud of smoke from his mouth. Wh

the girl go on a suspended sentence. I told him frankly that I believed that an example should be made of her, for the sake of others who might be tempted to steal. Property has some rights, Demarest, altho

y, since he had his ba

you would see her for ten minutes, she would t

e brought his chair to a level and p

s the first sign of decent feeling she's shown. I suppose it ought

attempted

g, 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