Within the Law: From the Play of Bayard Veiller

lo,

d, indeed, soon came to gloating over the admirable manner in which righteousness thrives in the world. And it was then that an interruption came in the utterance of two words, words of affection, 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 fir

ce was softened to

were silent in the first emotion of their greeting. Presently, Gilder spoke, with an effort toward harshness in his voice

t you back?"

al things. He was forced to clear his throat before he answered with tha

m poise in this time of emotional disturbance, and he added hastily: "And, for the love of heav

st of merriment, his pent feelings found their vent. He was still chuckling when h

, smiled reminisce

they hired Captain Kidd and a bunch of pirates as stewards, and what they did to little Richard was something fierce. And ye

the father inte

," Dick replied, quite unabashe

ain in his chair, and gaz

I'm glad to see you home again, my boy." There was a

in his manner of speech, and a sincerity tha

here was again that clearing of the thr

display of emotion by an abrupt

red casually, while fumbling

in a smile of remi

thusiasm in his voice as he continued: "I tell you, Dad, it's a fact that I did almost

lly sympathetic. He took a curious vicarious delight in the escapades of his son, probably because he himself had commit

d with simpl

e a capital excuse

ought him candy, had felt toward him a maternal liking that increased rather than diminis

him," she said, with

s interruption of

tmost seriousness, "you are looking fine

es toward the slender ideal, ac

med, rapturously. "How muc

ilder surveyed his victim critically

wo ounce

adie's face at the flippant jest, w

ning her plumpness. Instantly, he was all contrition ove

enitently. "Please don't be really ang

" the secretary in

at the girl's arm. A memory of the days when she had cuddled him caused him to speak warmly, forgetting the presence of his father. "Now, don't be angry, Sadie. Just g

ly mollified, though

stammered, in confu

scene in great astonishmen

"You are actually making Sarah blus

lays of emotion, nevertheless he had been for a long time in lands far from home, where the habits of impulsive and affectionate peoples were radically unli

he declared, blithely. Then he adde

cheek and then the other, each with a hearty, wholesome smack of filial piety. This done, he stood back, still beaming happily, while the astounded Sarah titter

to dismay. He stood staring intently at his son with a perplexity in his expression that was

gentleness that was significant. The feeling provoked by the embrace showed plainly in his next words. "Why, that's the first tim

vertheless answered frankly with the expression of his own fee

with a smile that was good to see,

enderness, however agreeable in themselves, were hardly fitting to one of his dignity. "You clear out of here, boy," he commanded, brusquely. "I'm a working man. But here, wait a minute

in his pocket, and again

ncial. For, in the doorway he turned with a final speech, which was uttered in splendid disregard for the packet of money he had just received-perhaps, rather, in a sp

was yet in this softened mood. But fate had ordained that other events should restore him to his usual harder self before their interview. The effect was, indeed, presently accomplished by the advent of Smiths

feebly. "She has been searched, and we have foun

e store to make necessary this intrusion of the matter on him. "Why did

ame apologetic, while

"but I thought it wiser, sir, to-er-to bri

h asperity. "You know my views on the subject of pr

feeling he even relaxed a trifle that majestical erectness

tly a-er-a thie

ation. "Not a thief! And you caught her with a hundred dollars worth of laces t

f mild insistence. "You see, sir, it's this way. The lady ha

he irritated owner of the store. Instantly, his expression changed. While before his features had been set g

eman once again assumed his martial bearing. "You were quite right in coming to me." For a moment he was silent, plunged in thought. Finally he

g the room in pursuance of the succinct instructions given him, he again cleared

he announced, timidly. "She-er

exclamation of disgust. He again ejaculated the words with which he had greeted h

is frown betrayed the emotion natural enough under the circumstances. At last, however, he mastered his irritation to some degree, and spoke his command briefly. "Well, Smithson, apologize to her. It can't be helped." Then his face lighted

the office, Gilder tu

following letter to the husband of the lady who was no

GASKELL

tional Bank

as a man if I did not let you know at once that Mrs. Gaskell is in u

t. "No, put it this w

' worth of rare laces. Not recognizing her, our store detective detained her for a short time. Fortunately for us all, Mrs. Gaskell was a

very

nstead, he remained plunged in thought, and now his frown was one of simple bewilderment. A number of min

cerity, "I can't understand theft. It's a

thson entered the office, and that excellent ge

matter now?" Gilder sp

o her. She says that the action taken against her is an outrage, and she is not satisfied with the apologies of all the

d up from his

McCracken," he vociferated, glarin

in this case, he had been having multitudinous troubles of his own, which c

r," he reminded, speaking very de

d over the magnate's irrit

I shrewdly suspect that that estimable gentleman is going to eat humble pie, of my baking, from his wife's recipe. And his will be a

ked. In the one case, as she knew it, a girl under the urge of poverty had stolen. That thief had been promptly arrested, finally she had been tried, had been convicted, had been sentenced to three years in prison. In the other case, a woman of wealth had stolen. There had been no punishment. A euphemism of kleptomania had been offered and accepted as sufficient excuse for her crime. A pol