Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

6 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY upon Molly, and even more perceptibly upon little Maggie. A few days had exhausted their ready money, and their credit soon followed, so that Walsh found them as thoroughly miserable as two girls could well be. Molly, knowing his errand, and wishing to spare Maggie, sent the child out of the room. Skinny came straight to the point. "I ain't sore on you, Molly," he said, utterly oblivious to the unconscious irony of his words. "You threw me down, but I ain't holding it against you. Why don't you be sensible? You're up against it, and you might as well give in. If you don't care for yourself, think of the kid. She can't stand this racket." With the instinct of the born tempter, Walsh assailed Molly at her weakest point. It was true. The little sister grew paler and more sickly looking day by day. Could she sacrifice that little sister to save her virtue? And, if she did, could she ever again take pride in that possession ? Molly wavered. Walsh, noting her attitude of surrender, stepped toward her. But before he could touch her, little Maggie limped breathlessly into the room. "Don't listen to him, Molly !" she cried, her eyes sparkling with rage. "I listened, and I know what he means. If you go with him, I'll never forgive you, never, never, never !" The sight of her little sister's steadfastness steadied Molly like a dash of cold water. She threw open the door and turned to Walsh, with one word: "Go!" Would any one see her take it? The purse lay temptingly upon the counter. It was evidently the property of some wealthy woman. The quality of the purse itself told her that. Some woman, doubtless, who would never miss the money it contained and which would do so much for herself and for Maggie. Molly's fingers moved slowly across the ,. counter. Poor little Maggie, she had saved her from Walsh, but with him had vanished their last hope of rescue. Had she not searched everywhere for work? And here, in this great department store, they had told her they had no place for her in any capacity. The hand drew near the purse. To-morrow would be Maggie's birthday. The fingers closed upon the purse and hastily thrust it into the pocket of Molly's skirt. A hand fell heavily upon her shoul der. She turned, to see a heavy-set person standing behind her. "Come with me!" said this person in an authoritative voice. A handsomely gowned woman rustled up and stared at Molly. "That's the one," she said. "I saw her take it. I laid it down for a moment while I stepped to the light to examine a piece of silk, and when I turned back she was picking it up." Molly summoned her courage, and indignantly denied the theft, but to no avail. The owner of the purse was certain she had seen it stolen, and she insisted that Molly be taken before Mr. Hackett, proprietor of the store, and her own prospective father-in-law. For Molly, unfortunately, had stolen the purse of no less a person than Miss Blanche Armstrong, society belle, and fiancee of the district attorney. That the incident occurred in the department store of the district attorney's father did not add to Molly's chances of going free. Despite her protests, she was taken to Hackett's private office. Hackett was judiciously stern until he secured one good look at Molly. It was a joke among his acquaintances that the senior Hackett had become a successful merchant because he had such a good eye for a bit of dress goods. "Let me speak to the young lady alone," he suggested. "I think I may be able to induce her to confess." W hen they were alone, he made her the proposition which Molly instinctively expected. He offered her freedom— upon one condition, a condition which he laid down as one who had often made it before, despite the fact that he was a man of family. Molly, crushed by her capture, convinced o'f the wickedness of all men, and fearful of what her imprisonment would mean to Maggie, consented. When she left Hackett's office, it was to go home to dress for dinner with him in a notorious cafe. There was money in her purse but sorrow in her heart as she entered her little parlor. There she found Walsh waiting for her. Suddenly, at sight of him, she felt a fierce desire to hurt him ; to make him pay, in some degree, for the humiliation which she was suffering and which he had forced upon her. So she told him, told him the price she was to pay for her freedom — a price which deprived him of his last hope of coi quest. Infuriated at the knowledge that ai j other man was to succeed where he ha failed. Skinny lay in wait when Mollij came out and trailed her to the restai rant. The sight of the prosperous men chant enraged him further. Then, i the low cunning of his scheming brai;| was born his plan for revenge. Withi ten minutes of the time when Molly an Hackett entered their private dinin room. Skinny was at the telephone. '•'Is this the residence of J. II Hackett? I want to talk to Mr! Hackett. "Mrs. Hackett. your husband is herj at Victor's — in a private dining rooij — No. 38 — with a woman. Alone witl a woman. Yes, do you hear me? AloniJ "Never mind who I am. I'll sho\j you the room. At once? Good!" If Skinny had known that Distri^ Attorney Roger Hackett was in th; booth next his, he would not have lelj the door ajar. As it was, he felt a coll chill run down his back when he say Roger dash out of the booth and heal straight for the private dining roon where his father was closeted witl Molly. "Hang him !" muttered Skinny. "He' spoil everything!" That was certainly what the elde Hackett thought when the door wa opened without notice, and his broad shouldered son swung in. "I don't like to interrupt you, dad," 1 said sarcastically, "but as I happen know that mother is on her way he looking for you. I think you had bette go." "Good God ! Let me out of here exclaimed that disreputable parent, he tried to push Molly to one side an reach the exit. "Shame on you!" exclaimed Molh "You were anxious enough to get ir It would serve you right if your wal did catch you !" Meanwhile, Skinny, suddenly deprive! of his first plan, made up his mini to play for an even higher stake. Jerr Flynn, the big boss, was under firi The district attorney had sworn to ge his scalp. Here was a chance to ge solid! It was no sooner thought thai done. A second message went ove the wire — this time to Boss Flynn, to tin effect that the district attorney migli