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For Valour
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hold her position in the chorus and escape imprisonment for the theft — for that was what his threat meant. It was a carefully planned campaign, intended to gather her into his net ; but he was in no haste. The musical comedy was enjoying a long run, and there was plenty of time to achieve his purpose. So for several weeks he did not bother the girl beyond an easy familiarity that she bore with for the sake of her father.
The crisis was reached, strangely enough, on the day that Henry had been awarded the cross for valour on the field of honor. After the performance one night the manager summoned her to his office. He had been drinking heavily. His beady eyes were almost closed. He chewed savagely at a big black cigar as Melia entered.
"Sit down !" he rumbled.
The girl dropped into a chair nearest the door.
"Now, I want to know how long this is to go on ?" he demanded.
"I — I don't understand," faltered Melia.
"Innocent ! What do you suppose I remained silent for, when I could have thrown you into prison? I say, how long is this going to keep on ? My patience is exhausted. When are you going to let me furnish a little home for you?"
Melia stared at the gross man in the chair, and, staring, shuddered.
"I could never marry you," she said.
"Quit your kidding," he drawled. "Nobody said anything about marriage. WThat's a ceremony between friends? You and I are just going to set up housekeeping, and we ain't going to bother the parsons to say a blessing. How about it, little one? Say yes, and all's well on the Potomac. Say no, and I summon the police." He threw the chewed cigar into. the cuspidor, and swayed back" with his hand on the telephone.
"I did not know that God could make such a man " Melia exclaimed.
The manager cut in brutally. "Never mind that! Your answer — yes or no?"
"I say no — a thousand times NO !"
He lifted the phone and put the receiver to his ear. No tears came to the girl's eyes. She sat dumb, unstirring. while he gave his message. Listlessly she watched him as he hung up the receiver and lit another cigar. Listlessly she watched the smoke rings drift out into the room. There was silence that neither cared to break while the black cigar was consumed. The door opened and an officer came in.
Melia heard a mumble of words, then the man in uniform beckoned her and obediently she rose and walked out of the room with him, a prisoner of the state.
The trial was a brief one. The theatrical manager made the charge, and Melia, scorning to hide behind a falsehood, confessed her guilt.
"I did it to save my brother," she said brokenly. "He had done an unwise thing, and it was the only way. I intended to make good the loss."
"That's what they all say," remarked the manager's attorney, with a smile.
The magistrate looked kindly at the girl. He would have spared her if he could, but he knew that justice must be administered in spite of sentiment.
He pronounced a light sentence — six months' imprisonment — but it stunned the girl ; and when the officers attempted to lead her from the room she collapsed.
For many weeks she lay in the prison hospital, hovering between life and and death. And when at last she was able to take cognizance of her surroundings she was a wreck of her former self.
Her first question was about her father.
"He is being well treated," said the