\"Ididn\'tseefather，\"hesaidhappily，\"butIlefthimanoteonhisdeskattheoffice。\"
Then，somehow，thesurchargedatmospherepenetratedhisconsciousness，andhelookedaround，toseehisfatherstandinggrimlyoppositehim。Buttherewasnochangeinhisexpressionbeyondamoreradiantsmile。
\"Hello，Dad!\"hecried，joyously。\"Thenyougotmynote？\"
Thevoiceoftheoldermancamewithasinisterforceandsaturnine。
\"No，Dick，Ihaven\'thadanynote。\"
\"Then，why？\"Theyoungmanbrokeoffsuddenly。Hewasbecomeawarethatherewassomethingmalignant，withameaningbeyondhispresentunderstanding，forhesawtheInspectorandDemarest，andheknewthetwoofthemforwhattheywereofficially。
\"Whataretheydoinghere？\"hedemandedsuspiciously，staringatthetwo。
\"Oh，nevermindthem，\"Marysaid。Therewasamalevolentgleaminhervioleteyes。Thiswastherecompenseofwhichshehaddreamedthroughsoul-tearingages。\"Justtellyourfatheryournews，Dick。\"
Theyoungmanhadnocomprehensionofthefactthathewasonlyapawninthegame。Hespokewithsimplepride。
\"Dad，we\'remarried。MaryandIweremarriedthismorning。\"
Always，Marystaredwithhereyessteadfastonthefather。Therewastriumphinhergaze。Thiswasthevengeanceforwhichshehadlonged，forwhichshehadplotted，thevengeanceshehadatlastachieved。Herewasherfruition，theperiodofhersupremacy。
Gilderhimselfseemeddazedbythebriefsentence。
\"Saythatagain，\"hecommanded。
Maryrejoicedtomaketheknowledgesure。
\"Imarriedyoursonthismorning，\"shesaidinamatter-of-facttone。\"Imarriedhim。Doyouquiteunderstand，Mr。Gilder？I
marriedhim。\"Inthatinsistencelayherultimatecompensationforuntoldmisery。Thefatherstoodtherewordless，unabletofindspeechagainstthiscalamitythathadbefallenhim。
ItwasBurkewhoofferedadiversion，acrudeinterruptionafterhisownfashion。
\"It\'saframe-up，\"heroared。Heglaredattheyoungman。\"Tellyourfatheritain\'ttrue。Why，doyouknowwhatsheis？She\'sdonetime。\"Hepausedforaninstant，thenspokeinavoicethatwasbrutallymenacing。\"And，byGod，she\'lldoitagain!\"
Theyoungmanturnedtowardhisbride。Therewasdisbelief，hope，despair，inhisface，whichhadgrownolderbyyearswiththepassingoftheseconds。
\"It\'salie，Mary，\"hesaid。\"Sayit\'salie!\"Heseizedherhandpassionately。
Therewasnoquiverinhervoiceassheanswered。Shedrewherhandfromhisclasp，andspokeevenly。
\"It\'sthetruth。\"
\"It\'sthetruth!\"theyoungmanrepeated，incredulously。
\"Itisthetruth，\"Marysaid，firmly。\"Ihaveservedthreeyearsinprison。\"
Therewasasilenceofaminutethatwaslikeyears。Itwasthefatherwhobrokeit，andnowhisvoicewasbecometremulous。
\"Iwantedtosaveyou，Dick。That\'swhyIcame。\"
Thesoninterruptedhimviolently。
\"There\'samistake——theremustbe。\"
ItwasDemarestwhogaveanofficialtouchtothetragedyofthemoment。
\"There\'snomistake，\"hesaid。Therewasauthorityinhisstatement。
\"Thereis，Itellyou!\"Dickcried，horrifiedbythisconspiracyofdefamation。Heturnedhistorturedfacetohisbrideofaday。
\"Mary，\"hesaidhuskily，\"thereisamistake。\"
Somethinginherfaceappalledhim。Hewasvoicelessforafewterribleinstants。Thenhespokeagain，morebeseechingly。
\"Saythere\'samistake。\"
Marypreservedherpoise。Yes——shemustnotforget!Thiswasthehourofhertriumph。Whatmattereditthatthehoneyofitwasasashesinhermouth？Shespokewithasimplicitythatadmittednodenial。
\"It\'sallquitetrue。\"
Themanwhohadsolovedher，sotrustedher，wasoverwhelmedbytherevelation。Hestoodtremblingforamoment，tottered，almostitseemedwouldhavefallen，butpresentlysteadiedhimselfandsanksupinelyintoachair，wherehesatinimpotentsuffering。
ThefatherlookedatMarywithareproachthatwaspathetic。
\"See，\"hesaid，andhisheavyvoicewasforoncethinwithpassion，\"seewhatyou\'vedonetomyboy!\"
MaryhadheldhereyesonDick。Therehadbeeninhergazeaconflictofemotions，strongandbaffling。Now，however，whenthefatherspoke，herfacegrewmorecomposed，andhereyesmethiscoldly。Hervoicewaslevelandvaguelydangerousassheansweredhisaccusation。
\"Whatisthatcomparedtowhatyouhavedonetome？\"
Gilderstaredatherinhonestamazement。Hehadnosuspicionastothetragedythatlaybetweenhimandher。
\"WhathaveIdonetoyou？\"hequestioned，uncomprehending。
Marymovedforward，passingbeyondthedesk，andcontinuedheradvancetowardhimuntilthetwostoodclosetogether，facetoface。Shespokesoftly，butwithanintensityofsupremefeelinginhervoice。
\"DoyourememberwhatIsaidtoyouthedayyouhadmesentaway？\"
Themerchantregardedherwithstarklackofunderstanding。
\"Idon\'trememberyouatall，\"hesaid。
Thewomanlookedathimintentlyforamoment，thenspokeinacolorlessvoice。
\"PerhapsyourememberMaryTurner，whowasarrestedfouryearsagoforrobbingyourstore。Andperhapsyourememberthatsheaskedtospeaktoyoubeforetheytookhertoprison。\"
Theheavy-jowledmangaveastart。
\"Oh，youbegintoremember。Yes!Therewasagirlwhosworeshewasinnocent——yes，shesworethatshewasinnocent。Andshewouldhavegotoff——only，youaskedthejudgetomakeanexampleofher。\"
Themantowhomshespokehadgonegrayalittle。Hebegantounderstand，forhewasnotlackinginintelligence。Somehow，itwasborneinonhimthatthiswomanhadagrievancebeyondtheusualrunofinjuries。
\"Youarethatgirl？\"hesaid。Itwasnotaquestion，ratheranaffirmation。
Maryspokewiththedignityoflongsuffering——morethanthat，withtheconfidentdignityofavengeancelongdelayed，nowatlastachieved。Herwordsweresimpleenough，buttheytouchedtotheheartofthemanaccusedbythem。
\"Iamthatgirl。\"
Therewasalittleintervalofsilence。Then，Maryspokeagain，remorselessly。
\"Youtookawaymygoodname。Yousmashedmylife。Youputmebehindthebars。Youoweforallthat……Well\'I\'vebeguntocollect。\"
Themanoppositeher，themanofvigorousform，ofstrongfaceandkeeneyes，stoodgazingintentlyforlongmoments。Inthattime，hewaslearningmanythings。Finally，hespoke。
\"Andthatiswhyyoumarriedmyboy。\"
\"Itis。\"Marygavetheanswercoldly，convincingly。
Convincingly，savetoone——herhusband。Dicksuddenlyaroused，andspokewiththeviolenceofonesure。
\"Itisnot!\"
Burkeshoutedawarning。Demarest，morediplomatic，madearestraininggesturetowardthepoliceofficial，thenstartedtoaddresstheyoungmansoothingly。
ButDickwouldhavenoneoftheirinterference。
\"Thisismyaffair，\"hesaid，andtheothersfellsilent。HestoodupandwenttoMary，andtookhertwohandsinhis，verygently，yetveryfirmly。
\"Mary，\"hesaidsoftly，yetwithastrengthofconviction，\"youmarriedmebecauseyouloveme。\"
Thewifeshuddered，butshestrovetodeny。
\"No，\"shesaidgravely，\"no，Ididnot!\"
\"Andyoulovemenow!\"hewentoninsistingly。
\"No，no!\"Mary\'sdenialcamelikeacryforescape。
\"Youlovemenow!\"Therewasamasterfulqualityinhisdeclaration，whichseemedtoignorehernegation。
\"Idon\'t，\"sherepeatedbitterly。
Buthewasinexorable。
\"Lookmeintheface，andsaythat。\"
Hetookherfaceinhishands，liftedit，andhiseyesmetherssearchingly。
\"Lookmeintheface，andsaythat，\"herepeated。
Therewasasilencethatseemedlong，thoughitwasmeasuredinthepassingofseconds。Thethreewatchersdarednotinterruptthisdramaofemotions，but，atlast，Mary，whohadplannedsolongforthishour，gatheredherforcesandspokevaliantly。Hervoicewaslow，butwithoutanyweaknessofdoubt。
\"Idonotloveyou。\"
Intheinstantofreply，DickGilder，bysomeinspirationoflove，changedhisattitude。\"Justthesame，\"hesaidcheerfully，\"youaremywife，andI\'mgoingtokeepyouandmakeyouloveme。\"
Maryfeltathrilloffearthroughherverysoul。
\"Youcan\'t!\"shecriedharshly。\"Youarehisson!\"
\"She\'sacrook!\"Burkesaid。
\"Idon\'tcareadamnwhatyou\'vebeen!\"Dickexclaimed。\"Fromnowonyou\'llgostraight。You\'llwalkthestraightestlineawomaneverwalked。You\'llputallthoughtsofvengeanceoutofyourheart，becauseI\'llfillitwithsomethingbigger——I\'mgoingtomakeyouloveme。\"
Burke，withhisrousingvoice，spokeagain:
\"Itellyou，she\'sacrook!\"
Marymovedalittle，andthenturnedherfacetowardGilder。
\"And，ifIam，whomademeone？Youcan\'tsendagirltoprison，andhavehercomeoutanythingelse。\"
Burkeswunghimselfaroundinamovementofcompletedisgust。
\"Shedidn\'tgethertimeforgoodbehavior。\"
Maryraisedherhead，haughtily，withagestureofhighdisdain。
\"AndI\'mproudofit!\"cameherinstantretort。\"Doyouknowwhatgoesontherebehindthosestonewalls？Doyou，Mr。
DistrictAttorney，whosebusinessitistosendgirlsthere？Doyouknowwhatagirlisexpectedtodo，togettimeoffforgoodbehavior？Ifyoudon\'t，askthekeepers。\"
Gildermovedfussily。
\"Andyou——\"
Maryswayedalittle，standingtherebeforeherquestioner。
\"Iservedeveryminuteofmytime——everyminuteofit，threefull，wholeyears。DoyouwonderthatIwanttogeteven，thatsomeonehasgottopay？Fouryearsago，youtookawaymyname——andgavemeanumber……Now，I\'vegivenupthenumber——andI\'vegotyourname。\"
CHAPTERXV。AFTERMATHOFTRAGEDY。
TheGilders，bothfatherandson，enduredmuchsufferingthroughoutthenightanddaythatfollowedthesceneinMaryTurner\'sapartment，whenshehadmadeknowntheaccomplishmentofherrevengeontheoldermanbyherensnaringoftheyounger。
Dickhadfollowedtheothersoutofherpresenceathercommand，emphasizedbyherleavinghimalonewhenhewouldhavepleadedfurtherwithher。Sincethen，hehadstriventoobtainanotherinterviewwithhisbride，butshehadrefusedhim。Hewasdeniedadmissiontotheapartment。Onlythemaidansweredtheringingofthetelephone，andhisnoteswereseeminglyunheeded。
Distraughtbythisviolentinterjectionoftormentintoalifethathithertohadknownnoimportantsuffering，DickGildershowedwhatmettleofmanlaybeneathhisdebonairappearance。
Andthatmettlewasofakindworthwhile。Inthesehoursofgrief，thesoulofhimputoutitsstrength。Helearnedbeyondperadventureofdoubtthatthewomanwhomhehadmarriedwasintruthanex-convict，evenasBurkeandDemaresthaddeclared。
Nevertheless，hedidnotforaninstantbelievethatshewasguiltyofthecrimewithwhichshehadbeenoriginallychargedandforwhichshehadservedasentenceinprison。Fortherest，hecouldunderstandinsomedegreehowthevenomofthewronginflictedonherhadpoisonedhernaturethroughtheyears，tillshehadworkedoutitsevilthroughtheschemeofwhichhewastheinnocentvictim。Hecaredlittleforthefactthatrecentlyshehaddevotedherselftodeviousdevicesformakingmoney，toingeniousschemesforlegalplunder。Inhissummingofher，hesetasmorethananoffsettoherunrighteousnessinthisregardthedesperatestruggleshehadmadeafterleavingprisontokeepstraight，which，ashelearned，hadendedinherattemptatsuicide。Heknewtheintelligenceofthiswomanwhomheloved，andinhisheartwasnothoughtofherfaultsasvitalflaws。Itseemedtohimratherthatcircumstanceshadcompelledher，andthatthroughallthesufferingofherlifeshehadretainedthemorebeautifulqualitiesofherwomanliness，forwhichhereverencedher。Intheclosenessoftheirassociation，shortasithadbeen，hehadlearnedtoknowsomethingofthetendererdepthswithinher，thekindlinessofher，thewholesomeness。
Swayedashewasbythelovelinessofher，hewasyetmoreenthralledbythoseinnerqualitiesofwhichtheouterbeautywasonlythefittingsymbol。
So，inthefaceofthiscatastrophe，wherealesslovemusthavebeendestroyedutterly，Dickremainedloyal。Hispassionateregarddidnotfalterforamoment。Itneverevenoccurredtohimthathemightcastheroff，mightyieldtohisfather\'sprayers，andabandonher。Onthecontrary，hisonlypurposewastogainherforhimself，tocherishandguardheragainsteveryill，toprotectwithhislovefromeveryattackofshameorinjury。Hewouldnotbelievethatthegirldidnotcareforhim。
Whateverhadbeenherfirstpurposeofusinghimonlyasaninstrumentthroughwhichtostrikeagainsthisfather，whatevermightbeherpresentplanofeliminatinghimfromherlifeinthefuture，hestillwassurethatshehadgrowntoknowarealandlastingaffectionforhimself。Herememberedstartledglancesfromthevioleteyes，caughtunawares，andthemusicofhervoiceinrareinstants，andthesetoldhimthatloveforhimstirred，eventhoughitmightasyetbebutfaintly，inherheart。
Outofthatfact，hedrewanimmediatecomfortinthisperiodofhismisery。Nevertheless，hisanguishwasarackingone。Hegrewoldervisiblyinthenightandtheday。Therecreptsuddenlylinesofnewfeelingintohisface，and，too，linesofnewstrength。Theboydiedinthattime；themanwasborn，cameforthinthefullofhissteadfastnessandhiscourage，andhislove。
Thefathersufferedwiththeson。Hewasaproudman，intenselygratifiedoverthecommandingpositiontowhichhehadachievedinthecommercialworld，proudofhisbusinessintegrity，ofhisstandinginthecommunityasaleader，proudofhissocialposition，proudmostofallofthesonwhomhesoloved。Now，thishideousdisasterthreatenedhisprideateveryturn——worse，itthreatenedtheonepersonintheworldwhomhereallyloved。
Mostfatherswouldhavestormedattheboywhenpleadingfailed，wouldhavegivencommandswithharshness，wouldhavemenacedtherecalcitrantwithdisinheritance。EdwardGilderdidnoneofthesethings，thoughhisheartwassorelywounded。Helovedhissontoomuchtocontemplatemakingmoreevilfortheladbyanyestrangementbetweenthem。YethefeltthatthemattercouldnotsafelybeleftinthehandsofDickhimself。Herealizedthathissonlovedthewoman——norcouldhewondermuchatthat。HiskeeneyeshadperceivedMaryTurner\'sgracesofform，herlovelinessofface。Hehadapprehended，too，insomemeasureatleast，thefinenessofhermentalfiberandthecapacitiesofherheart。Deepwithinhim，deniedanyoutlet，heknewtherelurkedacurious，subtlesympathyforthegirlinherschemeofrevengeagainsthimself。Herpersistentstrivingtowardtheobjectofherambitionwassomethinghecouldunderstand，sincethelikethingindifferentguisehadbeenbackofhisownbusinesssuccess。Hewouldnotlettheidearisetothesurfaceofconsciousness，forhestillrefusedtobelievethatMaryTurnerhadsufferedathishandunjustly。Hewouldthinkofherasnothingelsethanavilecreature，whohadcaughthissoninthetoilsofherbeautyandcharm，forthepurposeofeventuallymakingmoneyoutoftheintrigue。
Gilder，inhislibrarythisnight，waspacingimpatientlytoandfro，eagerlylisteningforthesoundofhisson\'sreturntothehouse。HehadbeentheguestofhonorthatnightatanimportantmeetingoftheCivicCommittee，andhehadspokenwithhisusualclarityandearnestnessinspiteofthetroublethatbesethim。
Now，however，theregenerationofthecitywasfarfromhisthought，andhissoleconcernwaswiththeregenerationofalife，thatofhisson，whichbadefairtoberuinedbythewilesofawickedwoman。HewasanxiousforthecomingofDick，towhomhewouldmakeonemoreappeal。Ifthatshouldfail——well，hemustusetheinfluencesathiscommandtosecuretheforciblepartingoftheadventuressfromhisson。
Theroominwhichhepacedtoandfrowasofasoliddignity，wellfittedtoserveasanenvironmentforitsowner。Itwasverylarge，andlofty。Therewasmassivenessinthedeskthatstoodoppositethehalldoor，nearawindow。Thisparticularwindowitselfwashuge，high，juttinginoctagonal，withleadedpanes。Inaddition，therewasagreatfireplacesetwithtiles，aroundwhichwaswoodworkelaboratelycarved，thefruitofpatientquestingabroad。Onthewallswerehungsomepiecesoftapestry，wheretherewerenotbookcases。Overtheoctagonalwindow，too，suchdraperiesfellinstatelylines。Now，asthemagnatepacedbackandforth，therewasonlyagentlelightintheroom，fromareading-lamponhisdesk。Thehugechandelierwasunlighted……ItwasevenasGilder，inanincreasingirritationoverthedelay，hadthrownhimselfdownonacouchwhichstoodjustalittlewaywithinanalcove，thatheheardtheouterdooropenandshut。Hesprangupwithanejaculationofsatisfaction。
\"Dick，atlast!\"hemuttered。
Itwas，intruth，theson。Amomentlater，heenteredtheroom，andwentatoncetohisfather，whowasstandingwaiting，facingthedoor。
\"I\'mawfullysorryI\'msolate，Dad，\"hesaidsimply。
\"Wherehaveyoubeen？\"thefatherdemandedgravely。Buttherewasgreataffectionintheflashofhisgrayeyesashescannedtheyoungman\'sface，andthetouchofthehandthatheputonDick\'sshoulderwasverytender。\"Withthatwomanagain？\"
Theboy\'svoicewasdisconsolateashereplied:
\"No，father，notwithher。Shewon\'tseeme。\"
Theoldermansnortedawrathfulappreciation。
\"Naturally!\"heexclaimedwithexceedingbitternessintheheavyvoice。\"She\'sgotallshewantedfromyou——myname!\"Herepeatedthewordswithagrimaceofexasperation:\"Myname!\"
Therewasanoveldignityintheson\'stoneashespoke。
\"It\'smine，too，youknow，sir，\"hesaidquietly。
Thefatherwasimpressedofasuddenwiththefactthat，whilethisaffairwasofsupremeimporttohimself，itwas，afterall，ofstillgreatersignificancetohisson。Tohimself，thechiefconcernswereoftheworldlykind。Tothisboy，thevitalthingwassomethingdeeper，somethingoftheheart:for，howeverabsurdhisfeeling，thetruthremainedthathelovedthewoman。Yes，itwastheson\'snamethatMaryTurnerhadtaken，aswellasthatofhisfather。Inthecaseoftheson，shehadtakennotonlyhisname，buthisverylife。Yes，itwas，indeed，Dick\'stragedy。
Whateverhe，thefather，mightfeel，thesonwas，afterall，moreaffected。Hemustsuffermore，mustlosemore，mustpaymorewithhappinessforhisfolly。
Gilderlookedathissonwithastrange，newrespect，buthecouldnotletthesituationgowithoutprotest，protestofthemostvehement。
\"Dick，\"hecried，andhisbigvoicewasshakenalittlebytheforceofhisemotion；\"boy，youareallIhaveintheworld。Youwillhavetofreeyourselffromthiswomansomehow。\"Hestoodveryerect，staringsteadfastlyoutofhiscleargrayeyesintothoseofhisson。Hisheavyfacewasrigidwithfeeling；thecoarsemouthbentslightlyinasmileoftroubledfondness，asheaddedmoresoftly:\"Youowemethatmuch。\"
Theson\'seyesmethisfather\'sfreely。Therewasrespectinthem，andaffection，buttherewassomethingelse，too，somethingtheoldermanrecognizedasbeyondhiscontrol。Hespokegravely，withadeliberateconviction。
\"Iowesomethingtoher，too，Dad。\"
ButGilderwouldnotletthestatementgounchallenged。Hisheavyvoicerangoutrebukingly，overtonedwithprotest。
\"Whatcanyouoweher？\"hedemandedindignantly。\"Shetrickedyouintothemarriage。Why，legally，it\'snoteventhat。
There\'sbeennothingmorethanaweddingceremony。Thecourtsholdthatthatisonlyapartofthemarriageactually。Thefactthatshedoesn\'treceiveyoumakesitsimpler，too。Itcanbearranged。Wemustgetyououtofthescrape。\"
Heturnedandwenttothedesk，asiftosit，buthewashaltedbyhisson\'sanswer，givenverygently，yetwithanoteoffinalitythattothefather\'searranglikethecrackofdoom。
\"I\'mnotsurethatIwanttogetoutofit，father。\"
Thatwasall，butthoseplainwordssummedthesituation，madetheissueamatternotofadvice，butoftheheart。
Gilderpersisted，however，intryingtoevadetheintegralfactofhisson\'sfeeling。Stillhetriedtofixtheissueontheknownunsavoryreputationofthewoman。
\"Youwanttostaymarriedtothisjail-bird!\"hestormed。
Agustoffuryswepttheboy。Helovedthewoman，inspiteofall；herespectedher，evenreverencedher。Tohearherthusnamedmovedhimtoaragealmostbeyondhiscontrol。Buthemasteredhimself。Herememberedthatthemanwhospokelovedhim；heremembered，too，thatthewordofopprobriumwasnomorethanthetruth，howeveroffensiveitmightbetohissensitiveness。Hewaitedamomentuntilhecouldholdhisvoiceeven。Thenhiswordswerethesternestprotestthatcouldhavebeenuttered，thoughtheycamefromnoexerciseofthought，onlyoutofthedeepsofhisheart。
\"I\'mveryfondofher。\"
Thatwasall。Butthesimplesincerityofthesayinggripedthefather\'smood，asnoargumentcouldhavedone。Therewasalittlesilence。Afterall，whatcouldmeetsuchlovingloyalty？
Whenatlasthespoke，Gilder\'svoicewassubdued，alittlehusky。
\"Now，thatyouknow？\"hequestioned。
Therewasnofalteringintheanswer。
\"Now，thatIknow，\"Dicksaiddistinctly。Thenabruptly，theyoungmanspokewiththeenergyofperfectfaithinthewoman。
\"Don\'tyousee，father？Why，sheisjustifiedinaway，inherownmindanyhow，Imean。Shewasinnocentwhenshewassenttoprison。Shefeelsthattheworldowesher——\"
Buttheoldermanwouldnotpermittheassertiontogouncontradicted。Thatreferencetothewoman\'sinnocencewasanarraignmentofhimself，forithadbeenhewhosenthertothetermofimprisonment。
\"Don\'ttalktomeaboutherinnocence!\"hesaid，andhisvoicewasominous。\"Isupposenextyouwillarguethat，becauseshe\'sbeencleverenoughtokeepwithinthelaw，sinceshe\'sgotoutofStatePrison，she\'snotacriminal。Butletmetellyou——crimeiscrime，whetherthelawtouchesitintheparticularcase，orwhetheritdoesn\'t。\"
Gilderfacedhissonsternlyforamoment，andthenpresentlyspokeagainwithdeeperearnestness。
\"There\'sonlyonecourseopentoyou，myboy。Youmustgivethisgirlup。\"
Thesonmethisfather\'sgazewithalevellookinwhichtherewasnoweakness。
\"I\'vetoldyou，Dad——\"hebegan。
\"Youmust，Itellyou，\"thefatherinsisted。Thenhewentonquickly，withatoneofutmostpositiveness。\"Ifyoudon\'t，whatareyougoingtodothedayyourwifeisthrownintoapatrolwagonandcarriedtoPoliceHeadquarters——forit\'ssuretohappen？Thecleverestofpeoplemakemistakes，andsomedayshe\'llmakeone。\"
Dickthrewouthishandsinagestureofsupremedenial。Hewasfuriousatthissuppositionthatshewouldcontinueinherirregularpractices。
Butthefatherwentonremorselessly。
\"Theywillstandherupwherethedetectiveswillwalkpastherwithmasksontheirfaces。Herpicture，ofcourse，isalreadyintheRogues\'Gallery，buttheywilltakeanother。Yes，andtheimprintsofherfingers，andthemeasurementsofherbody。\"
Thesonwaswrithingunderthewords。Thewomanofwhomthesethingsweresaidwasthewomanwhomheloved。Itwasblasphemytothinkofherinsuchcase，subjectedtothedegradationoftheseprocesses。Yet，everywordhadinitthepiercing，horriblestingoftruth。Hisfacewhitened。Heraisedasupplicatinghand。
\"Father!\"
\"That\'swhattheywilldotoyourwife，\"Gilderwentonharshly；
\"tothewomanwhobearsyournameandmine。\"Therewasalittlepause，andthefatherstoodrigid，menacing。Thefinalquestioncamerasping。\"Whatareyougoingtodoaboutit？\"
Dickwentforwarduntilhewasclosetohisfather。Thenhespokewithprofoundconviction。
\"Itwillneverhappen。Shewillgostraight，Dad。ThatIknow。
YouwouldknowitifyouonlyknewherasIdo。\"
Gilderonceagainputhishandtenderlyonhisson\'sshoulder。
Hisvoicewasmodulatedtoanunaccustomedmildnessashespoke。
\"Besensible，boy，\"hepleadedsoftly。\"Besensible!\"
Dickdroppeddownonthecouch，andmadehisanswerverygently，hiseyesunseeingashedweltonthethingsheknewofthewomanheloved。
\"Why，Dad，\"hesaid，\"sheisyoung。She\'sjustlikeachildinahundredways。Shelovesthetreesandthegrassandtheflowers——andeverythingthat\'ssimpleandreal!Andasforherheart——\"Hisvoicewaslowandverytender:\"Why，herheartisthebiggestI\'veeverknown。It\'sjustoverflowingwithsweetnessandkindness。I\'veseenherpickupababythathadfalleninthestreet，andmotheritinawaythat——well，noonecoulddoitasshedidit，unlesshersoulwasclean。\"
Thefatherwassilent，alittleawed。Hemadeanefforttoshakeoffthefeeling，andspokewithasneer。
\"Youheardwhatshesaidyesterday，andyoustillaresuchafoolastothinkthat。\"
Theanswerofthesoncamewithanimmutablefinality，thesublimefaithoflove。
\"Idon\'tthink——Iknow!\"
Gilderwasindespair。Whatargumentcouldavailhim？Hecriedoutsharplyindesperation。
\"Doyourealizewhatyou\'redoing？Don\'tgotosmash，Dick，justatthebeginningofyourlife。Oh，Ibegyou，boy，stop!Putthisgirloutofyourthoughtsandstartfresh。\"
Thereplywasofthesimplest，anditwastheendofargument。
\"Father，\"Dicksaid，verygently，\"Ican\'t。\"
Therefollowedalittleperiodofquietbetweenthetwo。Thefather，fromhisdesk，stoodfacinghisson，whothusdeniedhiminallhonestybecausetheheartsocommanded。Thesonrestedmotionlessandlookedwithunflinchingeyesintohisfather\'sface。Inthegazeofeachwasagreataffection。
\"You\'reallIhave，myboy，\"theoldermansaidatlast。Andnowthebigvoicewasamildestwhisperoflove。
\"Yes，Dad，\"cametheanswer——anotherwhisper，sinceitishardtovoicethetruthoffeelingsuchasthis。\"IfIcouldavoidit，I
wouldn\'thurtyouforanythingintheworld。I\'msorry，Dad，awfullysorry——\"Hehesitated，thenhisvoicerangoutclearly。
Therewasinhistone，whenhespokeagain，arecognitionofthatlonelinesswhichisthecurseandthecrownofbeing:
\"But，\"heended，\"Imustfightthisoutbymyself——fightitoutinmyownway……AndI\'mgoingtodoit!\"
CHAPTERXVI。BURKEPLOTS。
Thebutlerentered。
\"Amantoseeyou，sir，\"hesaid。
Gildermadeagestureofirritation，ashesankintothechairathisdesk。
\"Ican\'tseeanyoneto-night，Thomas，\"heexclaimed，sharply。
\"Buthesaiditwasmostimportant，sir，\"theservantwenton。
Heheldoutthetrayinsistently。
Themastertookthecardgrudgingly。Ashiseyescaughtthename，hisexpressionchangedslightly。
\"Verywell，\"hesaid，\"showhimup。\"Hisglancemetthewonderinggazeofhisson。
\"It\'sBurke，\"heexplained。
\"Whatonearthcanhewant——atthistimeofnight？\"Dickexclaimed。
Thefathersmiledgrimly。
\"Youmayaswellgetusedtovisitsfromthepolice。\"Therewassomethingghastlyintheefforttowardplayfulness。
Amomentlater，InspectorBurkeenteredtheroom。
\"Oh，you\'rehere，too，\"hesaid，ashiseyesfellonDick。
\"That\'sgood。Iwantedtoseeyou，too。\"
InspectorBurkewas，infact，muchconcernedoverthesituationthathaddeveloped。Hewasamanofundoubtedability，andhetookakeenprofessionalprideinhiswork。Hepossessedthefaultsofhisclass，wasnottooscrupulouswherehesawasafeopportunitytomakeasnugsumofmoneythroughtheemploymentofhisofficialauthority，wasreadytobuckletothosewhoseinfluencecouldhelporhinderhisambition。But，inspiteoftheseordinarydefects，hewasfondofhisworkandwishfultoexcelinit。Thus，MaryTurnerhadcometobeathorninhisside。Shefloutedhisauthorityandsustainedherincredibleeffronterybyarestrainingorderfromthecourt。Thethingwasoutrageoustohim，andhesethimselftomatchhercunning。ThefactthatshehadinvolvedDickGilderwithinhertoilsmadehimthemoreanxioustoovercomeherinthestrifeofresourcesbetweenthem。Aftermuchstudying，hehadatlastplannedsomethingthat，whileitwouldnotdirectlytouchMaryherself，wouldatleastservetointimidateher，andaswellmakefurtheractioneasieragainsther。ItwasinpursuitofthisschemethathenowcametoGilder\'shouse，andthepresenceoftheyoungmanabruptlygavehimanotherideathatmightbenefithimwell。So，hedisregardedGilder\'sgreeting，andwentonspeakingtotheson。
\"She\'sskipped!\"hesaid，triumphantly。
Dickmadeastepforward。Hiseyesflashed，andtherewasangerinhisvoiceashereplied:
\"Idon\'tbelieveit。\"
TheInspectorsmiled，unperturbed。
\"SheleftthismorningforChicago，\"hesaid，lyingwithamannerthatlonghabitrenderedaltogetherconvincing。\"Itoldyoushe\'dgo。\"Heturnedtothefather，andspokewithanairofboastfulgoodnature。\"Now，allyouhavetodoistogetthisboyoutofthescrapeandyou\'llbeallright。\"
\"Ifweonlycould!\"ThecrycamewithdeepestearnestnessfromthelipsofGilder，buttherewaslittlehopeinhisvoice。
TheInspector，however，wasconfidentofsuccess，andhistonesrangcheerfullyasheanswered:
\"Iguesswecanfindawaytohavethemarriageannulled，orwhatevertheydotomarriagesthatdon\'ttake。\"
Thebrutalassuranceofthemaninthusreferringtothingsthatweresacred，movedDicktowrath。
\"Don\'tyouinterfere，\"hesaid。Hiswordswerespokensoftly，buttensely。
Nevertheless，Burkeheldtothetopic，butanindefinablechangeinhismannerrendereditlessoffensivetotheyoungman。
\"Interfere!Huh!\"heejaculated，grinningbroadly。\"Why，that\'swhatI\'mpaidtodo。Listentome，son。Theminuteyoubeginmixingupwithcrooks，youain\'tinapositiontogiveorderstoanyone。Thecrookshavegotnorightsintheeyesofthepolice。Justrememberthat。\"
TheInspectorspokethesimpletruthasheknewitfromyearsofexperience。Thetheoryofthelawisthatapresumptionofinnocenceexistsuntiltheaccusedisprovenguilty。Butthepoliceareoutofsympathywithsuchfinicalmethods。Withthem，thecrookispresumedguiltyattheoutsetofwhatevermaybechargedagainsthim。Ifneedbe，therewillbeproofa-plentyagainsthim——ofthesortthattheunderworldknowstoitssorrow。
ButDickwasnotlistening。Histhoughtswereagainwhollywiththewomanheloved，who，astheInspectordeclared，hadfledfromhim。
\"Where\'sshegoneinChicago？\"
Burkeansweredinhisusualgrufffashion，butwithanoteofkindlinessthatwasnotwithoutitseffectonDick。
\"I\'mnomind-reader，\"hesaid。\"Butshe\'saswelllittlegirl，allright。I\'vegottohandittoherforthat。So，she\'llprobablystopattheBlackstone——thatis，untiltheChicagopolicearetippedoffthatsheisintown。\"
Ofasudden，thefaceoftheyoungmantookonatotallydifferentexpression。Wherebeforehadbeenanger，nowwasavivideagerness。HewentclosetotheInspector，andspokewithintenseseriousness。
\"Burke，\"hesaid，pleadingly，\"givemeachance。I\'llleaveforChicagointhemorning。Givemetwenty-fourhoursstartbeforeyoubeginhoundingher。\"