Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

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This visitor is Mr. Forbes

of Elmhurst, an' the young lady is--"

"Miss DeGraf," said Kenneth, noticing the boy's face critically, as he

stood where the light from the passage fell upon it. "Will you leave us

alone, please, Mr. Markham?"

"Sure-ly, Mr. Forbes. You've got twenty minutes according to

regulations. I'll come and get you then. Sorry we haven't any reception

room in the jail. All visits has to be made in the cells."

Then he deliberately locked Kenneth and Beth in with the forger, and

retreated along the passage.

"Sit down, please," said Gates, in a cheerful and pleasant voice.

"There's a bench here."

"We've come to inquire about your case, Gates," said Kenneth. "It seems

you have forged a check."

"Yes, sir, I plead guilty, although I've been told I ought not to

confess. But the fact is that I forged the check and got the money, and

I'm willing to stand the consequences."

"Why did you do it?" asked Beth.

He was silent and turned his face away.

A fresh, wholesome looking boy, was Tom Gates, with steady gray eyes, an

intelligent forehead, but a sensitive, rather weak mouth. He was of

sturdy, athletic build and dressed neatly in a suit that was of coarse

material but well brushed and cared for.

Beth thought his appearance pleasing and manly. Kenneth decided that he

was ill at ease and in a state of dogged self-repression.

"We have heard something of your story," said Kenneth, "and are

interested in it. But there is no doubt you have acted very foolishly."

"Do you know Lucy, sir?" asked the young man.

"No."

"Lucy is very proud. The thing was killing her, and I couldn't bear it.

I didn't stop to think whether it was foolish or not. I did it; and I'm

glad I did."

"You have made her still more unhappy," said Beth, gently.

"Yes; she'll worry about me, I know. I'm disgraced for life; but I've

saved Lucy from any disgrace, and she's young. She'll forget me before

I've served my term, and--and take up with some other young fellow."

"Would you like that?

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