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Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

" asked Beth.

"No, indeed," he replied, frankly. "But it will be best that way. I had

to stand by Lucy--she's so sweet and gentle, and so sensitive. I don't

say I did right. I only say I'd do the same thing again."

"Couldn't her parents have helped her?" inquired Kenneth.

"No. Old Will is a fine fellow, but poor and helpless since Mrs. Rogers

had her accident."

"Oh, did she have an accident?" asked Beth.

"Yes. Didn't you know? She's blind."

"Her husband didn't tell us that," said the girl.

"He was fairly prosperous before that, for Mrs. Rogers was an energetic

and sensible woman, and kept old Will hard at work. One morning she

tried to light the fire with kerosene, and lost her sight. Then Rogers

wouldn't do anything but lead her around, and wait upon her, and the

place went to rack and ruin."

"I understand now," said Beth.

"Lucy could have looked after her mother," said young Bates, "but old

Will was stubborn and wouldn't let her. So the girl saw something must

be done and went to work. That's how all the trouble came about."

He spoke simply, but paced up and down the narrow cell in front of them.

It was evident that his feelings were deeper than he cared to make

evident.

"Whose name did you sign to the check?" asked Kenneth.

"That of John E. Marshall, the manager of the mill. He is supposed to

sign all the checks of the concern. It's a stock company, and rich. I

was bookkeeper, so it was easy to get a blank check and forge the

signature. As regards my robbing the company, I'll say that I saved them

a heavy loss one day. I discovered and put out a fire that would have

destroyed the whole plant. But Marshall never even thanked me. He only

discharged the man who was responsible for the fire."

"How long ago were you arrested?" asked Beth.

"It's nearly two weeks now. But I'll have a trial in a few days, they

say. My crime is so serious that the circuit judge has to sit on the

case."

"Do you know where Lucy is?"

"She's at home, I suppose. I haven't heard from her since the day she

came here to see me--right after my arrest.

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