en, who, after announcing the condition of the prisoner's
mother, declared her willingness to aid Edith in any way in her power.

Edith intrusted a letter to her for Mr. Royal Bryant, and early Monday
morning Kate was at the lawyer's office, and placed the missive in his
hands.

The young man instantly recognized the handwriting of his fair
copyist, and flushed to his brow at sight of it.

"Ah! she is ill and has sent me word that she cannot come to the
office to-day!" he said to himself.

"Sit down, madam," he said to his visitor, and he eagerly tore open
the letter and read the following:

"MR. BRYANT:--Dear Sir:--I am sorry to have to tell you that
the five-dollar gold-piece which you gave me on Saturday
evening was a counterfeit coin. I passed it at a grocery,
near which I reside, in payment for necessaries which I
purchased, and, half an hour later, was arrested for the
crime of passing spurious money. I could not appeal to you
at the time, for I did not know your address; but now I beg
that you will come to my aid to-morrow morning, when I shall
have to appear in court to answer the charge, for I do not
know of any one else upon whom to call in my present
extremity. Oh, pray come at once, for my mother is very ill
and needs me.

"Respectfully yours,

"EDITH M. ALLANDALE."

Royal Bryant's face was ghastly white when he finished reading this
brief epistle.

"Good heavens!" he muttered, "to think of that beautiful girl being
arrested and imprisoned for such an offense! Where is Miss Allandale?"
he added, aloud, turning to Mrs. O'Brien, who had been watching him
with a jealous eye ever since entering the room.

"In the Thirtieth street station-house, sir," she briefly responded.

"Infamous!" exclaimed the young man, in great excitement. "And has she
been in that vile place since Saturday evening?"

"She has, sir; but not with the common lot; the matron has been very
good to her, sir, and gave her a bed in her own room," the woman
explained.

"Blessed be the matron!" was Royal Bryant's inward comment. Then,
turning again to his companion, he inquired.

"What is your name, if you please, madam?"

"Kate O'Brien, at your service, sir."

"Thank you; and do you live near Miss Allandale?"

"Jist forninst her, sir--on the same floor, across the hall."

"She writes