seen the things found in her locker. And she said more
than that! She asked the judge if he himself understood what it means
for a girl to be sentenced to prison for something she hadn't done.
Somehow, Gilder, the way she talked had its effect on everybody in the
courtroom. I know! It's my business to understand things like that. And
what she said rang true. What she said, and the way she said it,
take brains and courage. The ordinary crook has neither. So, I had a
suspicion that she might be speaking the truth. You see, Gilder, it all
rang true! And it's my business to know how things ring in that
way." There was a little pause, while the lawyer moved back and forth
nervously. Then, he added: "I believe Lawlor would have suspended
sentence if it hadn't been for your talk with him."

There were not wanting signs that Gilder was impressed. But the gentler
fibers of the man were atrophied by the habits of a lifetime. What heart
he had once possessed had been buried in the grave of his young wife, to
be resurrected only for his son. In most things, he was consistently a
hard man. Since he had no imagination, he could have no real sympathy.

He whirled about in his swivel chair, and blew a cloud of smoke from his
mouth. When he spoke, his voice was deeply resonant.

"I simply did my duty," he said. "You are aware that I did not seek
any consultation with Judge Lawlor. He sent for me, and asked me what I
thought about the case--whether I thought it would be right to let the
girl go on a suspended sentence. I told him frankly that I believed that
an example should be made of her, for the sake of others who might be
tempted to steal. Property has some rights, Demarest, although it seems
to be getting nowadays so that anybody is likely to deny it." Then the
fretful, half-alarmed note sounded in his voice again, as he continued:
"I can't understand why the girl wants to see me."

The lawyer smiled dryly, since he had his back turned at the moment.

"Why," he vouchsafed, "she just said that, if you would see her for ten
minutes, she would tell you how to stop the thefts in this store."

Gilder displayed signs of triumph. He brought his chair to a level and
pounded the desk with a weighty fist.

"There!" he cried. "I knew it. The girl wants to confess. Well, it's
the first sign of decent feeling she's shown. I suppose it ought to be
encouraged. Probably there have been others mixed up in this."

Demarest attempted no denial