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Aggie assumed her formal society manner； exaggerated to the point of extravagance。
〃Do come again； little one；〃 she chirruped； caressingly。 〃I've enjoyed your visit so much！〃
But Cassidy paid no apparent attention to her frivolousness； only turned and went noisily out of the drawing…room； offering no return to her daintily inflected good…afternoon。
For her own part； as she heard the outer door close behind the detective； Aggie's expression grew vicious； and the heavy brows drew very low； until the level line almost made her prettiness vanish。
〃The truck…horse detective！〃 she sneered。 〃An eighteen collar； and a six…and…a…half hat！ He sure had his nerve； trying to bluff us！〃
But it was plain that Garson was of another mood。 There was anxiety in his face； as he stood staring vaguely out of the window。
〃Perhaps it wasn't a bluff； Aggie；〃 he suggested。
〃Well； what have we done； I'd like to know？〃 the girl demanded； confidently。 She took a cigarette and a match from the tabouret beside her； and stretched her feet comfortably； if very inelegantly； on a chair opposite。
Garson answered with a note of weariness that was unlike him。
〃It ain't what you have done；〃 he said； quietly。 〃It's what they can make a jury think you've done。 And； once they set out to get youGod； how they can frame things！ If they ever start out after Mary〃 He did not finish the sentence； but sank down into his chair with a groan that was almost of despair。
The girl replied with a burst of careless laughter。
〃Joe；〃 she said gaily； 〃you're one grand little forger； all right； all right。 But Mary's got the brains。 Pooh； I'll string along with her as far as she wants to go。 She's educated； she is。 She ain't like you and me； Joe。 She talks like a lady； and； what's a damned sight harder； she acts like a lady。 I guess I know。 Wake me up any old night and ask mejust ask me； that's all。 She's been tryin' to make a lady out of me！〃
The vivaciousness of the girl distracted the man for the moment from the gloom of his thoughts； and he turned to survey the speaker with a cynical amusement。
〃Swell chance！〃 he commented； drily。
〃Oh； I'm not so worse！ Just you watch out。〃 The lively girl sprang up； discarded the cigarette； adjusted an imaginary train； and spoke lispingly in a society manner much more moderate and convincing than that with which she had favored the retiring Cassidy。 Voice； pose and gesture proclaimed at least the excellent mimic。
〃How do you do； Mrs。 Jones！ So good of you to call！。。。 My dear Miss Smith； this is indeed a pleasure。〃 She seated herself again； quite primly now； and moved her hands over the tabouret appropriately to her words。 〃One lump； or two？。。。 Yes； I just love bridge。 No； I don't play；〃 she continued； simpering； 〃but； just the same； I love it。〃 With this absurd ending； Aggie again arranged her feet according to her liking on the opposite chair。 〃That's the kind of stuff she's had me doing；〃 she rattled on in her coarser voice； 〃and believe me； Joe； it's damned near killing me。 But all the same；〃 she hurried on； with a swift revulsion of mood to the former serious topic； 〃I'm for Mary strong！ You stick to her； Joe； and you'll wear diamon's。。。。 And that reminds me！ I wish she'd let me wear mine； but she won't。 She says they're vulgar for an innocent country girl like her cousin； Agnes Lynch。 Ain't that fierce？。。。 How can anything be vulgar that's worth a hundred and fifty a carat？〃
CHAPTER IX。 A LEGAL DOCUMENT。
Mary Turner spent less than an hour in that mysteriously important engagement with Dick Gilder； of which she had spoken to Aggie。 After separating from the young man； she went alone down Broadway； walking the few blocks of distance to Sigismund Harris's office。 On a corner； her attention was caught by the forlorn face of a girl crossing into the side street。 A closer glance showed that the privation of the gaunt features was emphasized by the scant garments； almost in tatters。 Instantly； Mary's quick sympathies were aroused； the more particularly since the wretched child seemed of about the age she herself had been when her great suffering had befallen。 So； turning aside； she soon caught up with the girl and spoke an inquiry。
It was the familiar story； a father out of work； a sick mother； a brood of hungry children。 Some confused words of distress revealed the fact that the wobegone girl was even then fighting the final battle of purity against starvation。 That she still fought on in such case proved enough as to her decency of nature； wholesome despite squalid surroundings。 Mary's heart was deeply moved； and her words of comfort came with a simple sincerity that was like new life to the sorely beset waif。 She promised to interest herself in securing employment for the father； such care as the mother and children might need； along with a proper situation for the girl herself。 In evidence of her purpose； she took her engagement…book from her bag； and set down the street and number of the East Side tenement where the family possessed the one room that mocked the word home； and she gave a banknote to the girl to serve the immediate needs。
When she went back to resume her progress down Broadway； Mary felt herself vastly cheered by the warm glow within； which is the reward of a kindly act； gratefully received。 And； on this particular morning； she craved such assuagement of her spirit； for the conscience that； in spite of all her misdeeds； still lived was struggling within her。 In her revolt against a world that had wantonly inflicted on her the worst torments； Mary Turner had thought that she might safely disregard those principles in which she had been so carefully reared。 She had believed that by the deliberate adoption of a life of guile within limits allowed by the law； she would find solace for her wants； while feeling that thus she avenged herself in some slight measure for the indignities she had undergone unjustly。 Yet； as the days passed； days of success as far as her scheming was concerned； this brilliant woman； who had tried to deem herself unscrupulous； found that lawlessness within the law failed to satisfy something deep within her soul。 The righteousness that was her instinct was offended by the triumphs achieved through so devious devices； though she resolutely set her will to suppress any spiritual rebellion。
There was； as well； another grievance of her nature； yet more subtle； infinitely more painful。 This lay in her craving for tenderness。 She was wholly woman； notwithstanding the virility of her intelligence； its audacity； its aggressiveness。 She had a heart yearning for the multitudinous affections that are the prerogative of the feminine； she had a heart longing for love； to receive and to give in full measure。。。。 And her life was barren。 Since the death of her father； there had been none on whom she could lavish the great gifts of her tenderness。 Through the days of her working in the store； circumstances had shut her out from all association with others congenial。 No need to rehearse the impossibilities of companionship in the prison life。 Since then； the situation had not vitally improved； in spite of her better world