Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

260 it known what an easy mark he was; but since then he’s down on the slick woman crook. He contends that a murderer isn’t in it with these thieving scoundrels.”’ So that was it? Janet was glad for some explanation of his vindictiveness. Finally when everybody was fearful that it was to be an all night affair, the judge was summoned from his chambers, the jury appeared and the defendant was brought in. She was pale, “but,” thought Janet, no paler than I!” “Gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?” came the singsong of the clerk. “We have; we find the defendant ”— Janet strained forward—* not guilty!” In a moment bedlam was let loose. The court rapped for order, thanked the jury for their services and dismissed them. Mme. Le Montague was everywhere. Shaking the hands of the jurymen; kissing Rackham on both cheeks; then, making a lunge for Janet, she embraced her warmly. “You splendid girl, you have done so much to help me! I must see you and have a talk wiz you. I sail on Saturday. Can I not see you to-morrow, for just a leetle while—to show you that I do thank you? It has all been very won-dair-ful! At my hotel, then, to-morrow for ze luncheon. Tell me that you will come.” Janet thanked her. delighted to come!”’ “Oh, sank you, bon ami, au plaisir de vous revoir,’ and she was borne smilingly away on the arm of her attorney. Janet hurried to the office to write her story. It would make the first edition in the morning. As she sat down to the type- writer she looked hastily around for Wade. He was not there. Too bad! She would have reveled in a bit of gloating to-night. If he were at all caustic she could resign. “Tm sure [ll be Tit. Mauer. Le Montacu_E proved a charming hostess. Where she had been so subdued and reserved during the trial, she was all smiles and life this morning. She was in- terested in Janet’s work and asked innu- merable questions about every phase of it. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Did she work with men? How were they as business associates? Janet, laughingly, confided that with the exception of one, they were all splendid good friends and fellow workers. Wade, the city editor, was hard to get along with. Too bad, too, because, of course, he had a lot of power. Then as briefly as possible she told of the trouble he had made for her each day her trial stories had appeared. “ But, it’s all in a lifetime. I suppose it could be a whole lot worse.” Mme. Le Montague looked steadily at her, then with little clucks of dismay ex- pressed her sympathy for one forced to work with a person of such intolerant views. ‘““T have always found, Miss Murdock, ze men have ze best of it. We poor women must suffair, is it not so? But you in your profession have ze pow-air to help so many unfortunate women. In my countree, the pen is very pow-air-ful. Here it is the same, is it not, mademoiselle? And, you, ma chérie, must always be true to your sex— don’t let ze men get ze best of it? But, why do you stay on zis pa-pair, wiz ze so cruel man?” “Well,” laughed Janet, “I can’t very well afford to give it up, though I’ve thought it might be the best thing to do. I’ve grown sort of attached to the Blade. Don’t know that you would understand it, but when you’re doing this kind of work you de- velop a sort of loyalty to the sheet you work on which makes it hard to break away. Then, too, it might take me several weeks to land something else, and I’m in no position to be out of work that long. You see, I’m not a saving damsel!” ‘“‘ But you would like to, what you say— queet—if he does not pair-mit you to ex- press yourself independently?” “That’s just it,” and Janet laughed at the French woman’s understanding. She enjoyed the hour they were together immensely and bade her good-by with a real regret. She was pleased when Mme. Le Montague insisted that she would remember her always. ‘Some day I will show you that I appreciate ze rare judgment that you have shown,” had been her parting, and Janet went back to the office with a light heart. COMmiclooolKS.eOnn