Part 36 (2/2)
”May I speak to Mr Davidson?” she said in a choking voice.
The missionary rose and went towards her.
”Come right in, Miss Thompson,” he said in cordial tones. ”What can I do for you?”
She entered the room.
”Say, I'm sorry for what I said to you the other day an' for--for everythin' else. I guess I was a bit lit up. I beg pardon.”
”Oh, it was nothing. I guess my back's broad enough to bear a few hard words.”
She stepped towards him with a movement that was horribly cringing.
”You've got me beat. I'm all in. You won't make me go back to 'Frisco?”
His genial manner vanished and his voice grew on a sudden hard and stern.
”Why don't you want to go back there?”
She cowered before him.
”I guess my people live there. I don't want them to see me like this.
I'll go anywhere else you say.”
”Why don't you want to go back to San Francisco?”
”I've told you.”
He leaned forward, staring at her, and his great, s.h.i.+ning eyes seemed to try to bore into her soul. He gave a sudden gasp.
”The penitentiary.”
She screamed, and then she fell at his feet, clasping his legs.
”Don't send me back there. I swear to you before G.o.d I'll be a good woman. I'll give all this up.”
She burst into a torrent of confused supplication and the tears coursed down her painted cheeks. He leaned over her and, lifting her face, forced her to look at him.
”Is that it, the penitentiary?”
”I beat it before they could get me,” she gasped. ”If the bulls grab me it's three years for mine.”
He let go his hold of her and she fell in a heap on the floor, sobbing bitterly. Dr Macphail stood up.
”This alters the whole thing,” he said. ”You can't make her go back when you know this. Give her another chance. She wants to turn over a new leaf.”
”I'm going to give her the finest chance she's ever had. If she repents let her accept her punishment.”
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