There was a flush on the face of Elinor Ilingsworth as she left the
office of J. Newton Leech. For the hundred and first time, perhaps,
she had crept into the presence of the Assistant District Attorney,
trusting that he might have some good news for her. Her father was her
only relative; she had no friends in New York; and her money was nearly
gone. At first, when she had gone to the Tombs to see her father, the
authorities had permitted her to have her talks with him in the counsel
room, where Leslie had seen her father, but as the weeks passed into
months, things changed, and it ended in Elinor's sitting on the outside
of a cell, holding her father's hand between the bars. And as they sat
there with bowed heads her father had told her, not once, but a hundred
times, that he was guiltless of the murder of Roy Pallister. And Elinor
believed and felt that some day the truth would be known. Every hour,
therefore, when it was possible she spent in going to and fro, between
the offices of Worth Higgins and Assistant District Attorney Leech.
Singularly enough, she received more encouragement from the latter than
the former; indeed, Higgins gave her but little hope. Nor did he tell
her that a wealthy newspaper, for ulterior purposes, was employing
him to fight for her father. Enthusiastic always at the crisis of a
litigation, Worth Higgins, for some reason or other, had become cool,
surly, sharp to Elinor, as time went on. Her visits annoyed him; he
rebuffed her as often as he could. Leech, on the other hand, had been
by no means chary of his promises to help her through her troubles;
on the contrary, he was ever profuse, when the woman in question was
pretty, and Elinor Ilingsworth was unquestionably pretty.
"I like to come here after seeing that old bear," Elinor had often said
to the Assistant District Attorney. "Mr. Higgins is beginning to hate
the sight of me."
"You see that I do not," invariably would be his answer; and, waving
her to a seat, he would take one beside her and the two would chat.
Elinor was forced to admit that Leech became nicer as time went on.
Always he suggested new hopes, new speculations, for he saw that
it took but little to encourage her. He explained to her carefully
the quasi-judicial nature of his office, how the District Attorney
in theory was neither for nor against the criminal, but was always
anxious, ready and willing to learn the truth. Soon he began to note
that the girl grew shabbier in appearance day after day; that her face
was thinning, and that her eyes were dark and lustrous.
"I'll do what I can," he had told her time and time again, his pulse
quickening as he felt the pressure of her hand.
And Elinor would go forth, refreshed and strengthened; while Leech,
settling himself comfortably back in his chair, would light a cigar,
and fall to wondering when and what the end of it all would be.
"A pretty girl," he often reflected, "a mighty pretty girl. And, oh,
such eyes!"
It was upon just such an occasion as this that Elinor went back to
the Tombs more than ordinarily encouraged, and sought her father's
presence. She sat down beside him and poured out to him her hopes. When
she had finished he bent over her slender hand and his mouth quivered
while the hot tears dropped from his working face.
"We've lost," he told her, in a voice filled with despair. "I heard it
only a few moments ago."
"It can't be true," she replied incredulously, and with just the
glimmer of a smile on her face. "Why, I've just left Mr. Leech, and he
said nothing of it."
But nevertheless it was true. The old man handed her Higgins' letter,
which she read; it verified what her father had told her.
"I've worked so hard," she faltered, leaning her head against the bars
and sobbing silently as though her heart would break, "so very, very
hard."
Ilingsworth drew a long sigh--a sigh that had behind it the regret of
years.
"It's all my fault," he said through the tears that rolled down his
cheeks, "for being such a fool as to----"
"As to----" she repeated slowly.
"As to do anything at all," he finished. "Everything, everything I've
done," he continued sadly, "has been the act of a fool. And now I'm
going to die a fool's death. I wouldn't care if it wasn't for you,
child. But you--how are you going to get along? How are you going to
get along without money?" he concluded, breaking down completely.
"I have enough," she answered consolingly; "don't mind me."
But in truth Elinor Ilingsworth had only enough money to pay for a
sleeping place, and was at her wits' end to obtain sufficient food.
"I'm all right, all right, father," she kept on insisting to her
father's upbraiding of himself, now smiling through the tears which
with difficulty she kept back, now patting his hand affectionately,
always cheering him up.
"You're a brave girl," he told her, when their interview was over, and
pressed her hand for a long time to his lips.
As Elinor was about to leave the Tombs, a young woman looking very much
embarrassed slowly emerged from a recess in which there was a crowd of
waiting visitors, and came towards her, saying:
"You are Miss Ilingsworth?"
Elinor shot a quick, distrustful glance toward the intruder, who,
somehow, seemed very queenly to her, although there was nothing
expensive about the woman's garments. She was dressed in simple black
clothes. Elinor had hear of Tombs' angels, and presently decided that
the woman must be one of them.
"Yes," she answered, wondering what she wanted of her.
"You don't know me," went on the woman, "but I have heard of you
from--from friends of mine--that is, the Wilkinsons."
"You refer to the Peter V. Wilkinsons, I suppose," returned Elinor,
icily; and without waiting for an answer added: "They are no friends
of mine, and you must excuse me.... You can't possibly have anything
of interest to say to me," she finished, and started to go. But the
stranger, advancing in such a way as to bar her passage, pleaded for a
hearing.
"I know that," she explained. "But I merely wanted to get your
attention, wanted some excuse for my interference. I wanted to help
you, if I could. I know more about New York--all about New York. I can
assist you in many ways. Won't you let me?" she concluded insistently.
Elinor was all attention.
"You mean that you can help my father?" she inquired.