peared； stood aside； and said simply； 〃Mr。 Gilder。〃
There entered the erect； heavy figure of the man whom Mary had hated through the years。 He stopped abruptly just within the room； gave a glance at the two men； then his eyes went to Mary； sitting at her desk； with her face lifted inquiringly。 He did not pause to take in the beauty of that face； only its strength。 He stared at her silently for a moment。 Then he spoke in his oritund voice； a little tremulous from anxiety。
〃Are you the woman？〃 he said。 There was something simple and primitive； something of dignity beyond the usual conventions； in his direct address。
And there was the same primitive simplicity in the answer。 Between the two strong natures there was no subterfuge； no suggestion of polite evasions； of tergiversation； only the plea of truth to truth。 Mary's acknowledgment was as plain as his own question。
〃I am the woman。 What do you want？〃 。。。 Thus two honest folk had met face to face。
〃My son。〃 The man's answer was complete。
But Mary touched a tragic note in her question。 It was asked in no frivolous spirit； but； of a sudden； she guessed that his coming was altogether of his own volition； and not the result of his son's information； as at first she had supposed。
〃Have you seen him recently？〃 she asked。
〃No；〃 Gilder answered。
〃Then； why did you come？〃
Thereat； the man was seized with a fatherly fury。 His heavy face was congested； and his sonorous voice was harsh with virtuous rebuke。
〃Because I intend to save my boy from a great folly。 I am informed that he is infatuated with you； and Inspector Burke tells me whyhe tells mewhyhe tells me〃 He paused； unable for a moment to continue from an excess of emotion。 But his gray eyes burned fiercely in accusation against her。
Inspector Burke himself filled the void in the halting sentence。
〃I told you she had been an ex…convict。〃
〃Yes；〃 Gilder said； after he had regained his self…control。 He stared at her pleadingly。 〃Tell me；〃 he said with a certain dignity； 〃is this true？〃
Here； then； was the moment for which she had longed through weary days； through weary years。 Here was the man whom she hated； suppliant before her to know the truth。 Her heart quickened。 Truly； vengeance is sweet to one who has suffered unjustly。
〃Is this true？〃 the man repeated； with something of horror in his voice。
〃It is；〃 Mary said quietly。
For a little； there was silence in the room。 Once； Inspector Burke started to speak； but the magnate made an imperative gesture； and the officer held his peace。 Always； Mary rested motionless。 Within her； a fierce joy surged。 Here was the time of her victory。 Opposite her was the man who had caused her anguish； the man whose unjust action had ruined her life。 Now； he was her humble petitioner； but this servility could be of no avail to save him from shame。 He must drink of the dregs of humiliationand then again。 No price were too great to pay for a wrong such as that which he had put upon her。
At last； Gilder was restored in a measure to his self…possession。 He spoke with the sureness of a man of wealth； confident that money will salve any wound。
〃How much？〃 he asked； baldly。
Mary smiled an inscrutable smile。
〃Oh； I don't need money；〃 she said； carelessly。 〃Inspector Burke will tell you how easy it is for me to get it。〃
Gilder looked at her with a newly dawning respect； then his shrewdness suggested a retort。
〃Do you want my son to learn what you are？〃 he said。
Mary laughed。 There was something dreadful in that burst of spurious amusement。
〃Why not？〃 she answered。 〃I'm ready to tell him myself。〃
Then Gilder showed the true heart of him； in which love for his boy was before all else。 He found himself wholly at a loss before the woman's unexpected reply。
〃But I don't want him to know；〃 he stammered。 〃Why； I've spared the boy all his life。 If he really loves youit will〃
At that moment； the son himself entered hurriedly from the hallway。 In his eagerness； he saw no one save the woman whom he loved。 At his entrance； Mary rose and moved backward a step involuntarily； in sheer surprise over his coming； even though she had known he must comeperhaps from some other emotion； deeper； hidden as yet even from herself。
The young man； with his wholesome face alight with tenderness； went swiftly to her； while the other three men stood silent； motionless； abashed by the event。 And Dick took Mary's hand in a warm clasp； pressed it tenderly。
〃I didn't see father；〃 he said happily； 〃but I left him a note on his desk at the office。〃
Then； somehow； the surcharged atmosphere penetrated his consciousness； and he looked around； to see his father standing grimly opposite him。 But there was no change in his expression beyond a more radiant smile。
〃Hello； Dad！〃 he cried； joyously。 〃Then you got my note？〃
The voice of the older man came with a sinister force and saturnine。
〃No； Dick； I haven't had any note。〃
〃Then； why？〃 The young man broke off suddenly。 He was become aware that here was something malignant； with a meaning beyond his present understanding； for he saw the Inspector and Demarest； and he knew the two of them for what they were officially。
〃What are they doing here？〃 he demanded suspiciously； staring at the two。
〃Oh； never mind them；〃 Mary said。 There was a malevolent gleam in her violet eyes。 This was the recompense of which she had dreamed through soul…tearing ages。 〃Just tell your father your news； Dick。〃
The young man had no comprehension of the fact that he was only a pawn in the game。 He spoke with simple pride。
〃Dad； we're married。 Mary and I were married this morning。〃
Always； Mary stared with her eyes steadfast on the father。 There was triumph in her gaze。 This was the vengeance for which she had longed； for which she had plotted； the vengeance she had at last achieved。 Here was her fruition； the period of her supremacy。
Gilder himself seemed dazed by the brief sentence。
〃Say that again；〃 he commanded。
Mary rejoiced to make the knowledge sure。
〃I married your son this morning；〃 she said in a matter…of…fact tone。 〃I married him。 Do you quite understand； Mr。 Gilder？ I married him。〃 In that insistence lay her ultimate compensation for untold misery。 The father stood there wordless； unable to find speech against this calamity that had befallen him。
It was Burke who offered a diversion； a crude interruption after his own fashion。
〃It's a frame…up；〃 he roared。 He glared at the young man。 〃Tell your father it ain't true。 Why； do you know what she is？ She's done time。〃 He paused for an instant； then spoke in a voice that was brutally menacing。 〃And； by God； she'll do it again！〃
The young man turned toward his bride。 There was disbelief； hope； despair； in his face； which had grown older by years with the passing of the seconds。
〃It's a lie； Mary；〃 he said。 〃Say it's a lie！〃 He seized her hand passionately。
There was no quiver in her voice as she answered。 She drew her hand from his clasp； and spoke evenly。
〃It's the truth。〃
〃It's the truth！〃 the young man repeated； incredulously。
〃It is the truth；〃 Mary said； firmly。 〃I have served three years in prison。〃
There was a silence of a minute that was like years。 It was the father who broke it； and now his voice was become tremulous。
〃I wanted to save you； Dick。 That's why I came。〃
The son interrupted him violently。
〃There's a mistakethere must be。〃
It was Demarest who gave an official touch to the tragedy of the moment。
〃There's no mistake；〃 he said。 There was authority in his statement。
〃There is； I tell you！〃 Dick cried； horrified by this conspiracy of defamation。 He turned his tortured face to his bride of a day。
〃Mary；〃 he said huskily； 〃there is a mistake。〃
Something in her face appalled him。 He was voiceless for a few terrible instants。 Then he spoke again； more beseechingly。
〃Say there's a mistake。〃
Mary preserved her poise。 Yesshe must not forget！ This was the hour of her triumph。 What mattered it that the honey of it was as ashes in her mouth？ She spoke with a simplicity that admitted no denial。
〃It's all quite true。〃
The man who had so loved her； so trusted her； was overwhelmed by the revelation。 He stood trembling for a moment； tottered； almost it seemed would have fallen； but presently steadied himself and sank supinely into a chair； where he sat in impotent suffering。
The father looked at Mary with a reproach that was pathetic。
〃See；〃 he said； and his heavy voice was for once thin with passion；〃 see what you've done to my boy！〃
Mary had held her eyes on Dick。 There had been in her gaze a conflict of emotions； strong and baffling。 Now； however； when the father spoke； her face grew more composed； and her eyes met his coldly。 Her voice was level and vaguely dangerous as she answered his accusation。
〃What is that compared to what you have done to me？〃
Gilder stared at her in honest amazement。 He had no suspicion as to the tragedy that lay between him and her。
〃What have I done to you？〃 he questioned； uncomprehending。
Mary moved forward； passing beyond the desk； and continued her advance toward him until the two stood close together； face to face。 She spoke softly； but with an intensity of supreme feeling in her voice。
〃Do you remember what I said to you the day you had me sent away？〃
The merchant regarded her with stark lack of understanding。
〃I don't remember you at all；〃 he said。
The woman looked at him intently for a moment； then spoke in a colorless voice。
〃Perhaps you remember Mary Turner； who was arrested four years ago for robbing your store。 And perhaps you remember that she asked to speak to you before they took her to prison。〃
The heavy…jowled man gave a start。
〃Oh； you begin to remember。 Yes！ There was a girl who swore she was innocentyes； she swore that she was innocent。 And she would have got offonly； you asked the judge to make an example of her。〃
The man to whom she spoke had gone gray a little。 He began to understand； for he was not lacking in intelligence。 Somehow； it was borne in on him that this woman had a grievance beyond the usual run of injuri