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ful； that the young man was enamored almost at once。 The fact thrilled Mary to the depths of her heart； for in this son of the man whom she hated she saw the instrument of vengeance for which she had so longed。 Yet； this one thing was so vital to her that she said nothing of her purposes； not even to Aggie； though that observant person may have possessed suspicions more or less near the truth。
It was some such suspicion that lay behind her speech as； in negligee； she sat cross…legged on the bed； smoking a cigarette in a very knowing way； while watching Mary； who was adjusting her hat before the mirror of her dressing…table； one pleasant spring morning。
〃Dollin' up a whole lot； ain't you？〃 Aggie remarked； affably； with that laxity of language which characterized her natural moods。
〃I have a very important engagement with Dick Gilder；〃 Mary replied； tranquilly。 She vouchsafed nothing more definite as to her intentions。
〃Nice boy； ain't he？〃 Aggie ventured； insinuatingly。
〃Oh； I suppose so；〃 came the indifferent answer from Mary； as she tilted the picture hat to an angle a trifle more jaunty。
The pseudo cousin sniffed。
〃You s'pose that； do you？ Well； anyhow； he's here so much we ought to be chargin' him for his meal…ticket。 And yet I ain't sure that you even know whether he's the real goods； or not。〃
The fair face of Mary Turner hardened the least bit。 There shone an expression of inscrutable disdain in the violet eyes； as she turned to regard Aggie with a level glance。
〃I know that he's the sonthe only son！of Edward Gilder。 The fact is enough for me。〃
The adventuress of the demure face shook her head in token of complete bafflement。 Her rosy lips pouted in petulant dissatisfaction。
〃I don't get you； Mary；〃 she admitted； querulously。 〃You never used to look at the men。 The way you acted when you first run round with me； I thought you sure was a suffragette。 And then you met this young Gilder andgood…night； nurse！〃
The hardness remained in Mary's face； as she continued to regard her friend。 But； now； there was something quizzical in the glance with which she accompanied the monosyllable：
〃Well？〃
Again； Aggie shook her head in perplexity。
〃His old man sends you up for a stretch for something you didn't doand you take up with his son like〃
〃And yet you don't understand！〃 There was scorn for such gross stupidity in the musical voice。
Aggie choked a little from the cigarette smoke； as she gave a gasp when suspicion of the truth suddenly dawned on her slow intelligence。
〃My Gawd！〃 Her voice came in a treble shriek of apprehension。 〃I'm wise！〃
〃But you must understand this；〃 Mary went on； with an authoritative note in her voice。 〃Whatever may be between young Gilder and me is to be strictly my own affair。 It has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of you； or with our schemes for money…making。 And； what is more； Agnes； I don't want to talk about it。 But〃
〃Yes？〃 queried Aggie； encouragingly； as the other paused。 She hopefully awaited further confidences。
〃But I do want to know；〃 Mary continued with some severity； 〃what you meant by talking in the public street yesterday with a common pickpocket。〃
Aggie's childlike face changed swiftly its expression from a sly eagerness to sullenness。
〃You know perfectly well； Mary Turner；〃 she cried indignantly； 〃that I only said a few words in passin' to my brother Jim。 And he ain't no common pickpocket。 Hully Gee！ He's the best dip in the business。〃
〃But you must not be seen speaking with him；〃 Mary directed； with a certain air of command now become habitual to her among the members of her clique。 〃My cousin； Miss Agnes Lynch； must be very careful as to her associates。〃
The volatile Agnes was restored to good humor by some subtle quality in the utterance； and a family pride asserted itself。
〃He just stopped me to say it's been the best year he ever had；〃 she explained； with ostentatious vanity。
Mary appeared sceptical。
〃How can that be；〃 she demanded； 〃when the dead line now is John Street？〃
〃The dead line！〃 Aggie scoffed。 A peal of laughter rang merrily from her curving lips。
〃Why； Jim takes lunch every day in the Wall Street Delmonico's。 Yes；〃 she went on with increasing animation； 〃and only yesterday he went down to Police Headquarters； just for a little excitement； 'cause Jim does sure hate a dull life。 Say； he told me they've got a mat at the door with 'Welcome' on itin letters three feet high。 Now； whatdoyouthinkof that！〃 Aggie teetered joyously； the while she inhaled a shockingly large mouthful of smoke。 〃And； oh； yes！〃 she continued happily； 〃Jim； he lifted a leather from a bull who was standing in the hallway there at Headquarters！ Jim sure does love excitement。〃
Mary lifted her dark eyebrows in half…amused inquiry。
〃It's no use； Agnes；〃 she declared； though without entire sincerity； 〃I can't quite keep up with your thieves' argotyour slang； you know。 Just what did this brother of yours do？〃
〃Why； he copped the copper's kale；〃 Aggie translated； glibly。
Mary threw out her hands in a gesture of dismay。
Thereupon； the adventuress instantly assumed a most ladylike and mincing air which ill assorted with the cigarette that she held between her lips。
〃He gently removed a leathern wallet；〃 she said sedately； 〃containing a large sum of money from the coat pocket of a member of the detective force。〃 The elegance of utterance was inimitably done。 But in the next instant； the ordinary vulgarity of enunciation was in full play again。 〃Oh； Gee！〃 she cried gaily。 〃He says Inspector Burke's got a gold watch that weighs a ton； an' all set with diamon's！which was give to 'im byadmirin' friends！。。。 We didn't contribute。〃
〃Given to him；〃 Mary corrected； with a tolerant smile。
Aggie sniffed once again。
〃What difference does it make？〃 she demanded； scornfully。 〃He's got it； ain't he？〃 And then she added with avaricious intensity： 〃Just as soon as I get time； I'm goin' after that watchbelieve me！〃
Mary shook her head in denial。
〃No； you are not；〃 she said； calmly。 〃You are under my orders now。 And as long as you are working with us； you will break no laws。〃
〃But I can't see〃 Aggie began to argue with the petulance of a spoiled child。
Mary's voice came with a certainty of conviction born of fact。
〃When you were working alone；〃 she said gravely； did you have a home like this？〃
〃No；〃 was the answer； spoken a little rebelliously。
〃Or such clothes？ Most of all； did you have safety from the police？〃
〃No；〃 Aggie admitted； somewhat more responsively。 〃But； just the same； I can't see〃
Mary began putting on her gloves； and at the same time strove to give this remarkable young woman some insight into her own point of view； though she knew the task to be one well…nigh impossible。
〃Agnes；〃 she said； didactically； 〃the richest men in this country have made their fortunes； not because of the law； but in spite of the law。 They made up their minds what they wanted to do； and then they engaged lawyers clever enough to show them how they could do it； and still keep within the law。 Any one with brains can get rich in this country if he will engage the right lawyer。 Well； I have the brainsand Harris is showing me the lawthe wonderful twisted law that was made for the rich！ Since we keep inside the law； we are safe。〃
Aggie； without much apprehension of the exact situation； was moved to a dimpled mirth over the essential humor of the method indicated。
〃Gee； that's funny；〃 she cried happily。 〃You an' me an' Joe Garson handin' it to 'em； an' the bulls can't touch us！ Next thing you know； Harris will be havin' us incorporated as the American Legal Crime Society。〃
〃I shouldn't be in the least surprised；〃 Mary assented； as she finished buttoning her gloves。 She smiled； but there was a hint of grimness in the bending of her lips。 That grimness remained； as she glanced at the clock； then went toward the door of the room； speaking over her shoulder。
〃And； now I must be off to a most important engagement with Mr。 Dick Gilder。〃
CHAPTER VIII。 A TIP FROM HEADQUARTERS。
Presently； when she had finished the cigarette； Aggie proceeded to her own chamber and there spent a considerable time in making a toilette calculated to set off to its full advantage the slender daintiness of her form。 When at last she was gowned to her satisfaction； she went into the drawing…room of the apartment and gave herself over to more cigarettes； in an easy chair； sprawled out in an attitude of comfort never taught in any finishing school for young ladies。 She at the same time indulged her tastes in art and literature by reading the jokes and studying the comic pictures in an evening paper； which the maid brought in at her request。 She had about exhausted this form of amusement when the coming of Joe Garson； who was usually in and out of the apartment a number of times daily； provided a welcome diversion。 After a casual greeting between the two； Aggie explained； in response to his question； that Mary had gone out to keep an engagement with Dick Gilder。
There was a little period of silence while the man； with the resolute face and the light gray eyes that shone so