have drowned。 So far as he could determine； she： had not even sunk once beneath the surface。 Nevertheless； she displayed no evidence of vitality； though he chafed her hands for a long time。 The shore here was very lonely； it would take precious time to summon aid。 It seemed； notwithstanding； that this must be the only course。 Then just as the man was about to leave her； the girl sighed； very faintly； with an infinite weariness； and opened her eyes。 The man echoed the sigh； but his was of joy； since now he knew that his strife in the girl's behalf had not been in vain。
Afterward； the rescuer experienced no great difficulty in carrying out his work to a satisfactory conclusion。 Mary revived to clear consciousness； which was at first inclined toward hysteria； but this phase yielded soon under the sympathetic ministrations of the man。 His rather low voice was soothing to her tired soul； and his whole air was at once masterful and gently tender。 Moreover； there was an inexpressible balm to her spirit in the very fact that some one was thus ministering to her。 It was the first time for many dreadful years that any one had taken thought for her welfare。 The effect of it was like a draught of rarest wine to warm her heart。 So； she rested obediently as he busied himself with her complete restoration； and； when finally she was able to stand； and to walk with the support of his arm； she went forward slowly at his side without so much even as a question of whither。
And； curiously； the man himself shared the gladness that touched the mood of the girl； for he experienced a sudden pride in his accomplishment of the night； a pride that delighted a starved part of his nature。 Somewhere in him were the seeds of self…sacrifice； the seeds of a generous devotion to others。 But those seeds had been left undeveloped in a life that had been lived since early boyhood outside the pale of respectability。 To…night； Joe Garson had performed； perhaps； his first action with no thought of self at the back of it。 He had risked his life to save that of a stranger。 The fact astonished him； while it pleased him hugely。 The sensation was at once novel and thrilling。 Since it was so agreeable； he meant to prolong the glow of self…satisfaction by continuing to care for this waif of the river。 He must make his rescue complete。 It did not occur to him to question his fitness for the work。 His introspection did not reach to a point of suspecting that he； an habitual criminal； was necessarily of a sort to be most objectionable as the protector of a young girl。 Indeed； had any one suggested the thought to him； he would have met it with a sneer； to the effect that a wretch thus tired of life could hardly object to any one who constituted himself her savior。
In this manner； Joe Garson； the notorious forger； led the dripping girl eastward through the squalid streets； until at last they came to an adequately lighted avenue； and there a taxicab was found。 It carried them farther north； and to the east still； until at last it came to a halt before an apartment house that was rather imposing； set in a street of humbler dwellings。 Here； Garson paid the fare； and then helped the girl to alight； and on into the hallway。 Mary went with him quite unafraid； though now with a growing curiosity。 Strange as it all was； she felt that she could trust this man who had plucked her from death； who had worked over her with so much of tender kindliness。 So； she waited patiently； only； watched with intentness as he pressed the button of a flat number。 She observed with interest the thick； wavy gray of his hair； which contradicted pleasantly the youthfulness of his clean…shaven； resolute face； and the spare； yet well…muscled form。
The clicking of the door…latch sounded soon； and the two entered； and went slowly up three flights of stairs。 On the landing beyond the third flight； the door of a rear flat stood open； and in the doorway appeared the figure of a woman。
〃Well； Joe； who's the skirt？〃 this person demanded； as the man and his charge halted before her。 Then； abruptly； the round； baby…like face of the woman puckered in amazement。 Her voice rose shrill。 〃My Gawd； if it ain't Mary Turner！〃
At that； the newcomer's eyes opened swiftly to their widest； and she stared astounded in her turn。
〃Aggie！〃 she cried。
CHAPTER VII。 WITHIN THE LAW。
In the time that followed； Mary lived in the flat which Aggie Lynch occupied along with her brother； Jim； a pickpocket much esteemed among his fellow craftsmen。 The period wrought transformations of radical and bewildering sort in both the appearance and the character of the girl。 Joe Garson； the forger； had long been acquainted with Aggie and her brother； though he considered them far beneath him in the social scale； since their criminal work was not of that high kind on which he prided himself。 But； as he cast about for some woman to whom he might take the hapless girl he had rescued； his thoughts fell on Aggie； and forthwith his determination was made； since he knew that she was respectable； viewed according to his own peculiar lights。 He was relieved rather than otherwise to learn that there was already an acquaintance between the two women； and the fact that his charge had served time in prison did not influence him one jot against her。 On the contrary； it increased in some measure his respect for her as one of his own kind。 By the time he had learned as well of her innocence； he had grown so interested that even her folly； as he was inclined to deem it； did not cause any wavering in his regard。
Now； at last； Mary Turner let herself drift。 It seemed to her that she had abandoned herself to fate in that hour when she threw herself into the river。 Afterward； without any volition on her part； she had been restored to life； and set within an environment new and strange to her； in which soon； to her surprise； she discovered a vivid pleasure。 So； she fought no more； but left destiny to work its will unhampered by her futile strivings。 For the first time in her life； thanks to the hospitality of Aggie Lynch； secretly reinforced from the funds of Joe Garson； Mary found herself living in luxurious idleness； while her every wish could be gratified by the merest mention of it。 She was fed on the daintiest of fare； for Aggie was a sybarite in all sensuous pleasures that were apart from sex。 She was clothed with the most delicate richness for the first time as to those more mysterious garments which women love； and she soon had a variety of frocks as charming as her graceful form demanded。 In addition； there were as many of books and magazines as she could wish。 Her mind； long starved like her body； seized avidly on the nourishment thus afforded。 In this interest； Aggie had no sharewas perhaps a little envious over Mary's absorption in printed pages。 But for her consolation were the matters of food and dress； and of countless junketings。 In such directions； Aggie was the leader； an eager； joyous one always。 She took a vast pride in her guest； with the unmistakable air of elegance； and she dared to dream of great triumphs to come； though as yet she carefully avoided any suggestion to Mary of wrong…doing。
In the end； the suggestion came from Mary Turner herself； to the great surprise of Aggie； and； truth to tell； of herself。
There were two factors that chiefly influenced her decision。 The first was due to the feeling that； since the world had rejected her； she need no longer concern herself with the world's opinion； or retain any scruples over it。 Back of this lay her bitter sentiment toward the man who had been the direct cause of her imprisonment； Edward Gilder。 It seemed to her that the general warfare against the world might well be made an initial step in the warfare she meant to wage； somehow； some time； against that man personally； in accordance with the hysterical threat she had uttered to his face。
The factor that was the immediate cause of her decision on an irregular mode of life was an editorial in one of the daily newspapers。 This was a scathing arraignment of a master in high finance。 The point of the writer's attack was the grim sarcasm for such methods of thievery as are kept within the law。 That phrase held the girl's fancy； and she read the article again with a quickened interest。 Then； she began to meditate。 She herself was in a curious； indeterminate attitude as far as concerned the law。 It was the law that had worked the ruin of her life； which she had striven to make wholesome。 In consequence； she felt for the law no genuine respect； only detestation as for the epitome of injustice。 Yet； she gave it a superficial respect； born of those three years of suffering which had been the result of the penalty inflicted on her。 It was as an effect of this latter feeling that she was determined on one thing of vital importance： that never would she be guilty of anything to pit her against the law's decrees。 She had known too many hours of anguish in the doom set on her life because she had been deemed a violator of the law。 No； never would she let herself take any position in which the law could accuse her。。。。 But there remained the fact that the actual cause of her long m