THE STREET -WALKER 
 
 By SHANK ANDREWS.
 
 CRANKY ANN, 
 
 THE 
 
 STREET-WALKER; 
 
 A STORY OF 
 
 By SHANG ANDREWS; 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERIES AND MISERIES OP CHICAGO;" "WICKED 
 NELL," AND OTHER ROMANCES. 
 
 CHICAGO:
 
 Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1877, by 
 
 K. H. ANDREWS, 
 In the. office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
 
 CRANKY ANN, 
 
 THE STREET- WALKER; 
 
 A STORY OF 
 
 CHICAGO IN CHUNKS. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 On a pleasant summer afternoon in 
 August, 1876 (our story is one of 
 to-day) Alanson Baldwin sat alone 
 on the verandah ol his palatial resi 
 dence on Wrfbash avenue. Though 
 sixty-five years of age, he was phys- 
 ically remarkablv well preserved, and 
 looked many years younger than the 
 family record indicated. A long life 
 of industry and sobriety, coupled 
 with shrewd businesstact, had result- 
 ed in the amassing of great wealth, 
 and, a few weeks previous to the 
 opening of this tale, he had formally 
 retired from the active duties con- 
 nee ed with the large establishment 
 that he owned leaving his son, Jere- 
 miah Baldwin, to take charge of that 
 which would eventually become his 
 as a heritage. But the old gentle- 
 man had no idea ol leading an idle, 
 listless, lazy life. He had educated 
 his son thoroughly, and had every 
 confidence in his ability, his integ- 
 rity, and his knowledge of the world. 
 Though ihe ownership remained as 
 before, the young man was ful y em- 
 powered to transact all business, un- 
 der the supervising eje of the more 
 experienced merchant. 
 
 As we have said, Mr. Baldwin sat 
 alone, and the serious expression of 
 his face indicated that he was indulg- 
 ing in a reverie. 
 
 " Sixty-five years old to-day," he 
 said, as though communing with him- 
 self; " I have lived sixty -five years; 
 have labored hard all that time ; have 
 encountered trouble and have con- 
 quered ; have suffered affliction and 
 
 am resigned; have courted fortune 
 and it has smiled upon me. I own 
 this great house and these beautiful 
 grounds; mv bank account stands on 
 a par with that of any man in Chica- 
 go; my credit is unlimited; I have a 
 noble son and a dutiful daughter, 
 both of whom I love ; there is nothing 
 on earth that I cannot have for the 
 asking and yet I am not happy! 
 Thouj: h I have secured all this wealth, 
 I feel that there is something more 
 that I could have accomplished, that 
 would have brought with it a peace 
 and contentment that come not with 
 riches. What <?<?</ have I done in 
 the world? True, I have wronged 
 no man ; every dollar that I have got 
 is of right mine; but still, still I can- 
 not keep back the ugly thought that 
 a man may be honest, and honorable 
 in all his dealings, and yet that he 
 can be held accountable for deeds of 
 omission for something that he might 
 have done had the greed of gold not 
 absorbed so much attention !" 
 
 The old gentleman puffed away at 
 a cigar, leaned back in his chair, and 
 continued : 
 
 " I wonder if there is Hot some- 
 thing that I can do now that will re- 
 deem the negligence of the past? I 
 am not so very old, nor so Very fee- 
 ble but that I could perform almost 
 any task that many a younger man 
 would stagger under. QJ, - wish I 
 could go out into the lake and 
 at the peril of my own life save some 
 one from drowning! I ; wish some 
 great hotel would burn, and I could 
 rusk through smoke and flame and
 
 rescue a dozen imperiled women and 
 children from a horrible death ! But 
 pshaw i ^what an old sinner I am, to 
 be wishing for the destruction of the 
 property of my neighbors, just to 
 give me the opportunity to perform 
 some deed of valor that, ten chances 
 to one, I would not have the nerve to 
 attempt!" 
 
 Just then a hack drove up to the 
 door, and 'interrupted the soliloquy. 
 
 The driver opened the gate, ap- 
 proached the house, and looking at 
 the superscription of a note he held 
 in his hand, and then at the number 
 over the door, said: 
 
 "Does Mr. Alanson Baldwin live 
 here?" 
 
 " That is my name, sir," said Mr. 
 B., rising. 
 
 " Then this note must be for you," 
 remarked the hackman. 
 
 Mr. Baldwin took it, glanced at the 
 handwriting with some curiosity, for 
 hackmen were not in the habit of 
 bringing him communications, and 
 hastily tore open the envelope. 
 
 The note read as follows : 
 
 MR. BALDWIN My Dear Sir: You 
 told me once that, should I ever need 
 a friend, I could call on you. Per- 
 haps you have forgotten it perhaps, 
 indeed, you have lorgotten me but 
 if \ou have not, and if you still feel 
 for me the friend snip you once did, 
 I would like to see you as soon as 
 possible. I cannot come to you, for 
 I am in trouble I am in prison! II 
 you wish to see, me the bearer of this 
 note will convey you to the place 
 where I am confined. If you do not 
 care to talk with a man who is under 
 lock and key, charged with a crime, 
 tear up these few lines, and forget, il 
 you have not already done so, that 
 there ever existed in Chicago 
 
 HENRY HARPER. 
 
 " Harry Harper ! Harry Harper in 
 prison ! My God! my God 1" 
 
 Mr. Baldwin arose very much ex- 
 cited, secured his hat, and was about 
 to follow the hackman, when his 
 daughter, a young lady of about 
 twtntv ^ears the pride of his heart 
 and the joy of his life made her ap 
 ie at the door. 
 
 She saw that her father was ex- 
 cited, and very naturally became 
 alarmed herself. ^ 
 
 "Father!" she said, "What has 
 happened ? What is the matter?" 
 
 " Nothing that concerns you, iny 
 dear," he replied, with as much com- 
 posure as he could muster. 
 
 " Anything that has so excited my 
 father must concern his daughter," 
 she replied, and then, with an implor- 
 ing look, she added : 
 
 " Please tell me what the trouble 
 is, father, for if you do not I shall 
 imagine that it is more serious than 
 perhaps it really is." 
 
 "It is only this, Josephine: A 
 young friend of mine is in trouble, 
 and has sent for me." 
 
 " Why did he not come rather than 
 send ?" 
 
 44 Because he could not." 
 
 "Butw/^not?" 
 
 " Oh, Josie dear, don' task so many 
 questions. I am anxious to get 
 away." 
 
 "Father," said Miss Baldwin, seri- 
 ously, " I think you ought to tell me 
 everything. Where is this man you 
 speak of?" 
 
 " If you must know you must, I 
 suppose he is in jail !" 
 
 * In jail! And would you, my 
 father, intercede in behalf oi a culprit 
 a thief, perhaps ?" 
 
 "Josephine, you do not know what 
 you are talking about. I would stake 
 my life that Harry Harper is BO 
 thief !" 
 
 At the mention of this name the 
 fair young girl turned deadly pale, 
 and her voice trembled perceptibly, 
 but the old gentleman in his excite- 
 ment and hurry did not notice the 
 change. 
 
 " Yes, I think I remember the 
 young man," she said, falteringly, 
 " was he not once a clerk in your 
 store ?" 
 
 u Yes, he was and a more manly, 
 honest, honorable boy never lived!" 
 
 " It is possible that he may be ac- 
 cused wrongfully, father, and you had 
 better go to him at once go quick^ 
 father, for it must be dreadful to be
 
 thrust into the cell of a prison ; and, 
 remember, don V leave him there .'" 
 
 " You may be sure I will not," 
 said Mr. Baldwin, as he stepped into 
 the hack and was driven away. 
 
 "Noble girl," said he to himself, 
 " how quickly her tender heart was 
 touched!" 
 
 Josephine Baldwin gazed longingly 
 after the carriage as it disappeared, 
 and, sad at heart, was about to enter 
 the house, when the gate was again 
 opened, and a policeman approached 
 her. 
 
 "Is Mr. Baldwin at home ?'" was 
 the question asked by the new- 
 comer. 
 
 " No, sir; he has just left." 
 
 <( Please tell him that I want to see 
 him on important business, and that 
 I will call again before 8 o'clock in 
 the morning." 
 
 " I am his daughter, sir, and can 
 transmit to him any message you 
 may wish to leave." 
 
 " Oh, the morning will do just as 
 well. It is a case in court in which 
 he is a witness that's all." 
 
 The girls heart throbbed wildly, 
 and she could hardly conceal her ag- 
 itation, but she managed to appear 
 calm as she said : 
 
 " Have you Jany objection to in- 
 forming me of the nature of the 
 'case?" 
 
 "Oh, not at all, ma'am; a young 
 chap has been arrested for forging 
 your father's name, and we want him 
 as a witness to prove that the signa- 
 ture is really a forgery." 
 
 "I will tell him," said Josephne 
 but the words almost choked her, and 
 she staggered to a sofa in the front 
 parlor, sank heavily upon the velvet 
 cushions, and moaned: 
 
 " Merciful heaven F 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 It took but a very few minutes to 
 convey Mr. Baldwin from his resi- 
 dence to the police station. 
 
 "I would like to see Henry Har- 
 per, if he is here,"said the old gentle- 
 man, as he approached the station 
 keeper. 
 
 w We have a prisoner who gave 
 
 that name, but we have orders tha* 
 he shall not be seen," was the re- 
 spectful but positive reply. 
 
 At this moment the sergeant in 
 charge entered, and, recognizing Mr. 
 Baldwin, said: 
 
 " I did not expect you so soon, 
 Mr. Baldwin; it is scarcely ten min- 
 utes since the messenger left here." 
 
 " It takes but a short time to drive 
 from here to my house and back," 
 was the reply. 
 
 "Drive? My messenger went on 
 foot," said the sergeant, somewhat 
 mystified. 
 
 " It was a hackman who brought 
 the note to me," was the reply. 
 
 " I do not understand you. I sent 
 you a verbal message by a policeman, 
 and did not write a note nor employ 
 a hackman." 
 
 " I have the note with me now," 
 was the reply. " Here it is, signed 
 Henry Harper." 
 
 "The devil!" and the sergeant 
 whistled in amazement, but quickly 
 resumed the conversation : 
 
 ' Mr. Baldwin, I see that two mes- 
 sengers have been sent to your house, 
 one by me and the other by the 
 prisoner. Let me inform you, there- 
 fore thai, your friend, Mr. Harry Har- 
 per, presented a forged check at one 
 of the national banks, this afternoon, 
 drew one thousand dollars, and was 
 tracked down and arrested shortly 
 after the fraud was detected." 
 
 " I do not believe it, sir! I will 
 never believe it." 
 
 " Do you know whose name was 
 signed to the check, Mr. Baldwin?" 
 
 " I do not, and I do not care," was 
 the reply, " I believe if Harry Harper 
 presented it he came by it honestly." 
 
 " Perhaps you will change your 
 mind when you are told the name." 
 
 "Tell me the name, then, if you 
 will." 
 
 " It was your own /" 
 
 The old gentleman sank down into 
 a chair perfectly thunderstruck, and 
 deathly pale, but he did not speak 
 for at least two minutes. He then 
 asked, in cold, steady tones: 
 
 " Seargeant, can I have an inter- 
 view with this young man ?"
 
 Certain!* , sir, if you wish it," re- 
 the sergeant, who rather rel- 
 ishcd the old man's surprise. 
 ~,Witumt another word Mr. Bald- 
 win was conducted to the cells in the 
 t Msement, and, at his own request, he 
 w :t s locked up with the party ac 
 cused 
 
 Is either spoke a word until the 
 turnkey WES out of earshot. 
 
 Harry Harper's head dropped, and 
 guilt was written on his face, as plain 
 ly as though it had been traced with 
 a pen. 
 
 Mr. Baldwin approached him and 
 held out his hand. 
 
 " Mv poor boy," he said, " what 
 tempted you?" 
 
 Harry seized the proffered hand, 
 and his black eyes filled with tears, 
 but he coutd not speak, nor could he 
 at first look his former employer in 
 the face. 
 
 * I see that you know all, Mr 
 Baldwin," said Harry. "Ihadhoped 
 to see you, and make such explana- 
 tion as I could, before the officers 
 should have an opportunity to break 
 to you the unwelcome news." 
 
 " I knuw already that you present- 
 ed a forged check at my bank, drew 
 one thousand dollars and was soon 
 afterward arrested, and this is all I 
 do know. Anything that you may 
 have to say in justification or exten- 
 uation, I shall only be too glad -to 
 listen to. Speak frankly, my boy, 
 and tell me a//, for I am ' our friend 
 even now, after what you have 
 done." 
 
 " I did not intend to defraud you 
 out of a cent, Mr. Baldwin. I did 
 forge your name and drew the money, 
 and when arrested I was on the way 
 to the postoffice with a letter to you, 
 explaining everything, and asking 
 you to overlook what I had done, and 
 give me a short time in which to re- 
 deem myself." 
 
 The old merchant had listened in- 
 tently. 
 
 u If what you have told me is true," 
 he said, " and I believe it is, you 
 must still have that letter in your 
 pocket." - 
 
 Without a word, the document was 
 
 placed in his hand. It read as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 CHICAGO, August 13, 1876. MR. 
 BALDWIN: Whether astonishment or 
 indignation will be uppermost in 
 your mind when you receive these 
 lines, I know not; but I hegof you to 
 read them carefully, and I implore 
 you to cover my transgression wifti 
 the broad mantle of charity, if you 
 can find it in your heart to do so. I 
 will tell you at the start that I have 
 signed your name to a check for 
 $1,000, and that I have drawn the 
 money on it. This confession I have 
 no doubt will greatly shock you, for 
 I know that at one time, when I was 
 in your employ, you trusted me as 
 one man seldom trustsllanother, and 
 I think you will acknowledge that I 
 never betrayed your confidence. 
 When I left your employ, Mr. Bald- 
 win, I contracted associations that 
 have eventually led me to crime. I 
 have been a g mbler, a man about 
 town, a frequenter of disreputable 
 resorts in fact a " fast man " gen- 
 erally and have led my sell to believe 
 that the time would never come when 
 I should want for anything. But 
 what little I had fast]) melted away, 
 and when I awoke this morning I had 
 not enough money to purchase a de- 
 cent breakfast. A few days ago, a 
 friend or mine not a sporting man 
 exp ained to me a methed by which 
 two men of 'ordinary talent could 
 more than double! one thousand dol- 
 lars wiihin thirty days, if that amount 
 of money could be secured. This 
 morning, when hungry, I sought out 
 this man and asked him if the claance 
 was still open. He said it was, and 
 I have got the money. If I do not 
 restore every farthing of it with in- 
 terest, within the next sixty days, 
 then I will surrender myself to you, 
 and you can either turn me over to 
 justice or set me to work and let me 
 earn what I have taken, as you shall 
 decide. I believe you would have 
 loaned me the money, but^I had not 
 the courage to ask you for it. Now, 
 my old employer, you know all Do 
 by me as you will. It will be easy 
 for you to have me apprehended, if 

 
 8 
 
 you so decide; bat I have already 
 begged you, for clemency, and in 
 closing let me once xnore ask you to 
 be merciful, to be trusting, and to 
 believe that when I pledge to you 
 full restoration, on the honor of a man, 
 you will believe me, and give me an 
 opportunity to fulfill the promises I 
 have made. 
 
 Hoping for the best, but prepared 
 to meet the worst, I am yours un- 
 worthily, HENRY HARPER. 
 
 " You have done wrong, Harry," 
 said Mr. Baldwin, as he placed the 
 letter in his pocket. 
 
 " I can make no defense," was the 
 reply, "but I really think I could 
 havfi replaced the money." 
 
 11 Had you asked me for it you 
 could have had double that sum." 
 
 The young man made no reply. 
 The reproaches of his betrayed friend 
 would have been more pleasant than 
 words of kindness. 
 
 " I will go now good bye, and 
 God bless you, Harry,' ' said the mer- 
 chant, with emotion. 
 
 The prisoner leaned against the 
 cold, hard wall of his cell, and sobbed 
 "good bye." 
 
 Mr. Baldwin then summoned the 
 turnkey, and passed out. OQ reach 
 ing the office he said : 
 
 " Sergeant, will you let me look at 
 the check that you claim to be 
 forged?" 
 
 "With pleasure," was the reply, 
 as the spurious paper was handed to 
 the man whose name was affixed to 
 it 
 
 Mr. B. looked at it critically. 
 
 " Is this the only check of mine you 
 have in your possession?" he in- 
 quired. 
 
 "Certainly; there was only one 
 forged paper presented," replied the 
 sergeant. 
 
 " Then there must be a most un- 
 fortunate mist-ike." 
 
 " In what manner?" queried the 
 amazed officer 
 
 ' ' This is not a forged check ! I 
 signed it with my own hand!" 
 
 As he uttered these words two ot 
 the bank officials w'o had come to 
 make formal complaint, entered the 
 
 station, and at once recognized Mr. 
 Baldwin. 
 
 The explanation astonished them, 
 for both were prepared to swear that 
 the check was a forgery. But the as- 
 surance they had received was over- 
 whelming evidence of their stupidity, 
 and Harry Harper, when, utterly be- 
 wildered, he was brought from the 
 cell and set at liberty, received their 
 most humble apologies, which, it may 
 be added, were freely accepted. 
 
 Harry and the merchant left the 
 station together, the money that had 
 been found upon his person having 
 been restored to him. 
 
 The first words Mr. Baldwin ut- 
 tered were: 
 
 " I never told a "deliberate lie be- 
 fore in my life, but I "don't regret it 
 I'm glad of it." 
 
 Harry was about to reply. 
 
 "Don't speak! Don't offer me one 
 word of thanks 1 I feel good enough 
 now! I want to see you to-nkht 
 Come to my house at 8 o'clock, and 
 we will have a consultation all 
 alone." 
 
 " But this money, Mr. Baldwin I 
 must return it to you now." 
 
 " You shall return nothing now 1 I 
 am in a hurry. Good-bye until to- 
 night !" 
 
 With these words he abruptly left 
 the man he had saved from ruin. 
 
 " God never made another such a 
 man," was Harry's inward thought, 
 as he proceeded on his way. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Mr. Baldwin started on his waj 
 happy, and yet not happy. He was 
 glad that he had rescued his young 
 friend from the clutches of the law, 
 but when he reflected upon the na- 
 ture otthe crime, his brow was cloud- 
 ed with a frown that came very near 
 betokening anger. 
 
 " He has been a bad boy a very 
 bad boy," he thought, " but there is 
 goodness left in him yet, and it seems 
 to be left for me to cultivate it, and 
 develop a manhood that will elevate 
 him high above the associations that 
 have wrought his ruin."
 
 Before he had proce ded a block, 
 he heardPaurried footsteps coming 
 from behind, and on turning he was 
 confronted by Harry, who seemed 
 much agitated. 
 
 "Mr. Baldwin!" he said, and then 
 stammered. 
 
 " What is it, my boy?" 
 
 " I have a favor to ask of you." 
 
 " Speak it out, then, and don't be 
 backward about it, either." 
 
 "It is that you will not mention 
 what has occurred to to to any 
 one" 
 
 "Most certainly I shall not. Out 
 side of us two there is only one per- 
 son in the world that knows anything 
 about it, and she" 
 
 " Who?' eagerly asked Harry, 
 grasping the merchant's arm. 
 
 u Why, nobody but Josephine, and 
 all she knows is that you were locked 
 up in the station house." 
 
 Harry dropped the arm that he had 
 in his excitement taken hold of. 
 
 "Then I suppose she must know 
 all ?" he said, sorrowfully. 
 
 " It can do no harm to tell her, and 
 my son must know, because that doc- 
 ument will pass through his hands, 
 and he would detect it at once as be- 
 ing spurious." 
 
 " I did hope that it could be kept 
 from both of them," he said in reply, 
 '* but if they must know, then I shall 
 have to submit to the humiliation." 
 
 " They will not blame you nor re- 
 proach you," was the reply. 
 
 At that moment a young woman, 
 dressed very neatly but not gaudily, 
 pss-ed them, and Mr. Baldwin 
 thought he discovered a glance oi 
 recognition exchanged between the 
 girl and Harry. 
 
 " Do you know that lady ?" he 
 asked, after she had got well away. 
 
 " I have seen her once or twice, 
 but I cannot say that I am very well 
 acquainted with her." 
 
 u I have a curiosity to know who 
 she ia," said the old gentleman. 
 
 " Can't you introduce me to her, 
 Harry r" he continued. 
 
 u Mr. Baldwin, you do not know 
 what you are talking about," was 
 Harry's response; " that lady, as you 
 
 | called her, is one of the moii noto- 
 | rious of tht many abandoned women 
 of Chicago. She is nothing but a 
 common street-walker!" 
 
 *' I suspected as much, and that is 
 the very reason why I want to make 
 her acquaintance !" 
 
 " I do not feel much like joking, 
 Mr Baldwin," replied Harry. 
 
 '* But I was not joking!" 
 
 " And you really want an introduc- 
 tion to that degraded creature?" 
 
 " I declare to you now that I ac- 
 tually want to get acquainted with 
 the woman who has just passed 1" 
 
 " I would as soon think ill of my 
 mother as ol you, my fri end," said 
 Harry, seriously. 
 
 " Is it a sin or a crime to talk with 
 one of these fallen women ?" 
 
 The speaker was never more in 
 earnest in his lite. 
 
 *'|The world so considers it," was 
 the thoughtful reply. 
 ^ %t Then let the word so consider it! 
 i want to meet that woman, and I 
 will. You told me, too, only a mo- 
 ment ago, that there were many 
 more of them in Chicago. Have you 
 any idea how many there really are?" 
 
 " I should say that therejwere at 
 least one or two thousand of them. 
 Some claim that there are as many as 
 three thousand, altogether." 
 
 " Three thousand 7 Is it possible 
 that there are in Chicago so many 
 poor unfortunate outcasts? I did 
 not dream that there were more than 
 a hundred of them." 
 
 *' If you knew as much of Chieago 
 as I do, Mr. Baldwin, you would be 
 astonished at nothing." 
 
 " Am I so very old that I cannot 
 learn all that you are not competent 
 to teach ?" 
 
 " Tell me plainly what you mean. 
 I do not understand you." 
 
 ".I mean that I want to become as 
 familiar with sin and shame and crime 
 as you are! I mean that I want you 
 to show me Chicago as it is, by night 
 and by day /" 
 
 "Have you thought anything of 
 the consequences ?" 
 
 " What consequences V
 
 10 
 
 **Have you considered that people 
 wflltalk?" 
 
 " No, I have not, and will not. 
 For thirty long years I have lived in 
 Chicago. During all that time I have 
 never committed a single act of 
 which I am ashamed. I have 
 tried to deal uprightly by my 
 fellow men. The breath of scandal 
 has never tarnished my name or 
 sullied my fame. No man can point 
 a finger at any act of mine that would 
 bring a blush to a maiden's cheek. 
 I with this shield of integrity, this 
 armor of truth, I cannot go where I 
 please, then society is a sham, relig- 
 ion is a mockery, and a good name is 
 not worth having!" 
 
 "But I cannot see any object in 
 the adventures you have proposed," 
 said Harry, who had grave doubts 
 about the advisability of such a pro- 
 ceeding. 
 
 " My object is a good one, Harry 
 Harper, you may rest assured of that. 
 Why, "it was only this after- 
 noon that . I was wishing that I 
 could* have the opportunity to do 
 some good in the world, and as I am 
 a living man I believe Heaven direc- 
 ted you to my door to-day. But are 
 there no other sources of misery that 
 we can explore?" 
 
 ** I should think there were," re- 
 plied the young man, with emphasis, 
 aim he continut d : 
 
 " I can take you to dens of deviltry 
 and show you vice in such hideous 
 shape that you will recoil an dismay, 
 and call on God Almigh-y to shield 
 jour eyes from such hateful horrors S" 
 
 "When shall we commence our 
 exploraticns?" inquired the mer 
 chant. 
 
 " At any time that you may wish," 
 was the re-ply, **|I am always ready. 
 But I will not content that you shall 
 go as you now are. You must have 
 a disguise." 
 
 "A disguise? Oh, no; I intend to 
 do nothiiig that 1 am not^ willing 
 every man and woman in this city 
 should witness. I shall need no dis- 
 guise, Harry." 
 
 "But you wv'//need one, though, 
 ore ihan one. Do you think a 
 
 well-dressed, fine appearing gentle 
 man like you could wade about in 
 the sewers of filth and gutters of 
 viciousness that abound in this city ? 
 Why, it is preposterous ! A hundred 
 eyes would centre on you at once, 
 and the fun would stop instantly." 
 
 "Very well, I will place my self in 
 your hands and rely on you for pro- 
 tection." 
 
 li You may be sure that no harm 
 will come to" you when Harry Har- 
 per is with you. I am known so well 
 in all these places, that even an ac- 
 quaintance with me is a sure passport 
 to safety. I do not say this as a boast, 
 though, lor I am really ashamed to 
 confess it; but it is better that you 
 should understand Ihis, for you will 
 po6siblj r have to face scenes that will 
 test your courage." 
 
 "The more excitement there is, 
 and the more danger I shall encoun- 
 ter, the better it will please me," re- 
 marked Mr. Baldwin;' and, now that 
 every thing is settled, let me repeat 
 the question, when shall we com- 
 mence? To night ?" 
 
 "Oh! that would be utterly im- 
 possible But I think I can get you 
 readv so as to start to-mcrrow night." 
 
 "Very well, then, to-morrow night 
 letitbe/' 
 
 " I imagine that one short evening 
 will sicken you of this enterprise, 
 Mr. Baldwin." 
 
 " No, sir ! I am determined to con- 
 front misery, face to face! I sm deter- 
 mined to dive down to the undercur- 
 rent of Chicago's vice! lam Deter- 
 mined to view crime as it really ex- 
 uts! - And if I can allevia'e the dis- 
 tresses of one aching heart; if I can 
 lift a load of sorrow from one sin- 
 burdened soul ; if I can penetrate a 
 cloud of glocm and let a little sun- 
 light into the existence ot one cast- 
 away, then, my dear Harry, I shall 
 ever consider that your temptation 
 and mislortune was but an indirect 
 way in which the God above us chose 
 to enlighten my mind, and place in 
 my hands the rtins by wj.ich my 
 footsteps should te guided in the 
 good work!" 
 
 "Mr. Baldwin," said Harry, with
 
 11 
 
 an enthusiasm that he could not sup- 
 press, ' I believe you are the best 
 man in Chicago! I know that a better 
 one never breathed! I understand 
 your motive, and I appreciate your 
 anxiety to commence our rambles at 
 once. I will not meet you at your 
 house to-night, for we understand 
 each other now ; but I will see you to- 
 morrow, at 8 o'clock in the evening, 
 and from that on every night, until 
 you shall be satisfied of what you 
 have seen of CHICAGO IN CHUNKS!" 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The girl who had recognized Harry 
 Harper proceeded down State street 
 at a'leisure pace. She was out for 
 some vague purpose that she could 
 hardly herself explain. The hour was 
 too early to commence " business," 
 even were she so inclined ; and on that 
 particular day she felt sad and gloomy 
 just as one feels when the t; olues" 
 eome on, and solitude is far preferable 
 to even the most desirable compan- 
 ionship. 
 
 Who was she ? 
 
 O n the street she went by the name 
 of * Cranky Ann." Further than that 
 will be revealed in a future chapter of 
 this Tale of the Town." 
 
 What was she? 
 
 If the reader is at all familiar with 
 Hfe in the city, no explanation need 
 be made. Cranky Ann was a street- 
 walker *i poor, unfortunate wretch, 
 without a known friend in the wide 
 world, who had lost all womanly 
 pride, who had abandoned all preten- 
 sions to decency, and who had taken 
 to the pave as a last desperate re- 
 source. She was regarded as one of 
 the vilest and most foul-mouthed of 
 the street syrens, and was generally 
 avoided even by the more reputable 
 of her own class. Spotted by the po- 
 lice, marked by the city sports, 
 branded by her rivals in sensuous 
 sin, poor Cranky had a hard lot of it, 
 and it is not to be wondered at that 
 bitter thoughts surged through her 
 brain as she reflected upon her ac- 
 cursed condition. 
 
 '* There's a boy who's always got a 
 kind look and a kind word," she 
 
 mused, as she walked along, alter 
 passing Harry and Mr. Bald win ; and 
 her thoughts run like this: 
 
 " I wonder what kind of a man he 
 is, anyway? I see him everywhere, 
 and yet I never heard anything bad 
 about him. He can't be a thief, nor 
 a common loafer, nor a confidence 
 man, and I know he is no blackguard. 
 Perhaps he's a gambler. But whatever 
 he is or does, he's as true a gentle- 
 man as there is in Chicago, I'll swear 
 to that. Instead of a sneer, and an 
 insulting word, when he meets me, 
 such as many a would-be gentleman 
 sometimes uses he has a pleasant 
 smile, and, when heisalone, words of 
 kindness. I like him I like his style 
 and some day, perhaps, old Cranky 
 Ann, as they call me, can do a good 
 :urn for him. II that time does come, 
 Harry Harper shall know that an old 
 street-walker, hardened as she is in 
 sin, heartless as she is considered to 
 be, is not entirely destitute of the 
 gratitude that even the wild animals 
 of the forest feel towards those whose 
 favors they have not sought in vain. 
 Yes, yes! Only give the old girl a 
 chance, and see what she'll do for one 
 she likes ! " 
 
 " Say ! Cranky ! See here ! ' ' This 
 salutation interrupted the train of 
 thought into which the courtesan had 
 fallen, and on looking up she beheld 
 a man she knew well, but who had 
 not spoken to her in a long, long time. 
 His name was Jack Dunning, and he 
 was a man of some means, who was 
 shrewd enough to keep what he had, 
 and to never make any venture where 
 the chances were not five to one in his 
 favor. 
 
 ' What do you want of me, Jack 
 Dunning?" was Cranky Ann's reply; 
 u you scarcely look at me, now-a-days, 
 though there was a time when you 
 were not quite so distant nor so 
 cold." 
 
 " Well, Crank, old girl, times have 
 changed! ' ' 
 
 " I know it! Times have changed 
 since you and I first met! You were 
 then exactly the same as you are now 
 a wild, reckless man about town, 
 whose known sins were kindly over-
 
 12 
 
 looked, and whose society was sought 
 after the more because of his repu- 
 tatien as a libertine ! But in my case 
 great God ! what a difference. 
 Then I was courted and carressed be- 
 cause they called me beautiful, and 
 believed me chaste; but when scan- 
 dal's shafts were hurled at me, when 
 envious enemies whispered their 
 poisonous insinuations, then mv own 
 sex turned upon me without giving 
 me an opportunity for defense, and 
 the too- willing world gave eager ear 
 to all that the traitorous tongue of 
 malice could invent!" 
 
 Her listener grew impatient. He 
 had not hailed her for the purpose of 
 hearing a reminiscence of the past; 
 therefore, interrupting her, he said, 
 touching her shoulder: 
 
 " I know all that you would say, 
 Crank ; but I have a little business 
 that you can do, and in doing it, put 
 money in your purse! If you will 
 step into this ^restaurant, where we 
 can have a private talk, I will explain 
 myself fully." 
 
 The two entered an Italian saloon, 
 passed through the laced door in the 
 center, and took seats in a conven- 
 iently dark and obscure corner. Jack 
 ordered "refreshments" for two, and 
 then said, turning face to face with 
 his companion: 
 
 " Crank, you and I know each other 
 as well as anybody does, and we un 
 derstand each other, too. I take it 
 that you are not very well fixed. You 
 don't tog out as well as you used 
 to." 
 
 " I've got a dollar bill and a few 
 nickles, and that's every blessed cent 
 that stands between me and starva- 
 tion!" 
 
 " Would you like to make a stake, 
 Crank? " 
 
 " What do I walk the streets for? " 
 was the reply, in a voice that sound- 
 ed harsh and bitter. 
 
 " But you might do better than to 
 walk the streets. You are a woman 
 of some education, I have been told, 
 and I know that you are as shrewd 
 and quick,, in thought and action, as 
 any old veteran upon the streets." 
 
 " I did have an education once, and 
 
 experience has taught me much in the 
 other way," was the reply; "but 
 what was it that you just hinted at? 
 Tell me any way by which I can make 
 a few dollars, and if the risk is not 
 too great Cranky Ann is your con- 
 federate 1 I have got to be a desper- 
 ate woman now, and there is nothing 
 that I would not do for gold or green- 
 backs!" 
 
 "Give me your hand, Crank; 
 you're the queen of trumps!" said 
 Jack, and the two shook hands, 
 touched glasses, and drank the bev- 
 erage that had been ordered. 
 
 " I'm glad I met you," he contin- 
 ued, speaking low and guardedly, 
 " for I've got a little work for you to 
 do something that will require not 
 only a desperate woman, but one of 
 quick wit and ready cunning." 
 
 " You needn't keep me in suspense, 
 Jack; just tell me what you are driv- 
 ing at!" 
 
 "I'm in love, Crank!" 
 
 "Withw<?/" she inquired, mock- 
 ingly. 
 
 " Scarcely! but with the handsom- 
 est woman in Chicago, and an heir 
 ess." 
 
 " Then I suppose you wish to reter 
 to me as to character!" 
 
 " Pshaw! I want you to work for 
 me, for pay! I want to hire you to do 
 anything and everything that I shall 
 require. The lady that I love is at 
 this moment an entire stranger; I 
 doubt if she ever set eyes on me in 
 her life; but I have seen her, and/ 
 am determined she shall be mine! Do 
 you understand me?" 
 
 ' ' I understand what you have said ; 
 go on," was the reply. 
 
 * I want to win her, if I can ; if I 
 cannot, then your head and mine must 
 plot together to attain the grand re- 
 sult! When I saw you coming, a few 
 minutes ago, I said to myself, 
 'there's the woman that I want!' Now 
 you know it all, and from this on you 
 are in my employ, at good round 
 wages. First, you must manage to 
 get me introduced under the most 
 .avorable circumstances. But you 
 can't do it in the character ot Cianky 
 Ann, the street- walker. Oh, no! You
 
 must be a nice, genteel, weiHhy lady! 
 You must wash off your paint, throw 
 aside your flashy dresses and hats 
 and shawls and cloaks, and, attired in 
 the extreme of fashion, with ward- 
 robe and jewels of the finest quality, 
 palm yourself off as some distin- 
 guished lady from abroad. Thf-re are 
 thousands of them who could not ap- 
 pear as well as you can, if you only 
 have the chance." 
 
 " Very well," replied Cranky, semi 
 seriousl , " I will take my dollar and 
 odd cents and go right off and buy 
 aU the articles yon have been good 
 enough to mention! " 
 
 u Oh, I'll not be backward with the 
 stamps," smilingly responded the in- 
 fatuated man. " You can have all 
 t-hat will be required. The diamonds, 
 of course, I shall expect you to re- 
 turn when the curtain drops on the 
 last act all the rest you can retain, 
 together with your tees. Now, then, 
 Crank, J want you too sleep over what 
 I have said, and try to dream out 
 some way by which victory will be 
 easy and failure impossible. Think 
 over it deeply ; turn it over in your 
 mind in all its phases and all its com- 
 plications. I will meet you here at 
 this hour ^vuyrcwt, prepared for ac- 
 tion^ with the sinews of war in my 
 pocket-book, and then we can come 
 down to business without further de- 
 lay. Will you be ready?" 
 
 ** Cranky Ann is always ready for 
 business! ' was the significant reply ; 
 "but I sa}% Jack, if you can spare a 
 fber, or a tfnner, I should feel ever so 
 much more like dreaming luck to you 
 and your cause!" 
 
 The schemer smiled, and handed 
 over ten dollars before he spoke. 
 
 " There," said he, " don't that show 
 that I'm in earnest ? " 
 
 " You bet it does, Jack, old boy," 
 replied the woman, and the saw-buck 
 was at once deposited in the locality 
 that usually serves as a hiding-place 
 for money among the sinning sister- 
 hood. 
 
 * You won't get drunk on that, 
 Crank ?"f 
 
 " That is one of th pleasures that 
 I seldom indulge in, Jack. No, you 
 
 14 
 
 needn't worry about that. I will be 
 on hand to-morrow with all my facul- 
 ties in prime order." 
 ' The two then left the restaurant, 
 and parted at the door, the man pro- 
 Nceeding north and the woman south. 
 " I don't exactly know what Jack 
 Dunning means," thought Cranky 
 Ann, "and I don't much care, either! 
 If he has money, and will spend it as 
 freely as he has premised, I will de 
 what I can for him, unless he asks too 
 much; but if he thinks that, because 
 I am a poor girl on the town, and have 
 had a hard time of it battling against 
 a cruel and relentless fate, he can use 
 me to deceive and ruin one who has 
 not yet been branded by the cucsed 
 mark of hell, he will find that he has 
 made a most injudicious selection in 
 making Cranky Ann his tool. 1 ,* I am 
 a chiid of fate a creature of destiny 
 an outcast a deceiver a wretch 
 who decoys and entraps and ruins 
 men without conscience and without 
 mercy ! But Jack Dunning's money 
 cannot hire me to drag down another 
 woman to my own level! I will meet 
 him, I will take the pay that he of- 
 fers me, I will promise to do any- 
 thing that he asks but in the end 
 let him beware that he does not get 
 the double cross? 1 *, 
 
 And the street- walker sauntered on, 
 communing with her own thoughts. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Harry Harper never worked so 
 hard in his life as he did on the day 
 succeeding that on which our story 
 opens. At an eariy hour he held a 
 short interview with Mr. Bald 
 win, the details of which need 
 not be specified here. The mer- 
 chant took no third party into his 
 confidence. Even his daughter and 
 son were not consulted, and it was 
 his special desire that neither of 
 them should know of the rather 
 equivocal (as the straight- laced 
 
 *A slag term, as used in thia instance, 
 meaning that, while he thinks her working 
 in his interests, and pays her for it, she will, 
 in fact, be doing all that she can to defeat 
 hia plans.
 
 15 
 
 would term it,; adventures which he 
 had determined to undertake. His 
 intentions were strictly honorable. 
 He was :i man of unimpeachable in- 
 tegrity, who had never in his whole 
 life committed an act that he would 
 hide from his fellow man. The chance 
 that brought him to Harry Harper in 
 prison, had opened his eyes to some- 
 thing that he had never dreamed of. 
 The lact that so much of sin and ' 
 wretched-ness existed within ear- 
 shot of his own home, aroused in his 
 heart a determination to become 
 thoroughly conversant with vice, 
 with the view of doing what he could 
 to alleviate distress, and lead the 
 erring to better ways. A suite of 
 rooms 'down town were rented, for 
 consultation and other purposes, and 
 before night many purchases had 
 been made that, to those not know- 
 ing what they were to be used for, 
 would appear to be very suspicious 
 transactions. * * 
 
 Between 7 and 8 o'clock in the 
 evening, Cranky Ann, attired in her 
 most flashy garments, slowly walked 
 north on State street, taking particu- 
 lar pains to look every man she met 
 full in the face, and manifesting an 
 e'ntire willingness to return with in- 
 terest any familiarity that passers 
 might indulge in. 
 
 "Hell! there's Harry Harper over 
 on the corner," she sfctid, as she 
 reached Van Buren street. " That's 
 twice I've seen him to-day. Wonder 
 what he's waiting for ? " 
 
 Just as she had completed this 
 sentence, (in her mind,) she came 
 very near colliding with a plain ap- 
 pearing man, whose flowing beard 
 was slightly springled with gray, and 
 whose looks betrayed the fact that 
 he was from the rural districts. 
 
 " Beg pardon, ma'am," he stam- 
 mered, " I didn't mean to get in your 
 way." 
 
 " It's I that ought to apologize," 
 said Cranky, halting and bestowing 
 upon the granger a benevolent 
 smile. 
 
 " Oh, no ! I'm a blundering old 
 ainner, and I ought to be ashamed 
 
 of myself for almost running over 
 such a lovely young lady." 
 
 " You flatter me, sir," said the 
 girl, with a desperate effort to blush 
 and appear contused. 
 ' ;" Indeed I do not 1 Why, in oui 
 town a gal like you would set all the 
 boys and half the old men stark 
 mad ! But you must excuse my 
 familiarity. It's my way, you know. 
 I'm always rough, and have got no 
 more manners than a hedge-hog." 
 
 " Don't mention it, sir," she re- 
 plied, pleasantly. " To tell the truth, 
 I've taken quite a liking to you 
 you look so good, and so kind." 
 
 " Good ! kind ! Why I'm a regu- 
 lar old boar. The women all hate 
 me!.' 
 
 " But / don't hate you, sir !" 
 
 The farmer did not reply at once., 
 but gazed with undiguised admira- 
 tion upon the painted street beauty. 
 
 " If you have no objections I will 
 walk a block or so with you," he 
 said, hesitatingly, fearful of a re- 
 pulse. 
 
 "I really shall feel honored in 
 having such an escort," replied 
 Cranky, who felt that her game was 
 as gocd as bagged already. 
 
 " But I was only walking out to 
 secure the cool evening air," she con- 
 tinued, "and as it is getting a little 
 late I think I will return to my room, 
 two or three blocks from here. Are 
 you going that way ?" 
 
 " Well, yes, I was walking in thati 
 direction," he said, and they proceed- 
 ed together southward leisurely and 
 quite lover-like. 
 
 It was easy to be seen that the far- 
 mer was "struek." 
 
 " May I ask if you are a married 
 lady?" he inquired, as they proceed- 
 ed. 
 
 "No, sir, I am only a working 
 girl," replied Cranky, " and rent a 
 furnished lodging room on this 
 street." 
 
 " Now that we are a little bit ac- 
 quainted, perhaps you will allow me 
 to call on you at your home," he ren- 
 tured to remark. 
 
 The artful syren hesitated. 
 
 " Would it not cause people to
 
 16 
 
 talk?" she stammered, in a confused 
 sort of way. 
 
 " Oh, no ; you can say that I am 
 your father, or your grandfather, for 
 I am old enough for that." 
 
 " Well, il you think it would not be 
 Improper, you may come with me, 
 and then we can converse quietly, 
 where no rude passers can stare at 
 us, as I have noticed some of them 
 do while we have been walking along 
 the street." 
 
 "You are a charming little puss of 
 a girl," exclaimed the delighted far- 
 mer, " and I shall always bless the 
 hour in which I made that awkward 
 blunder, and stumbled into your ac- 
 quaintance !" 
 
 He had taken her by the hand, and 
 his pressure of hers was a little war- 
 mer than that of ordinary friendship. 
 It need not be remarked that Cranky 
 did not resent his approaches, or 
 withdraw her soft and slender fin- 
 gers. 
 
 "Why, we are here already!" she 
 said, affecting surprise. "Really, time 
 rushes when one is in agreeable com- 
 pany. We will go right up to my 
 cosy little room, if you wish!" 
 
 "I am delighted!" he exclaimed, 
 as she entered the hallway. 
 
 As he was about to follow, he felt 
 a tight grip upon his arm, and Harry 
 Harper whispered in his ear : 
 
 * Beware / She's the devil!" 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 When Mr. Baldwin reached home, 
 after having been the means of res- 
 cuing his young friend from a po- 
 sition that certainly would have en- 
 tailed severe punishment, had he felt 
 so inclined, he was met at the door 
 by his daughter. She was as pale, 
 almost, as a corpse, andjher eyes bore 
 evidence of an anxiety she had never 
 betore felt, and could not conceal, if 
 ghe would. 
 
 "Well, father," she said, "what 
 success ?" 
 
 " Oh, it's all right, Josie." 
 " But what was the matter ?"* 
 " Nothing of any consequence." 
 " Oh, now, father dear, <Jo tell me 
 all. You have not been in Uw 
 
 it of keeping secrets from your daugn- 
 ter. Was Mr. Harper really locked 
 up ? Was he confined in one of those 
 horrid cells that I have read about in 
 the papers ?" 
 
 " Yes, Josie, I found Harry locked 
 up." 
 
 " And did you succeed in libera- 
 ting him ?" 
 
 The young lady said this very ear- 
 nestly, and her eyes were rivited 
 with intense anxiety upon the face 
 of her father. 
 
 " Yes he was speedily released 
 as soon as I got there." 
 
 Had he been closely observing the 
 girl, he would have noticed a sigh of 
 reliei escape from the bosom of his 
 child. But his thoughts were else 
 where, and he took no notice of Jose- 
 phine's agitation. 
 
 " But you have not told me what 
 he was arrested for," she said, after 
 a pause. 
 
 " If you insist on knowing I can't 
 see that there will be any harm in 
 telling you, my child, but it must go 
 no larther it must be kept a sacred 
 secret with you, your brother and 
 myself," said Mr. Baldwin, with 
 great gravity. 
 
 " You are not afraid to trust to my 
 discretion?" she inquired. 
 
 " No otherwise, I should not tell 
 you," he replied. 
 
 The merchant then revealed to his 
 daughter all that the reader already 
 knows, and in conclusion handed her 
 the note that Harry had started to 
 mail when arrested. 
 
 Her hand trembled perceptibly 
 when she took it, and her eyes were 
 moist with tears. After reading the 
 letter carefully she handed it back, 
 but did not speak. 
 
 " Do you think I did right it de- 
 claring the check to be genuine?" 
 he asked. 
 
 " Whether right or wrong, it was 
 a noble act one that I hope my dear 
 good father will never regret," was 
 her enthusiastic reply. 
 
 " It was very wrong for Harry to 
 do as he did, don't you th nk so, 
 Josie ?" 
 
 ** I would not have believed him
 
 capable of such an act," she replied, 
 "and yet he seems to have been^?#- 
 est in his crime, if such a thing were 
 possible. He seems to have taken 
 that rash, reckless, dangerous course 
 as merely another method of borrow 
 ing the money from you. Don't you 
 see, father that you could not have 
 lost a cent ? You would have re- 
 ceived his letter before the check 
 could have been detected as a for- 
 gery. Had you felt so inclined you 
 could have had him arrested, and 
 would have recovered every cent of 
 the money, and he only would have 
 been the sufferer. It was foolish, it 
 was wicked, it was inexcusable, and 
 yet there was something manly about 
 it don't you think so, father?" 
 
 Without intending to do so, the 
 girl had uttered a powerful argument 
 in favor of a man who had deliberate 
 ly perpetrated a crime that would 
 have consigned him to prison for a 
 term of years. 
 
 " Yes, I really believe Harry would 
 have faithfully kept the promise he 
 made in his letter," replied the mer- 
 chant, " and I am glad that you ap- 
 prove of my course. I could have 
 spurned his protestations of honest 
 intentions ; I could have appeared in 
 court and testified against him; I 
 could have sent him to the peniten- 
 tiary, and when his term of impris- 
 onment had expired, what would be 
 his future? Why, he would be a bold, 
 desperate man, ready for any deed of 
 wickedness. He is a brave young 
 man, and has a true heart but when 
 the world sets its face against such 
 as he, they become totally changed 
 in nature, and knowing that no friend- 
 ly hand is ready to greet them, they 
 plunge into vice in its most revolt- 
 ing features, and not unlrequently 
 become the very worst of outlaws. 
 Harry Harper might have ended his 
 days upon the scaffold, had I decided 
 to deal rigorously and in all this 
 great city no one would have blamed 
 me ! Would I have slept better 
 nights? Would my eonscience have 
 felt easier than it does to-night ? 
 No ! I tell you, Josephine, that so- 
 ciety deals too rigorously with those 
 
 who transgress. It is better to lift 
 up than to kick down the erring. 
 Instead of sending Harry Harper to 
 ruin, I have determined to make a 
 man of him 1 I will look after him. 
 I will protect him I will encourage 
 him. I will help him. And if the 
 good Lord permits me to live long 
 enough, I will yet see him honored, 
 trusted and respected in this commu- 
 nity 1" 
 
 " In all this world I do not believe 
 there is another such a good man as 
 my dear father," was the only reply 
 made by the eager listener, as she 
 put her arms around his neck and 
 kissed him. 
 
 " Now, Josie, we will talk no more 
 of this matter," said Mr. Baldwin, 
 " but there is something on an an- 
 other subject that will probably in- 
 terest you. You will not see me af- 
 ter to night for some time." 
 
 " Why, father ! Are you going 
 away ?" 
 
 "Yes justness will call me from 
 home for a brief period I cannot 
 say how long. To-morrow I will 
 bid you good bye, until we meet 
 again." 
 
 The merchant had frequently been 
 called away on business, and the 
 information that he imparted to his 
 daughter did not produce any sur- 
 pris. 
 
 When Josephine Baldwin reached 
 her room, her mind was convulsed 
 with peculiar emotions. And in her 
 prayer that night, sne did not forget 
 to invoke the blessing of high heaven 
 upon one of the characters in this ro- 
 mance 1 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Cranky Ann's usually acute ear did 
 not catch the whispered words of 
 Harry Harper; otherwise her good 
 opinion of that amiable young man 
 might have undergone somewhat of 
 a change. But her escort did hear 
 them, very distinctly, and for an in- 
 stant he hesitated. The feeling of 
 temerity, however, was but momen- 
 tary, and when Cranky unlocked the 
 door and invited him into a neatly
 
 18 
 
 turntslied room, he had every appear- 
 ance ot being the verdant, unsuspec- 
 ting farmer that the wicked girl had 
 taken him for. 
 
 The intelligent reader has undoubt- 
 edly guessed that this old farmer was 
 an old fraud, as indeed he was. Alan 
 son Baldwin, the wealthy merchant, 
 had assumed a thorough disguise, 
 and, having persuaded himself that 
 there was something unusual in the 
 history and character of the street- 
 walker who had first attracted his at 
 tent ion, himself and Harry had sta- 
 tioned themselves at a point where 
 they knew she would pass, the " ac- 
 cidental" blunder being a precon- 
 certed plan. In the early part of the 
 day Mr. Baldwin had taken leave of 
 his son and daughter, who supposed 
 that he was to leave for the east for 
 business purposes. Instead of taking 
 a train, he at once repaired to the 
 furnised room down town that had 
 been rented by Harry, and during the 
 day that handsome young sport dil- 
 igently instructed the ignorant mer- 
 chant concerning the dark and tricky 
 ways of the gay world he was about 
 to explore. 
 
 Though Harry's description of low 
 life was not exaggerated in the least, 
 the old man could not and would not 
 believe them. He did not think it 
 possible that such degradation and 
 wretchedness could exist in the heart 
 of Chicago, within sight and hearing 
 ot the whole people, and yet not one 
 in ten ot the reputable citizens know 
 anything about it The descriptions 
 that fell from the lips of Harry only 
 made him more determined than ever 
 to continue in the pursuit of knowl- 
 edge. H<> was hungry for the least 
 of misery that was being pr. pared 
 for him. The quick-witted young 
 man whom chance had thrown in h s 
 way, had also busied himself in pro- 
 curing suitable disguises, and at the 
 time Cranky Ann was encountered 
 his ov. r n children would have passed 
 Alanson Baldwin without a second 
 look. His disguise was thorough 
 and complete. < 
 
 As has been stated, he hesitated 
 for an ins ant. Not having been ac- 
 
 customed to excitement, never hav- 
 ing stood in the paths of danger, his 
 courage had never been put to so se- 
 vere a test before, and a vague sense 
 of danger sent a chill through his 
 veins. There really was no dangei 
 at all, except that he would forget the 
 warnings that had been given during 
 the day, and permit Cranky, with 
 some well-told story of suffering, 
 pull the wool over his eyes, an op- 
 eration that she could perform as 
 skillfully as any woman that ever 
 trod the pave. 
 
 But the chill rapidly passed away, 
 and the two quickly found themselves 
 in a neat little parlor, to which was 
 attached by folding doors a bed- 
 room. 
 
 Cranky, little dreaming that she 
 was the " sucker," or that she was 
 being imposed upon, invited the old 
 gentleman to a seat in an easy chair, 
 while she occupied a sofa on the oth- 
 er side of the room, with the inten- 
 tion ol keeping up the working girl 
 illusion, and yielding at last only 
 upon the most impassioned en 
 treaties (coupled with greenbacks) 
 of the supposed old toot whom she 
 had so easily entrapped. 
 
 "It would be more sociable and 
 agreeable could we both occupy the 
 same sofa," vaid the visitor, rising 
 and advancing. 
 
 4 Oh, no! that would be highly im- 
 proper! ' 
 
 Cranky majestically motioned him 
 awa\, but the venerable gentleman 
 continued to advance, and as he did 
 so said : 
 
 "My dear young waman, I mean 
 you no harm, and if you would throw 
 off the mask you are using, you would 
 bear none. I will deceive you no 
 longer. I am not what you think I 
 am. I know you you are called 
 Cranky Ann. the street- walker!" 
 
 " My God! Collared again!" ex- 
 claimed Crank, vehemently, and tears 
 streamed from the poor outcast's 
 eys, as she continued: 
 
 " I know ) ou now, too ! You are 
 a wolf in sheep's clothing! You are 
 acting a ( mean, a dirty, a cowardly 
 part! /am a, prostitute God for-
 
 give me ! You are worse than I am ! 
 Had you been what you pre- 
 tended to be, and had I been 
 really a poor working girl, which 
 would have been the villain ? Had 
 you been a farmer, as I thought. I 
 should have done you no harm. You 
 would have fondly imagined that you 
 had taken advantage of a silly girl's 
 weakness, and would have never 
 squandered a second thought on the 
 frightful consequences attending her 
 fall ! I should have taken a few dol 
 iars from your willing hands, and 
 that would have been all both would 
 have been satisfied. Now, Mr. Peel- 
 er ior I know that's your racket 
 have I not told you the naked truth ? 
 You never heard of my robbing a 
 man you never saw me drunk you 
 never detected me in any crime ex- 
 cept this life that I am leading this 
 miserable, this wretched, this horri- 
 ble life! i You can take me to your 
 lonely station house ! You can 
 squeeze blood-money out of me! 
 You can take from me the few dol- 
 lars that God knows I need lor such 
 comforts as are permitted to the poor 
 pick-up! You can look at me with 
 >esthat know no pity! You can 
 sneer at me! You can abuse me in 
 any way that may please you but 
 there is one thing that you can't do, 
 powerful as AOU are you can't make 
 Cranky Ann anything but what she is/" 
 
 Mr. Baldwin listened in astonish- 
 ment and wonder. He was thunder- 
 struck at hearing such words from 
 one whom lie he hud supposed not 
 capable of uttering anything above 
 the vulgar, common-place blackguard- 
 isms of the outcast of street and 
 hovel. Neglecting to inform Cranky 
 that he was not a policeman, the mer- 
 chant after a brief pause said : 
 
 "Cranky, I think you are wrong 
 1 be ieve you can be made wnat >ou 
 are not!" 
 
 The eirl laughed such a laugh as 
 would distort the face of a defiant 
 culprit on the scaffold. 
 
 " You can think what you please," 
 she said, "and so can I. You have 
 deceived me, and _ reel bad I feel 
 ore I feel that I am abused with- 
 
 out cause and punished without mercy. 
 But I will not complain ; I will not 
 resist; I will go peaceably. Come, 
 brave officer ! I am ready ! Let us 
 take a pleasant walk to the Armory !" 
 
 Again a sneering laugh that ended 
 almost in a groan. 
 
 " I am not ready to go yet, Cranky ! 
 I prefer to remain here a while !" 
 
 The girl looked at him curiously. 
 
 41 In fact, I shall not take you to 
 the Armory to-night, nor at any oth- 
 er time." 
 
 The street walker could hardly 
 put faith in her senses. She had 
 never known a policeman to act that 
 way before. 
 
 "Are you in earnest?" she said 
 and there was an eagerness in her 
 look that betrayed the depth of her 
 emotions. 
 
 " I never was more in earnest in 
 my life," was the calm reply. 
 
 "Oh! I see!" said Crank, with a 
 smile, "you are collecting taxes on 
 your own hook ! Well, that's right , 
 that's decent; that's the best way. 
 I've got a tenner, but I know you 
 wouldn't take all I've got. You can 
 have half and welcome, and old Craak 
 will say ' God bless you!" 
 
 Mr. Baldwin's thoughts had been 
 busy while the girl was speaking. 
 
 "Did you ever do anything of this 
 kind before?" he said, without, appa- 
 rently, any other motive than natural 
 curiosity. 
 
 " Oh, you mustn't ask such ques- 
 tions Crank would never squeal on 
 her iriends," was her somewhat sug- 
 gestive reply, as she produced the 
 bill that Jack Dunning had given 
 her that same af.ernoon. 
 
 " Keep your money I have more 
 than I want already," said the mys- 
 terious man, as he refused the prof 
 fered bribe. 
 
 " You don't want to arrest me, you 
 don'c want mone> then tell me, Mr. 
 Officer, what the devil do you want ? 
 If there is anything that old Crank 
 can do for you, just mention it." 
 
 "There is something that you can 
 do for me!" 
 
 " Yes, yes ! I see 1 You're a guy
 
 20 
 
 noy! You're the lad I like! Come 
 to these arms !" 
 
 And Crank, before he knew it, had 
 clasped the merchant in a warm em- 
 brace, and had actually kissed him 
 right on the lips, too! 
 
 tk This is going a little too far 1" he 
 exclaimed, with a gasp. 
 
 " Oh, you can go farther and fare 
 worse," was the reply, and smack ! 
 went another kiss. 
 
 " I wouldn't have Harry know this 
 (or the world," thought the benevo- 
 lent seeker after adventure, as he 
 gently forced the woman away, and 
 remarked : 
 
 "Permit me to explain, Miss 
 Cranky 2 am not a policeman f" 
 
 "The devil!" As she said this 
 Crank stepped back and stared. It 
 was her turn to be astonished. 
 
 " No, I hope I am not that indi- 
 vidual that you named!" 
 
 Crank recovered her composure 
 and inquired : 
 
 " Now let's come right down to 
 business who are you. what axe you, 
 and what on earth do you want of 
 Cranky Ann?" 
 
 " I will not tell you who I am, but 
 I beg to have you believe that I came 
 here through no bad motive. I saw 
 > ou on the street ; I was told your 
 name and occupation. They told me 
 that you was the wickedest woman in 
 Chicago, and I thought that it might 
 be possible that I could be the means 
 of making you not quite so bad. I 
 will tell you frankly, I never spoke 
 to a woman of your class before, to 
 my knowledge. Until to-day, I was 
 ignorant of the existence of such as 
 you in this great city. In the con- 
 versation that T have had with you, 
 I have detected the fact that you are 
 an educated woman that you were 
 once far above your present low con 
 diliou, I have the means and the 
 will. If I can help you, if I can do 
 anything that will make your heart 
 lighter and your life happier, nothing 
 could give me greater pleasure. Now, 
 Miss Ann I will not call you 
 Cniiiky ' any more I have told you 
 what, you wanted to know. Will 
 you do me a like favor?" 
 
 The kind words of the old gentle- 
 man had touched a tender spot in the 
 breast of the street- walker, and again 
 tears could be detected under her 
 eyelashes. Anger had caused them 
 to flow before ; anguish produced them 
 the second time. 
 
 Mr. Baldwin had taken her hand, 
 and led her gently to the sofa as a 
 father would ead a child he loved. 
 
 " I would do any favor that so 
 good a man as you would ask," she 
 replied to his question. 
 
 " I wish you to tell me your whole 
 history, from happy innocenoe to 
 most wretched guilt!" 
 
 The conquered courtesan looked 
 up imploringly. 
 
 " Oh, sir," she sighed, " you do not 
 know what you ask! The past is to 
 me a blank the luture is a hell ! To 
 revive the one is horror to look for- 
 ward to the other is torture!" 
 
 "I would not give you pain did I 
 not think that the sting of the arrows 
 of misfortune might be assuaged, if 
 not eradicated. But I believe there 
 is something better in store for you 
 than the gloomy fate you fear." 
 
 The distressed girl shook her head. 
 
 " The story of my life is a sad 
 one," she said, but if you wish to 
 hear it told, I "will try to remember 
 such passages as will most interest 
 you. In doing so, however, I shall 
 exact a promise." 
 
 "Of what nature?" 
 
 " I shall ask you to promise me 
 that you will Hot fly from and spnrn 
 me with hate, sc<*rn and loathing 
 when you have heard what I shall 
 speak !" 
 
 "God forbid!" was the emphatic 
 reply. 
 
 " Then I will reveal to you a tale 
 of suffering, of temptation, of guilt, 
 oi shame, Of wretchedness ;md of 
 misery that will make your blood 
 run cold! Lis.en!" 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 There had been a wonderful change 
 in the appearance ot Cranky Ann ia 
 the few minutes that hid elapsed 
 since she entered that room. On 
 coming in. she was exulting within
 
 21 
 
 herself over what she thought an 
 easy conquest of a gullible victim. 
 She was artful, designing, unscru- 
 pulous. Believing that her compan- 
 ion was an old fool, and knowing lull 
 well his intentions, she believed she 
 could bleed him more freely in the 
 guise of a working girl than she could 
 if he knew her real occupation. But 
 when he called her by name, she nat- 
 urally cone uded that an officer in 
 disguise had entrapped her, and her 
 buoyant hopes and joyous exulta- 
 tions were shattered on the instant 
 her joy was turned to bitterness. 
 When this delusion had been ex- 
 pelled, and she recognized her new- 
 found acquaintance as a well-mean- 
 ing, benevolent old man, there was 
 another swift revolution ot sentiment, 
 and for the first time that night 
 Cranky Ann exhibited her natural, 
 womanly attributes. There was no 
 deception about her when, in a voice 
 trembling with emotion, and with all 
 the better instincts of her nature 
 aroused, she unbosomed herself to the 
 humane gentleman who had sought 
 her in the den where vice had always 
 held high carnival, and where even 
 the name of virtue had never been 
 whispered. 
 
 " When I reflect upon what I was, 
 what I am, and what I might be," 
 said Cranky Ann, in commencing the 
 story of her life, "I cannot help but 
 shudder, and my heart is fi.led with 
 bitterness, resentment, and hatred of 
 the whole human race! You have 
 said that I have the reputation ot be- 
 ing the wickedest woman in Chica- 
 go. I do not deny it. I am wicked 
 as the worst, depraved as the lowest, 
 reckless and abandoned as the most 
 vile! If I do not drink, it is because 
 I have the strength ot mind to resist, 
 knowing how quick rum will drive a 
 woman to the devil! If I do not rob, 
 it is because I understand how cer- 
 tain punnishment follows crime! It 
 is not from any compunctions of con- 
 science that I do not follow the life 
 of an outlaw against society in other 
 ways than* this street soliciting that 
 you have observed to-night." 
 
 The courtesan paused for an in- 
 stant, and then resumed: 
 
 " But I promised to tell you some 
 thing of my past lite, and I will not 
 weary you with incoherent railings." 
 
 '* Anything that you may say can- 
 not fail to interest me," said Mr. 
 Baldwin. 
 
 "In the first place," resumed 
 Cranky, " how old do you think I 
 am?" 
 
 " I should judge you to be between 
 twenty -five and thirty, but it is pos- 
 sible that you may be younger," was 
 the reply. 
 
 " That shows what a poor judge 
 you are ot my class. You see me 
 now at my best. Let me wash off 
 paint and powder, take out teeth, re- 
 move wig and lay aside pads, and 
 you would see before you a wrinkled, 
 shriveled, gray-headed woman, and 
 you would take a Bible oath that she 
 was sixty years old." 
 
 u But you are not so advanced in 
 years I am sure you are not." 
 
 "No, sir I am an old woman oj 
 thirty, and for fitteen long years I 
 have been what lam to-day!" 
 
 " Impossible !' J exclaimed the old 
 gentleman in amasement; "you cer- 
 tainly did not commence this lite you 
 are leading at the tender age of fif- 
 teen I" 
 
 " I certainly did, and I can point 
 you to little girls, three years young- 
 than that, who are confirmed urosti- 
 tutes!" 
 
 The merchant could only look his 
 astonishment. 
 
 "My father is a well known busi- 
 ness man of this city," continued 
 Crank, "and I was near enough him 
 to day to brush his garments as we 
 passed each other! He drove me 
 from his door with curses years and 
 years ago, and at this time, though 
 he sees me often, he believes that my 
 bones are buried under the dark wa- 
 ters of Lake Michigan." 
 
 " Will you tell me you father's 
 name?" inquired Mr. Bildwim, who 
 was intensely interested in what he 
 heard. 
 
 " No, sir! When I die my secret 
 will be buried with me!"
 
 22 
 
 " What reason did he have to ex- 
 pel vou from his home ?" 
 
 " I will tell you. At that time- 
 in those dear old days I was the 
 only child of parents who worshipped 
 me, and would have sacrificed any- 
 thing for my comfort or pleasure. I 
 was called handsome, and was devel- 
 oped far beyound my years. At the 
 age of fourteen I was a full-grown wo- 
 man, and had many admirers among 
 them a man who is now a lawyer, and 
 who has often defended me when 
 brought before the court for being a 
 common prostitute!" 
 
 '" And does he not know you ?" 
 
 "Nobody knows me! I would 
 rather die than be known!" 
 
 " Strange, mysterious woman, you 
 have indeed been unfortunate!" 
 
 Without noticing the interruption, 
 Cranky Ann resuued her story. 
 
 " My education had been looked 
 after generously, and no girl in Chi- 
 cago had better prospects of becom- 
 ing a talented, accomplished, gifted 
 lady. While at school a seminary 
 for females I made acquaintances 
 that I could not introduce into such 
 societv as my parents selec'ed for me, 
 and I deceived them, and kept clan- 
 destine appointments away from 
 home. TL it was the stepping stone 
 to all the misery that I have endured. 
 One of the parties and one whose 
 attentions were the most pleasing to 
 me was a cruel, heartless libertine! 
 He was handsome, noble-looking, 
 generous, impulsive, and with smooth 
 words the wretch won my sensitive 
 heart ! He seduced me and aban- 
 doned me! One day, when my sit- 
 uation could no longer be concealed, 
 I made confession to my father, and 
 asked him to forgive me, and send 
 me away until such lime as I could 
 return free from the guilty incum 
 brance without taint, so far as the 
 world should know. With terrible 
 oaths he spurned me, commanded me 
 to leave his house, and never again 
 darken the door of the home I had 
 dishonored. Maddened at what I 
 thought his cruelty, I returned curse 
 for curse, and in a towering passion 
 went away, and I have never re- 
 
 turned. The excitement proved too 
 much for even the robust girl that I 
 wae, and that night Heaven kindly 
 relieved me of that which, had Nature 
 been permitted to perfect its work,, 
 would have been a bastard ! I 
 thanked God for this and it is about 
 the only thing that I ever did thank 
 Him for. One week from the day I 
 left my father's roof, I wrote him a 
 long letter, telling him that I could 
 not live in disgrace and ignominy, 
 and that my body might some day 
 come to the surface of the lake! I 
 then disguised myself as best I could, 
 dyed my hair, and became an inmate 
 of a house of ill-fame on South Clark 
 street. Three months after that, I 
 saw a paragraph in a daily paper, 
 stating that the body of an unknown 
 woman had been fished out of the 
 lake, and taken to the dead-house in 
 the old city cemetery. I went there 
 early that morning. The body was 
 naked, bloated and disfigured, but it 
 was about my size, and looked as 
 though it might have resembled me 
 in life. Taking a ring on which had 
 been engraved my initials, and which 
 had been a birth-day present from my 
 father, I slipped it upon a finger of 
 the corpse, and hurried away. The 
 result was as I had expected. My 
 parents identified the ring and took 
 possession of the body, and it was 
 buried with every demonstration of 
 j sorrow, all my friends believing that 
 the supposed drowning was acciden- 
 tal. My mother died with a broken 
 heart in less than six months from 
 that time, and her body and that of 
 the unknown dead now lay side by 
 side." 
 
 When speaking of her mother, the 
 street- walker could hardly control 
 her voice, and her bosom r ose and 
 fell with a rapidity that spoke with 
 mute eloquence, and betrayed a feel- 
 ing of the tenderest regard for the 
 memory of the revered dead. The 
 pause in the relation of her pitiful 
 life-story was very brief, and she re- 
 sumed: 
 
 " When the body that was believed 
 to be mine was covered with cold 
 clods of clay, and I was mourned as
 
 24 
 
 one departed, my determination to 
 be indeed dead to the world was more 
 fixed and more desperate than it ever 
 had been, -and from that day till this 
 I have kept my vow. I feared, for a 
 year or two, that my disguise would 
 be penetrated, for I often met, in the 
 houses where I lived, men who knew 
 me as intimately as man ever knew 
 woman. The very man who loved 
 me and who mourned with pitiful 
 sincerity at my funeral, did not rec 
 ognize in the blonde beauty of the 
 bagnio the beautiful brunette whom 
 he would have married only a few 
 short months before " 
 
 " Pardon me," interrupted Mr. 
 Baldwin, " but tell me how you know 
 this man you speak of mourned so 
 earnestly at your burial." 
 
 " I should have mentioned before, 
 perhaps, what you may deem the 
 most remarkable incident in the ca- 
 reer that I am narrating. I know 
 the depth of his sorrow from the tears 
 he shed when they lowered the poor 
 corpse into its narrow cell ! I attend- 
 ed my own funeral ! I saw a stern- 
 visaged father glare with stony eyes 
 at the disfigured dead; I saw a bro- 
 ken-heaned mother weep over the 
 ghastly remains of her only-born; I 
 saw a grief stricken lover bow under 
 the burden of a great and overwhelm- 
 ing sorrow; I saw the friends and 
 companions of my girlhood bedeck 
 the casket that contained the clammy 
 corse with flowers of the field and 
 lillies of the lake ; and could any one 
 have peered under the thick veil that 
 eovered the face of a lone woman in 
 that solemn cortege, they would have 
 started with open mouthed wonder, 
 and every lip would have cried out, 
 Why grieves this hireling harlot over 
 the death of the pure, the beautiful 
 and the lovely one whose name was 
 Innocence and whose character was 
 Purity ?" 
 
 Cranky Ann uttered these words 
 with such intense fervor, and was la- 
 boring under such agonizing excite 
 ment that she fairly shrieked them 
 into the ears ot her listener. Mr. 
 Baldwin was almost equally im 
 pressed, and the picture as they sat 
 
 there the one with blazing eyes and 
 the other with eager earnestness 
 was such an one as the brush ol the 
 artist or the pen of the author never 
 yet depicted on canvass or paper. 
 
 "That day," continued Cranky, 
 " when I returned to the hell that I 
 called home, it was with such feelings 
 as the human heart seldom experien- 
 ces. I was dead and buried, and yet 
 alive and robust as I ever had been. 
 From that time until this hour I have 
 lived a false life, but I have guarded 
 my secret well. Long ago the terri 
 ble trials that I have undergone 
 snatched away the ruddy roses of 
 the days of innocence, and no dis- 
 guise has been needed to protect me 
 from the searching stare of familiar 
 eyes. I live as ' a dream. The 
 father that knows me not has brushed 
 against me on the walk, and once 
 great God ! I shall never forget it ! 
 he made an attempt to attract my 
 attention on the street 1 The lover 
 who wept at my grave has many 
 times folded me to his heaving breast 
 in guilty embrace 1 One of my most 
 dear schoolmates a girl as lovely 
 and as good as was ever born fell 
 by the deceiver's arts, and has occu- 
 pied the same room with me in a pub- 
 lic brothel ! The temptation to be- 
 tray myself, to throw off the veil ot 
 concealment, and to reveal myself in 
 my true character, has sometimes 
 been almost irresistible. I have 
 yearned to open my heart to those 
 that loved me dearly once, but I have 
 not done it. No! As the tedder 
 tendrils of the ivy hug the sturdy 
 oak, so has my resolution clung, to 
 an iron will, and my sacred secret is 
 safe ! The grave of the unfortunate 
 unknown is honored, and at its head 
 there stands a monument; when I die, 
 they will write OUTCAST on a rough 
 slab, and in the Potter's Field, un- 
 honored and unwept, the body of old 
 Ccanky Ann will make meals for 
 maggots !" 
 
 There was bitterness in her voice, 
 and a strange, wild look in her eye. 
 
 " I have now told you all that you 
 will care to know," resumed the 
 street walker. " My career as a wo-
 
 25 
 
 man of the town has been much the 
 same as that of all the rest. From 
 parlor I have descended to pave, and 
 now, in these tawdy trappings, I roam 
 from corner to corner, and seek in 
 every face I meet a glance of wrong- 
 ful recognition." 
 
 When she had concluded the old 
 gentleman heaved a sigh, and from 
 his lips there fell these three words: 
 
 "God help you!" 
 
 " God ? What has God got to do 
 with such as me ? Why, right here 
 in Chicago they are talking about a 
 great revival but who will be con- 
 verted? Will any of your thousands 
 of good people treat with anything but 
 loathing and scorn any of us poor 
 girls who walk the streets and deal in 
 shame ? Is there anything on earth 
 that will wash away the stain upon 
 a guilty woman's name? No, sir! 
 Tney may pray for us, and I believe 
 they mean well; but a harlot can 
 never be reclaimed and elevated to 
 the position she lost by her fall! The 
 devil has marked us as a drover 
 would mark his sheep, and we are all 
 doomed to be damned !" 
 
 " Let us hope for something bet- 
 ter," said Mr. Baldwin, with sym- 
 pathy in his face and voice. 
 
 "Your story," he continued, "has 
 produced upon me a powerful impres- 
 sion, and 1 hardly know what to do 
 or say ; but let me assure you that ii 
 there is anything that can be accom- 
 plished by means of my influence or 
 my money, you need no longer ply 
 the arts and artifices that have given 
 you the name of Cranky Ann ! 
 I will go now, and think upon what 
 I have heard ; but I will come again. 
 To-morrow you may expect to see 
 me." 
 
 The appointment she had made 
 with Jack Dunning flashed upon 
 Crank's mind. 
 
 " I cannot see you to-morrow, nor 
 for more than a week," she said, "be- 
 cause I have something of importance 
 to attend to; but if in ten days you 
 will meet me in this room, we will 
 have a friendly talk, it nothing more." 
 
 "I will be here," replied Mr. 
 Baldwin, and bidding her a kind 
 
 good-bye he left the room, and tne 
 street-walker was once more alone- 
 alone with her thoughts. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Harry Harper did not feel at all at 
 ease after he had parted with his 
 friend at the foot of the stairway 
 leading to Cranky Ann's room. He 
 had no very high opinion of that 
 wonderful woman's honesty, for he 
 knew her to be unscrupulous in all 
 all her dealings with men, and he also 
 knew that she was familiar with every 
 deceitful device known to the mod- 
 ern " lady ot the pave." He was 
 aware, also, that Mr. Baldwin was not 
 posted to any great extent on the 
 tricks and traps that are set for the 
 unsuspscting, and that it was not 
 impossible that he would come to 
 some undefinable harm, he knew not 
 what. 
 
 At first he walked over to Pott- 
 geiser's saloon, listened to a well- 
 sung song, drank a couple of glasses of 
 lager, and lingered about the place 
 for the space of about fifteen minutes. 
 He then recrossed the street and toolf 
 position within hearing distance, 
 should there be the faintest alarm. 
 But, as the reader knows, there was 
 no cause for anxiety he had no 
 knowledge of the better instincts of 
 the bad woman upon whom he now 
 and then bestowed a smile of recog- 
 nition or a word of kindness. 
 
 An hour, that seemed an age, 
 elapsed, and then he heard descend- 
 ing footsteps, and felt relieved at 
 meeting with the disguised mer- 
 chant. 
 
 '* You made quite a lengthy call," 
 he said, as they met on the side- 
 walk. 
 
 " The time seemed very short to 
 me," was the reply. 
 
 " Your reception was quite warm, 
 I imagine." 
 
 "Exceedingly so." 
 
 " You were not captivated, I 
 hope?" 
 
 " You are wrong, Harry I was 
 captivated I was charmed 1" 
 
 " That she- devil did not pull the
 
 26 
 
 veil of enchantment over your eyes?" 
 
 " Stop!" cried Mr. Baldwin, with 
 unusual severity, for him, and with 
 more zeal than he dad displayed lor 
 a long time in any cause. 
 
 "Why, what on earth is the mat- 
 ter?" exc'aimed the young man in 
 astonishment. 
 
 " You probably meant no harm," 
 was the more pacific reply, " but in 
 applying epithets to that unhappy 
 woman you do hei great injustice. 
 She is not so bad as you would paint 
 her." 
 
 Harry shook his head dubiously. 
 
 " I would not offend you for the 
 world, Mr, Baldwin," he said, " but 
 I very much fear that you have been 
 most outrageously imposed upon." 
 
 " And I know that I have not been. 
 Alanson Baldwin is not a fool!" 
 
 " No, sir, you are not ; but many a 
 good man, many men of solid sense 
 and sound minds, have been victim- 
 ized by just such women as Cranky 
 Ann !" 
 
 " It may be that they have I do 
 not donbt it. But I am sure that 
 nothing of the kind has been attemp- 
 ted upon me to-night. If I really 
 thought that woman's words were 
 false, that her tears were hypocritical, 
 that her object was treachery, that 
 her aim was to deceive for guilty 
 purposes, I should never again place 
 an iota of confidence in mortal man 
 or woman!" 
 
 " It would be unfortunate should 
 you be ' roped in and played for a 
 sucker,' as the fast folks would say, 
 on ^ our first effort at seeing Chicago 
 in Chunks." 
 
 "It would indeed, for I should 
 never desire to see any more 
 ' Chunks,' as you call them " and 
 the old gentleman smiled. 
 
 Upon further questioning, Mr. 
 Baldwin, as near as he could, detailed 
 the story he had heard. 
 
 " Now do you believe her an im- 
 poster?" he inquired, in concluding 
 the narrative. 
 
 The > oung man did not reply for a 
 full minute, but his thoughts were 
 busy. 
 
 14 - can't tell what to think about 
 
 | it," he said slowly. "I don't see what 
 I object she could have in telling a lie. 
 You boldly announced at the start 
 your knowedge of her reputation. 
 She would not, therefore, dream of 
 making you believe otherwise, and 
 it seems she did not. But the story 
 sounds more like an Oriental romance 
 than anything else I can think of. 
 There is something so unreal, so 
 ghostly, so wonderfully improbable 
 about it as to actually stagger be- 
 lief, were one ever so much inclined 
 to be credulous." 
 
 " And yet, Harry Harper, I believe 
 every we rd of it every word, from 
 beginning to end." 
 
 "If it is true," said Harry, '-old 
 street- strolling Cranky is something 
 of a heroine." 
 
 u Something of a heroine ? You 
 may well say that she is! Yes, sir ! 
 she is the most remarkable woman in 
 the world's history!" 
 
 " The more I think of it, the more 
 1 am inclined to credit the yarn," said 
 Harry, "for I don't believe there is 
 either a man or woman in Chicago 
 who could deliberately invent, with- 
 out some foundation, such a strange, 
 enchanting tale !" 
 
 The conversation continued a few 
 minutes upon this topic, and both 
 men agreed that they would know 
 more of Cranky Ann at a future time. 
 
 " What do yon propose to do now, 
 Harry?" inquired Mr. Baldwin, after 
 the other subject had been dismissed. 
 
 "I propose to astonish you," was 
 the rather mystified reply. 
 
 " God knows I have been aston- 
 ished already," was the old gentle- 
 man's response. 
 
 " But this time your nerve will be 
 put to a severer test." 
 
 "How so?" 
 
 *' I shall show you something that 
 will make your blood curdle and 
 stand still in your veins! I will take 
 you where you will hold up your 
 hands in horror and turn away in un 
 utterable dismay! I will show you 
 sights that you never dreamed exis- 
 ted outside ol hell 1" 
 
 * Your words, even, almost frigh' 
 me ; but tell me, Harry, my boy,
 
 fc this terrible thins; that you are go 
 ing to show me?" 
 
 " It is Chicago at Midnight ! " 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 When Mr. Baldwin had gone, and 
 the street- walker was alone, the 
 thoughts that ran through her mind 
 were so mixed and conflicting that 
 she was almost unable to think at all. 
 It had been a long, long time since 
 she had permitted herself to be other 
 than the cunning, cratty courtesan, 
 the supreme object of whose exis- 
 tence seemed to be to deceive the 
 verdant victims who should be en 
 trapped by her artificial charms. But 
 to the merchant she had been honest 
 she had told the truth and in do 
 ing so she had aroused and brought 
 to life recollections that she would 
 gladiy have buried in the grave of 
 eternal forgetfulness, were it passible 
 to forget wrongs and outrages such 
 as Cranky had suffered. 
 
 No more business for her that 
 night! The pave had no charms lor 
 Crank at best, and to walk out then, 
 and smile when her heait was well 
 nigh breaking, was so utterly revolt- 
 ing that the mere thought of it made 
 the outcast shudder and recoil. 
 
 With wonderful command over her 
 feelings she sat at the open window, 
 and for several minutes silently 
 viewed the passers by. 
 
 Suddenly arousing as from a dream, 
 the street- walker spoke in a whis- 
 per, as one sometimes speaks when 
 alone. 
 
 " That was a good old man," she 
 said. " I could tell by looking in 
 his eye, and by the sound of his 
 voice, that there is nothing bad about 
 him. I wonder what he wants of me, 
 any way ? Does he think that he can 
 reform me ? Does he think that I 
 would work that I would be a ser- 
 vant / Alter all these years out in 
 the wide world, out in the street, 
 disgraced and despised, does he think 
 old Cranky Ann is going into some- 
 body's kitchen and be a drudge, with 
 the finger of scorn still pointed at her? 
 No! When worst comes to worst; 
 
 when Misery, gaunt and eloomy t 
 drags me to the last ditch; when De- 
 spair, dark and dreary, leaves me no 
 other alternative, then the old girl 
 will show herself %amc to the last, and 
 either lake, river, poison, bullet or 
 dagger will do their deadly work!" 
 
 She shuddered in spite of herself r 
 as she uttered these desperate words, 
 and, dismissing the unpleasant sub- 
 ject of what she was and what she 
 was coming to, her thoughts turned 
 to Jack Dunning, and his object in 
 seeking her assistance in some scheme 
 the nature of which she could guess 
 quite easily, but the depth of which 
 she could not be expected to know^ 
 She knew him, however, to be a bold, 
 bad man, who would, to gi atify any 
 passion, resort to any and every 
 means within his power. R solving 
 in her mind that she would make 
 some money out of him if she could, 
 and do as little as she could in re- 
 turn for she hated the man she re- 
 tired at an early hour, to sleep the 
 sleep of the guilty, and to struggle 
 
 through a remarkable dream / 
 
 * * * * 
 
 The nexf afternoon, according to- 
 agreement, Jack Dunning met the 
 street-walker. 
 
 " You are on time, I see," said 
 Crank, smiling. 
 
 " Yes, and that's just what I want 
 you to be, always," was the semi-se- 
 rious reply. 
 
 " You can bet on me!" The look 
 of the woman was more expressive 
 than her words, and she continued : 
 
 " Now, then, Jack, unbosom your- 
 self 1" 
 
 "I told you yesterday what I 
 wanted. At least I told you enough 
 to give you an idea ol what I wanted. 
 Did you not understand ?" 
 
 " A person can sometimes under- 
 stand too much or too little, Jack. 
 Therb should be nothing but plain 
 words between you and I in this busi- 
 ness." 
 
 "And that's just exactly what I 
 want. Are you willing to go to 
 work for me to do anything that I 
 ask you to do?" 
 
 " Yes, provided you don't ask me
 
 28 
 
 to murder anybody, or do some other 
 dreadful thing." 
 
 " Of course I would not ask you to 
 do that. But you must be faithful 
 and trueT 
 
 " You have the word of Cranky 
 Ann that she will put herself under 
 your instructions, and perform any- 
 thing that you may ask!" 
 
 "But don't ask too much," she 
 would have said, had she uttered her 
 thoughts, which she was very careful 
 not to do. 
 
 The two then held a long and ear- 
 nest conversation, the nature of which 
 will become apparent to the reader as 
 our story progresses. As he rose to 
 go Jack said : 
 
 " I guess we understand each other, 
 Crank?" 
 
 " Perfectly /" 
 
 But there was a strange gleam in 
 the eye of the street-walker, that Jack 
 Dunning would not have understood 
 had he noticed it. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Alanson Baldwin had not been out 
 of bed as late as 12 o'clock for many 
 a long month indeed, for many a 
 "ear and the proposition made by 
 Ms young friend somewhat startled 
 him for an instant. But he had set 
 out to learn all that he could of crime 
 in Chicago, and he was not prepared 
 to falter in the work so quick. 
 
 " I do not know exactly what you 
 mean, Harry," he said, after a mo- 
 ment's pause, "when you speak of 
 showing me ' Chicago at midnight,' 
 as you term it, but I will follow 
 wherever you may choose to lead. 
 I hope, however, you will try and 
 avoid danger, . both on my account 
 and your own." 
 
 " Whatever you may see, do not 
 for an instant permit yourself to be 
 frightened. Remember that you are 
 a companion of one of the gay boys 
 of Chicago, and, as a man is known 
 by the company he keeps, you will 
 everywhere be looked upon as one 
 of those who now and then stroll into 
 places where they ought not to go." 
 
 "Very well. I will try and not 
 
 turn pale or tremble, as possibly I 
 might do under other circumstan- 
 ces." 
 
 Harry Harper consulted his watch. 
 It was yet early in the evening, com- 
 paratively it was late according to 
 the old gentleman's method of keep- 
 ing track of time. 
 
 " We have an hour or so to spare," 
 he said, " but that time can easily be 
 whiled away in some of the neighbor- 
 ing concert saloons. After that we 
 will visit places that will interest you 
 much more deeply than you im- 
 agine." 
 
 Little did Harry Harper imagine 
 that he was uttering prophetic words ! 
 
 For the next two hours the sight- 
 seers and scene-seekers found noth- 
 ing very extraordinary or out of the 
 way, though to the old gentleman it 
 was not only new and novel, but ex- 
 tremely interesting. He had never 
 before mingled in such company, and 
 persistently refused to quaff the 
 foaming lager, in response to the in- 
 vitations of the waiters pretty and 
 otherwise who lugged that beverage 
 to all parts of the house they visited. 
 Finally Harry inquired of him the 
 hour. 
 
 Mr. Baldwin fumbled under his 
 coat an instant and exclaimed, excit- 
 edly: 
 
 " Heavens! I've lost my watch I" 
 
 "Hush," said Harry, without man 
 ifesting any alarm, "I think you must 
 be mistaken." 
 
 " No, Harry, I am not mistaken 1 
 It was in my pocket less than an 
 hour ago! It has been stolen!" 
 
 " No, not so bad as that. It was 
 taken, but not stolen that's an ugly 
 word. I presume some friend has 
 borrowed it, forgetting to ask you for 
 the loan." 
 
 "But I have no friend in this 
 place." 
 
 "Oh, yes, you have one that I 
 know of." 
 
 "And who is he?" inquired the 
 old gentleman, looking around with 
 keen, careful scrutiny, hoping that 
 be might see some one that he knew. 
 
 Harry held out his hand and the 
 old man mechanically took it.
 
 30 
 
 To his great surprise, instead of 
 the warm palm, he felt a cold sensa- 
 tion, and instantly the truth flashed 
 upon his mind his watch had not 
 been stolen ! 
 
 "That was very cleverly done, 
 Harry!" 
 
 There was a broad grin upon his 
 face. 
 
 " Yes, and it might have been done 
 just as cleverly by a dozen other men 
 in this room," was the reply. " I 
 have been watching you with a dou- 
 ble purpose to protect your prop 
 erty and practically demonstrate 
 what perhaps you would not have 
 believed prssible that YOU can be 
 robbed in the most public place, and 
 not know anything about it for hours 
 afterward." 
 
 " I really think I should have 
 doubted," was the reply, "but now 
 I "know, and shall be very careful in 
 future. By the way, is it not time 
 to start?" 
 
 " Halt past eleven yes we will go. 
 Come!" 
 
 The two made their way to the 
 street. 
 
 After they had proceeded a short 
 distance, Harry took from his pocket 
 a revolver. 
 
 " Here," hesaid,"Ihave purchased 
 this for j'our benefit. " 
 
 The merchant jerked away his 
 hand as though it had been a rattle- 
 snake that was offered him. 
 
 " Harry Harper," he said, with 
 great emphasis, " what does this 
 mean?" 
 
 u It means that you ought not to 
 go promenading around the streets of 
 Chicago at midnight without some 
 means of protection!" 
 
 The old man looked at Harry 
 
 sharp y. 
 
 "Are you g^ing to take me where 
 I am liable to be murdered ?" 
 
 "No, sir; I believe you will be just 
 as safe with me as \ou would be in 
 your bed at home." 
 
 " Then why offer me this murder- 
 ous wenpon this instrument of 
 death ?" 
 
 " It was simply to make you feel 
 
 safer than you would or could feel 
 without it." 
 
 " Then keep it! I would not have 
 it in my possession a single hour for 
 this whole block of buildings! I 
 would not have the life of a human 
 being upon my soul for all the world's 
 treasures ! There is no danger so 
 great that a man cannot avoid it 
 without bloodshed! A deadly wea- 
 pon tor protection is the argument of 
 cowardice, not manhood! Look at 
 the homes in Chicago that have been 
 desolated by the wretched habit ot 
 carrying revolvers. See the widows 
 and the orphans that would have pro- 
 tectors now but for this heaven- 
 cursed and hell invented demon that 
 you call revolver! No, sir! II I knew 
 I was to be butchered to night, I 
 would scorn to accept this purchase 
 that you have made for me!" 
 
 Seeing that the old gentleman was 
 excited, Harry did not attempt to 
 urge the point. 
 
 "I meant no harm, Mr. Baldwin," 
 he said, " and should not have made 
 the offer had I not believed you 
 would have felt more secure. And 
 I now assure you that no matter how 
 serious things may look, no matter 
 how boisterous the conduct of the 
 parties who may be met, no matter if 
 you do see squabbles and knock- 
 downs, and hear fearful threats and 
 horrible oaths, there will be no dan- 
 ger for you, because you are the com- 
 panion of a boy as well known as any 
 that travels the streets of Chicago, 
 and who is able to protect his friends 
 at any time and place." 
 
 " I do not doubt you, and do not 
 blame you, Harry. I have very pe- 
 culiar ideas concerning such things, 
 and am willing that others should 
 have theirs." 
 
 While talking they had turned 
 westward on a cross-street, and soon 
 found themselves on Pacific avenue 
 or what is popularly known as Biler 
 
 street. 
 
 " We will turn once more," said 
 Harry, but the old gentleman was 
 admiring the solid walls of the Arm- 
 ory prison, and it required a second
 
 31 
 
 reminder to make him understand. 
 
 " You have seen the inside of that 
 building already," he continued, with 
 a laugh that was not as merry as it 
 might have been. 
 
 " Yes, and so have you," replied 
 Mr. Baldwin, by way of a joke a 
 sort of a crude joke, too. 
 
 " If I get there again, I shall ask 
 no kind friend to come to my relief," 
 said Harry. 
 
 " We will say no more about that, 
 my dear boy, but will proceed on the 
 journey that you have marked out." 
 
 But they had taken but a few steps, 
 when Mr. Baldwin changed places 
 from the inside to the outside of the 
 walk, and his left hand clutched Har 
 ry's arm with a firm grip. 
 
 The walk was not thronged, but 
 the one or two saloons that were first 
 passed were filled with men and wo- 
 men that a stranger wou'd not care 
 to meet, and the language is so foul, 
 so filthy, so abominable that the mer 
 chant involuntarily shrank from such 
 close proximity to such loathsome 
 creatures. 
 
 A little further on, as they neared 
 an open window with half-closed shut- 
 ters a woman's voice a harsh, 
 cracked, repuMve voice called: 
 
 " Mister!" 
 
 The old man halted, and would 
 have inquired innocently what was 
 wanted, but Hany pulled him along. 
 
 " Pay no attention to anything that 
 is said to you here," he said ; " you 
 will find a hag in every door, and a 
 hag's head in every window, and 
 overy one will hail you in one way 
 and another, for it is their business 
 to do so." 
 
 " What are they ? Who are they, 
 Harry?" 
 
 " Before I am through showing you 
 Chicago in Chunks, w will visit some 
 or all of these places. At present, it 
 is only necessary that I should tell 
 you that every house, with perhaps 
 one or two exceptions, in this whole 
 block, is occupied by the lowest and 
 vilest and most besotted prostitutes 
 to bs found in any city in the wor'd!" 
 
 "My God!" exclaimed Mr. Bald- 
 win, " is it possible that such a black 
 
 spot can be found in the very heart 
 of the great city of Chicjgo a Chris- 
 tian city, too!" 
 
 "When you know all, my friend, 
 you will not cla^s this place as the 
 worst that can be found in the heart 
 of tne city." 
 
 Again this young man's words were 
 deeper than he knew! 
 
 " J cannot understand you. You 
 say that the creatures who find a 
 home in these hovels are the worst, 
 and yet you assert that there are more 
 dangerous places still !" 
 
 " I will explain, then. The pitfalls 
 that one can see can be avoided. The 
 veriest fool that walks the streets 
 could not be deceived regarding the 
 character of these hell-holes. The 
 women, if I can call them such, who 
 now hail us as we pass, carry the 
 mark of shame upon their faces so 
 plain that a man can read the sign of* 
 sin in the darkest night. But ther^ 
 are places in Chicago where no finger- 
 board points to danger, where every- 
 thing looks as guileless as the most 
 sacred sanctuary, but where danger, 
 in its darkest shape, lurks night and 
 day ! These, sir, that we look at 
 now, a/e places that are brazen in 
 their infamy; the others are more 
 damnable and more dangerous be- 
 cause they are concealed traps where 
 innocence is liable at any time to 
 touch the spring and tall, fall never 
 to rise again fall, adding one more 
 victim to woman's vilenessand man's 
 licentiousness!" 
 
 Astonishment was never more 
 plainly depicted than on the old gen- 
 tleman's face, when he heard these 
 impassioned utterances. It took him 
 a full minute to find words to ex- 
 press his feelings. 
 
 " I am amazed !" he said ; "but what 
 do you mean when you sp:ak of 
 woman's vileness? ' 
 
 " Woman, Mr. Baldwin, can de 
 scend to far lower depths of in- 
 famy than man! The very worst 
 devils in the world are .^-devils, and 
 if there is a hell, as true, as I stand 
 here I believe it is governed by a 
 woman! I will say no more now, but 
 before many days go by you shall
 
 32 
 
 see with your own eyes and hear with 
 your own ears!" 
 
 " I will not press you to explain. 
 I had rather look at this wickedness 
 than listen to a description of it, no 
 matter how truthful or how accurate. 
 But great heavens! what place is this?" 
 he exclaimed, as Harry halted. 
 
 "This," replied the young man, in 
 a low voice, but with startling em- 
 phasis, is the dark den of Chicago!" 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Josephine Baldwin, the day after 
 her father had left his home, sat alone 
 in one of the grand parlors, with no 
 apparent occupation. But she was 
 busy she was thinking and her 
 thoughts were sad ones, too. The 
 father that she loved was away, and 
 that of itself was a circumstance that 
 made the hours weary and lonesome; 
 but there was another whose features 
 were vividly engraved upon her mind, 
 and to him her thoughts turned with 
 melancholy interest. Where was he? 
 What was he doing ? Was he really 
 a bad, unprincipled man, and was 
 there no means by which he could be 
 reclaimed? Why did she take his 
 wrong actions so deeply to heart ? 
 For a long time, she had not seen him. 
 They had never been on terms of in- 
 timacy. He had never in his life 
 made any overture by which to be- 
 tray any other feeling for her than 
 that of the respect to which her sta- 
 tion entitled her. But there was an 
 indescribable something a magnetic 
 influence of some unexplainable na 
 ture that caused the heart of Jose- 
 phine Baldwin to warm and her pulse 
 to quicken whenever the name of 
 Harry Harper was mentioned, or 
 whenever her thoughts turned toward 
 him. 
 
 She sat there for a full half hour, 
 and never moved. She was in a semi 
 trance, with hardly the power to con- 
 trol her actions. 
 
 The bell rang sharply, and the ser- 
 vant took from the handset a District 
 Telegraph Messenger a note directed 
 in a feminine hand to Miss Baldwin. 
 
 She opened the missive with un- 
 
 concern, for it was not unusual for her 
 to receive messages from some of her 
 many lady friends. 
 
 " An invitation to a party, I sup- 
 pose." she said, languidly. 
 
 But her eyes put on a more serious 
 expression as she glanced over the 
 written page. 
 
 The note read as follows : 
 
 PALMER HOUSE, CHICAGO, Aug. 16. 
 My Dear Miss Baldwin : Though to 
 you I am an entire stranger, yet I 
 trust you will pardon me for intrud- 
 ing upon your attenion for a moment. 
 I am traveling for my health- this 
 summer, and have no other compan- 
 ions than the servants who accom- 
 pany me. My home is in New Or 
 leans, and my mother gave me your 
 address, assuring me that herself and 
 your dead mother were schoolmates 
 together, and as dear to each other 
 is sisters. She was confident, she 
 said, that the daughter of her friend 
 would be glad to meet the child of 
 the frieud of her girlhood. I should 
 be very happy indeed to have you 
 call on me at my rooms at the Pal- 
 mer; but if you prefer I shall esteem 
 it a privilege to call on you at your 
 residence. 
 
 Very sincerely yours, 
 
 ISABELLA MARTINDALE. 
 
 Without a shadow of suspicion that 
 there was any treachery in this well- 
 worded note, Josephine answered it 
 at once, warmly assuring Miss Mar- 
 tindale that she would be more than 
 welcome, and pressing upon her to 
 come without delay, and make her 
 home with them while in the city. 
 
 This was exactly what Cranky 
 Ann (for the reader will of course 
 recognize her as Isabella Martindale) 
 had anticipated, although she had 
 really taken rooms at the Palmer 
 House, in order to make assurance 
 doubly sure. 
 
 On that afternoon, a lady of uncer- 
 tain age, from her looks, was driven 
 in a stylish carriage to the house 0f 
 Mr. Baldwin, and was cordially 
 greeted by the merchant's accom- 
 plished and hospitable daughter. 
 
 Cranky Ann had done herself great
 
 33 
 
 credit in the success with which she 
 had disguised herself. The cosmetics 
 that had been brought into use had 
 been skilfully applied, and a beautiful 
 blonde wig, in direct contrast to her 
 own black hair, made the transforma- 
 tion complete, and Crank would not 
 have been seriously doubted had she 
 given her age at not much more than 
 twenty. She was literally loaded 
 down with diamonds, which were 
 displayed with rare good taste, and 
 her whole appearance indicated a gen- 
 teel young lady of great wealth. 
 
 In response to the urgent entreat- 
 ies of Miss Baldwin, the elegant 
 "southern lady" consented to re- 
 main as the guest of Josephine for 
 the few days that she intended to re 
 mam in Chicago. 
 
 The son of the merchant was intro- 
 duced, and the dashing blonde beau- 
 ty, with her charming manners, her 
 inodest conduct, and her rare con- 
 versational powers, together with her 
 marked nobility of birth, made a deep 
 impression upon him. 
 
 Before Cranky Ann had been 
 there two days, Jeremiah Baldwin, 
 the young merchant, the heir to a 
 large fortune, was madly in love! 
 
 The street-walker had played her 
 cards to perfection. 
 
 On the second day, Crank managed 
 to obtain an interview with Jack 
 Dunning, to whom she revealed her 
 success, and related all the partic- 
 ulars, with the exception of her own 
 conquest; that little circumstance she 
 very wisely kept locked in her own 
 bosom. 
 
 ** Do you know young Mr. Bald- 
 win?" she asked, after having in- 
 formed him of what she had done. 
 
 " No, I think not," was the reply, 
 but he may know me, for I am pret- 
 ty well spotted around town." 
 
 " Then it would be foolish for you 
 to call on me at his house, for you 
 know, Jack, that a high-toned lady, 
 like myself, could not recognize as an 
 acquaintance, even, a disreputable 
 scoundrel like yourself." 
 
 Jack's face crimsoned, but he con- 
 quered his angry feelings. 
 
 " You are right ; I must not call 
 
 on yon ; therefore we mast manage 
 so that you and your friend shall caH 
 on my mother f ' 
 
 "And for this special occasion 
 what fortunate old female vagabond 
 will be honored by personating your 
 beloved mamma?" 
 
 " There is a house on Wabash ave- 
 nue, among the five hundreds, that 
 will answer the purpose, I guess." 
 
 " Oh, fes ! I know the place welL 
 It is an assignation house." 
 
 "Once more you are correct, 
 Crank. The keeper is a particular 
 friend of mine. She is a very moth- 
 erly old lady, too, and can easily 
 pass herselt off as one of the finest 
 old ladies in the land." 
 s* " Yes, and she is a fine lady, Jack. 
 She would make a splendid appear- 
 ance with a rope around her neck. It 
 ought to have been there long agol* 
 
 " You are getting to be exceed- 
 ingly moral, Miss Crank. Why 
 should my venerable friend be pre- 
 sented with such an undesirable or- 
 nament?" 
 
 " Because she is a murderess!" 
 
 " Who has she murdered ? I never 
 heard anything of the kind." 
 
 " She has not, it is true, cut any- 
 body's throat, nor used a knife or 
 pistol, and it is possible that she 
 never took a life. But she has stab- 
 bed the life out of innocence as often 
 as any cut-throat ever plunged a 
 knife into the heart of his victim! 
 That is worse than murder, Jack 
 Dunning!" 
 
 "Really, Crank, when the revival- 
 ists get here you would make a big 
 hit by going down to the Tabernacle 
 as an exhorter! How long have you 
 felt that way? It has always been 
 my impression that Cranky Ann was 
 not too good to engage in this worse- 
 than-murder business." 
 
 The street- walker had spoken with- 
 out thinking. Perceiving that she 
 had betrayed herself, and that it was 
 necessary to stop short and tarn 
 about, she laced Jack with a laugh 
 that had every appearance of being 
 genuine. 
 
 " I was merely shooting off my 
 mouth to see what effect it would
 
 have on you, Jack," she said ; " and 
 don't you forget that old Crank is a 
 thoroughbred, and the wickedest 
 woman that ever wore a brass-heeled 
 gaiter boot!" 
 
 Jack telt relieved. 
 
 "That's the kind ol talk I like, old 
 gal," he said, with a hilarity that was 
 not feigned; "and now, when shall 
 we two meet again ?" 
 
 "To-morrow afternoon, if that will 
 suit you," was the reply. 
 
 "To-morrow afternoon, then, you 
 will call on your friend, and your 
 friend' s son will give you and your 
 companion a warm and hearty wel- 
 come!" 
 
 After some further conversation of 
 a common-place nature, Crank sepa- 
 rated from her companion in guilt, 
 and returned to the residence of the 
 merchant. 
 
 The following day, by the artful 
 and persuasive accept ions which her 
 education helped Crank to use with 
 powerful force, Josephine Baldwin 
 consented to accompany the "South- 
 ern lady" on an af ernoon call upon a 
 much-esteemed acquaintance! 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 "The dark den of Chicago!" re- 
 peated Mr. Baldwin, after Harry Har- 
 per had ceased speaking, as they 
 halted on Pacific avenue; "what do 
 you mean by that, Harry?" 
 
 " This is the wart on the fair body 
 ot Chicago! This is the blistering 
 curse of this unhappy city. It is 
 the den ot depravity by the side of 
 which all other dens are blameless! 
 It is the dance house of old Dan Web- 
 ster!" 
 
 " I have heard of such a man. He 
 is colored, I believe." < 
 
 " He's a nigger," was the response, 
 "but he is, though ignorant, and un- 
 able to read a word or write his 
 name, one of the most cunning ras- 
 cals to be found in this country. He 
 is wealthy, and is known about town, 
 where he is known at all, as the Col 
 ored Croesus. Will you go in?" 
 
 "You are the Captain in this ex- 
 ploring expedition," was the reply; 
 
 "wherever you go I follow." Aud 
 the old gentleman smiled. 
 
 But he did not smile a moment 
 later, for a scene met his gaze that 
 would have bewildered and stagger- 
 ed a man of more experience in the 
 wickedness of this world than Alan- 
 son Baldwin. 
 
 What did he see? 
 
 It is not necessary that we should 
 lumber these pages with a detaled 
 description of the room or its loca- 
 tion. Our story is one of those 
 graphic recitals of facts that will not 
 tolerate the dullness of the prosaic 
 and uninteresting descriptions that 
 are characteristic of the writings of 
 Dickens and authors of less repute. 
 The readers of this romance expect 
 and demand life in every word, a 
 sensation in every paragraph. Aad 
 they shall have it ! 
 
 Imagine a large-sized room, with 
 low ceiling, dimly lighted by kero- 
 sene lamps, black and smoky, and 
 you have a three-line description of 
 this place that is better than a column 
 of generalities. It is the inmates and 
 their actions, and not the place or it* 
 surroundings, that require attention 
 here. 
 
 Reader, were you ever in hell? Did 
 you ever have the nightmare? Were 
 you ever afflicted by some horrid 
 dream, in which were mixed up de- 
 mons ot darkness and every conceiv- 
 able object of loathing in human 
 form? It you have been, then you can 
 have some conception of the scene 
 that met the merchant's eyes as the 
 door of the dance hall closed, and he 
 found himself in the midst of a gath- 
 ering ol the filth and scum of Chi 
 cago. 
 
 The "band" was laboring with ve- 
 hement industry, and the music pro- 
 duced was ear piercing, though not 
 soul-stirring. There were probibly 
 fifty couples on the floor, keeping 
 lively step to the fiddlers' f sawings 
 and scrapings, and every mortal was 
 sweating from head to foot, making 
 the close room fairly sickening to the 
 organs of smell of any decent man. 
 
 The males were mostly negroes 
 "big buck niggers," as Harry called
 
 thtrn and the females were (oh, 
 horrible!) white %irls! 
 
 There were a few wenches, it is 
 true, but the others outnumbered 
 them two to one 1 
 
 " I can't stand this ! I shall suffo- 
 cate! Let us go!" whispered Mr. 
 Baldwin* 
 
 ** Wait a few minutes; you'll soon 
 get over it; I want to explain to you 
 the character of some of the persons 
 in this place." 
 
 " If I don't die from the effects of 
 this horrid atmosphere, I'll try and 
 remain a short time, but it must be 
 very short, Harry. I can't stand it 
 long." 
 
 "Do you see those girls?" said 
 Harry. 
 
 "Yes, yes ! Great heaven ! I do see 
 them! A I did not I could never be- 
 lieve these things could exist in Chi 
 ago!" > 
 
 " And do you know what they are?" 
 
 " I can guess but oh, Harry, it is 
 awful! 11 
 
 " These girls some of them, you 
 will perceive, are quite young are 
 not what are known as common pros- 
 titutes." 
 
 " For God's sake, then, what are 
 they?" 
 
 "They are working girls'" 
 
 " Impossible !' 
 
 The old gentleman was the picture 
 of astonishment. 
 
 " Where do they work ?" he in- 
 quired. 
 
 "They are the scrub girls and 
 chambermaids of the first-class hotels 
 of Chicago. While at work they come 
 in contact with these negroes. Daily 
 association with them wears off the 
 repugnance that they may at first 
 feel, and finally they consent to come 
 after working hours to such places as 
 this, and indulge in revels as disgust- 
 ing as they are sickening." 
 
 "But these are not all girls of that' 
 class ?" 
 
 "Oli, no. Many of these white 
 creatures are confirmed courtesans, 
 who have descended step by step 
 from sin in silk to the condition in 
 which you now see them to the 
 lowest degree ol shame that a human 
 
 being can reach. For instance, do 
 you see this little woman with a short 
 dress, who is coming this way? -You 
 would think by her short skirts, and 
 her petite figure, that she was a girl 
 in her teens ; but she is one of the 
 oldest and most abandoned prosti- 
 tutes in Chicago. She is the mother 
 of three nigger children, and that 
 whitewasher whose arm she holds is 
 their father. She is " 
 
 The short- skirted female came 
 within two feet of them while Harry 
 was speaking, and Mr. Baldwin had 
 an opportunity to look her squarely 
 in the eyes. As he did so, he started 
 back in horror, his face turned as 
 white as the frescoed ceilings of his 
 own parlors, his eyes glared with a 
 wild and unnatural stare, and he 
 would have fallen to the floor had not 
 Harry's strong arm prevented. 
 I" Mr. Baldwin! "exclaimed Harry, 
 " this is indeed too much for you to 
 bear; let us go out at once." 
 
 "No! no! There! There!" His 
 trembling finger pointed to the girl 
 Harry had been describing. 
 
 "What of her?" inquired Harry, 
 in utter amszement. 
 
 " Great God have mercy on her!" 
 
 " Do not be excited, Mr. Baldwin; 
 there are hundreds such as she in 
 Chicago." 
 
 "No! there is but one! That is 
 my sister's child!" 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 On the day following the startling 
 discovery made by Mr. Baldwin at 
 the dance house of old Dan Webster, 
 the merchant labored under great 
 mental excitement and suffering. 
 Both his sister and her husband had 
 been dead several years, and it had 
 been supposed that the daughter was 
 also in her grave, she having mys- 
 teriously disappeared when quite a 
 young girl. The mob at the dance, 
 though many of them saw the old 
 man being held up by his young 
 friend, paid no attention to the cir- 
 cumstance, supposing that he was 
 drunk. Harry instantly conducted 
 him to the street, assuring him that
 
 36 
 
 he knew the girl well ,and could find 
 her at any t me, and that it would be 
 folly to set ; an interview with her 
 that night. They then proceeded to 
 their room i i the business part of the 
 city, where a sleepless night was 
 passed by the elder of the two. When- 
 ever his eyelids closed, there con- 
 fronted him a vision of a fair young 
 girl mingling with the debased black 
 and white wretches whom he had 
 seen mingling promiscuously togeth- 
 er on that same night 1 
 
 The next afternoon, feeling that a 
 walk would do him good, and per- 
 haps revive his spirits, he resumed 
 the disguise that he had worn the 
 previous night, and sauntereM out, 
 with no do' nite idea as to the direc- 
 tion he shoald take, or the destination 
 he should i each. First he gassed his 
 own store, and passed within two 
 feet of his son, who knew him not. 
 Then, guided by some inward mon- 
 itor, he strolled down Wabash ave- 
 nue, until he reached his own home. 
 Oh, how he longed to enter, if but 
 for a moment, and press his beloved 
 daughter to his breast ! But he had 
 embarked upon a mission, and he had 
 i the courage to resist the impulse that 
 forced him to lay his hand upon the 
 gate, as ha passed. He saw hfs 
 daughter at one window, while at the 
 other sat a strange lady ! 
 
 " I wonder who that can be?" he 
 mused ; " I certainly never saw her 
 before, and it is singular that a per- 
 fect stranger should appear, upon 
 such app arent familiar terms, so soon 
 after my departure 1" 
 
 But the subject was soon dismissed 
 from his mind, as he leisurely pro- 
 ceedef down the avenue, busy with 
 his thoughts sad and gloomy 
 thoughts. 
 
 Twenty-second street was reached 
 before he was conscious of the time 
 he had been walking; and, turning, 
 he proceeded as far east as the little 
 depot at the head of South Park ave- 
 nue. Here, fanned by the pure lake 
 breezes, he remained for half an hour 
 or more, and then started on his re- 
 turn, taking the same route by which 
 he had come. On reaching the Ha- 
 
 ven School he halted to watch the 
 pranks of the playful children, who 
 were enjoying with wild delight their 
 afternoon recess. 
 
 " Alasl't he sighed, " she was one 
 of these the last time I saw her?" 
 
 At that moment he looked up and 
 started back with a shudder that was 
 involuntary ; for there, within ten feet 
 of him, approaching at leisure pace, 
 was his own daughter, accompanied 
 by the strange lady ! 
 
 Josephine passed him by without 
 the slightest look or token of recog- 
 nition ; but her companion gazed at 
 the old man with a wild stare, and 
 turned pale and trembled as he re- 
 turned it with a searching, penetra- 
 ting gaze. 
 
 " That's the old man I promised 
 to meet again," thought Cranky Ann, 
 " and on my soul I believe he has 
 recognized mel* 
 
 But she continued on her way and 
 never looked around. 
 
 " Who in the world can that wo 
 man be ?" was the question Mr. Bald- 
 win asked himself. " If I did not 
 know that I was thoroughly disguised, 
 I would swear that she knew me ; for 
 a stranger, and a lady at that, would 
 never have devoured me with her 
 eyes, as she did. And she started, 
 too, and turned pale, and looked 
 frightened. This is a mystery that 
 I cannot understand ; but this I do 
 know, that she is every inch a lady, 
 or Josephine Baldwin would not be 
 seen in her company ! I wonder 
 where they are going? Shall I follow 
 them ? No ! though in the disguise 
 of an ignorant countryman, I will not 
 forget that I am Alanson Baldwin 
 and a gentleman /" 
 
 Ah ! old man, had you known the 
 trutb your very soul would have 
 frozen with horror, and all the powers 
 of hell and the devil could not have 
 held you back ! 
 
 4 " Why do they walk, I wonder?" 
 he continued, in an inaudible conver- 
 sation with himself; " it is almost a 
 mile from here to my house, and 
 surely Josephine would not travel all 
 that distance on foot, when the fam- 
 ily carriage is at her disposal at any
 
 37 
 
 hoar of the day. Really, I feel mys- 
 tified; my own daughter did not 
 know me, and yet that other woman 
 didf There is something strange 
 about this something that I cannot 
 understand something so myste- 
 rious that I am almost inclined to 
 hurry on after them, and find out 
 where they go, and who this woman 
 is! But pshaw! I have no fears, and 
 speculations are idle and unavailing 
 my dear little Josie is all right, 
 and even a suspicion concerning her 
 friend is mean and cowardly!" 
 
 He then took an avenue car and 
 returned to his room, where he found 
 Harry, reading a famous Saturday 
 sporting paper, and smoking a cigar. 
 
 The young man smiled. * 
 
 41 Been out taking in the town on 
 your own hook ?" he inquired. 
 
 'Oh, no; I have lefi all that for 
 you, and have simply been taking the 
 air and indulging in a walk down the 
 avenue." 
 
 "Down the avenue! Then you 
 must have passed your house." 
 
 " Yes ; I not only walked past my 
 own home, but also took a peep into 
 the store, where I saw my son and 
 employes busily at work, little think- 
 ing that the eyes of the old man was 
 upon them." \ 
 
 " And did you see your daughter, 
 too?" 
 
 " Oh, yes ; I saw her twice./ And 
 the old gentleman related the inci- 
 dent already known to the reader. 
 
 " What do you think of it, Harry?" 
 he inquired. 
 
 " I think this," he replied, " that 
 Miss Baldwin would never counte- 
 nance the acquaintance or accept the 
 friendship of any man or woman 
 whose integrity was not above sus- 
 picion !" 
 
 He spoke warmly and earnestly. 
 
 u Well said, my young friend, well 
 said ! And that reminds me of some- 
 thing Josie said about you /" 
 
 About me ! It is not possible that 
 Miss Baldwin would stop for a mo- 
 ment to think of such a person as I 
 am I 
 
 His heart was in his throat. He 
 could hardly speak. 
 
 " Ok, yes ! She urged me to make 
 all possible haste to the station house, 
 and by all means to secure your re- 
 lease, no matter what you had done. 
 And when I returned and explained 
 everything she made me do it, Har- 
 ry and she read the letter you had 
 written, the dear child defended you 
 with wonderful eloquence, and de- 
 clared her belief that, though wrong, 
 you were honest, and would have 
 faithfully and manfully kept your 
 promise 1" * 
 
 "God bless her!" 
 
 The old man noticed the deep fer- 
 vency with which these words were 
 uttered, but he attributed the cause 
 for so much emotion to the natural 
 gratitude that any one would feel to- 
 wards a warm and zealous defender. 
 He did not dream of the great joy 
 that gladdened the heart of his young 
 friend as he heard the story of the 
 girl's sympathy and confidence ! She 
 at least did noli think him a thief, and 
 he was happy ! 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 It will be remembered that, in a 
 preceding chapter, mention was made 
 of a remarkable dream that disturbed 
 the slumbers of Cranky Ann, on the 
 night that she revealed a portion of 
 her life-tale to the philanthropic mer- 
 chant. 
 
 It was merely a dream, and yet it 
 was so natural, so life like, so vivid 
 that on awakening the poor street- 
 walker's mind was dazed, and it re- 
 quired several minutes to restore her 
 to complete consciousness. But 
 when reason did come, and she real- 
 ized that her imaginings of the hours 
 before had been but the fallacies of 
 dreamland, she groaned aloud and 
 muttered : 
 
 "God! Twas onty a dream, after 
 all!" 
 
 Upon retiring, her mind had not 
 been in a settled condition, but she 
 heroically endeavored to stifle mem- 
 ory, and keep back the surging 
 thoughts that madly struggled in the 
 effort to push themselves fcrward. 
 That which she had related to Mr.
 
 Baldwin had revived recollections 
 that were agonizing, and she cursed 
 herself for the weakness that had led 
 her to let loose her tongue at the re 
 quest of a stranger. Yet there was 
 a magnetism in his presence, a charm 
 in his words, that she could not re- 
 sist. She felt that she was in the 
 presence of a good man better than 
 any that she had conversed with tor 
 years and the sensation was so 
 strange and so pleasant that she could 
 refuse him nothing. She had met 
 and conversed with a great many 
 respectable gentleman before but they 
 were such only in name they were 
 the hypocrites whose prayers were 
 long and loud in public, but who 
 were like an apple with a fair and 
 tempting skin, beneath which, to the 
 very core, all was rottenness. 
 
 Cranky Ann's eyelsds had scarcely 
 closed when fancy fluttered its fleecy 
 wings, and the fairies of imagination 
 danced fleetingly before her. Once 
 more she was a child. The bloom 
 of youth was upon her cheeks, and 
 the vigils of virtue had guarded her 
 honor. Purity was written upon her 
 face and beamed from her eyes and 
 the blighting breath of scandal had 
 not scorched her reputation nor sul- 
 lied her name. Her heart was light 
 as the fleecy flakes of the winter's 
 snow Time passed. Years were 
 compressed into minutes, through 
 the magic potency of the dream god. 
 The tempter came. With his smooth 
 words, his persuasive and appealing 
 eyes, his gentle manners, he won the 
 maiden's heart. Without thought, 
 with never an idea that she was do 
 ing wrong, with no suspicion that the 
 lover was other than he seemed, with 
 no lack of confidence in every word 
 he uttered, but with child-like faith 
 that no power on earth could shake, 
 she fell into the toils. Bliss was brief. 
 The devil's horns and hoofs were 
 soon revealed. Covered with 
 shame as with a garment, over- 
 whelmed with grief, middened with 
 a consciousness of her own guilt and 
 her betraj er's baseness, she shrank 
 from the gaze of family and friends, 
 and went out upon the world branded. 
 
 The dream was broken by a misty, 
 hazy, half-conscieus interlude, and 
 once more fitful fancy resumed its 
 sway. But oh! how changed the 
 vision! The beautiful maiden had 
 been transformed into a hateful, hid- 
 eous hag. She lay in a filthy hovel, 
 upon a bed of straw. Her face was 
 swollen, blotched and blistered. Her 
 hair was matted and tangled. She 
 was clothed in the most loathsome 
 rags, with the vermin crawling in 
 the seams, and feeding upon 
 her flesh. Her feet were bare, 
 and her hands were clotted with the 
 blood and filth that had been scraped 
 from festering sores. Wretchedness 
 such as that had never been seen be- 
 fore. Despair blazed from her blood- 
 shot eyes, and from head to foot she 
 quivered as one stricken with palsy. 
 The black angel of death stood over 
 her, and as he waved his crimson 
 wand the wretch upon the pallet gave 
 one mighty shriek, and fell back 
 stark, stiff, lifeless; and in the out- 
 lines of the sickening corpse Cranky 
 Ann saw reflected her own image ! 
 
 No wonder the street walker 
 groaned. No wonder she started. 
 No wonder she exclaimed, with the 
 blood treezing in her veins : 
 
 " God! 'Ttvas only a dream! 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 The house to which Cranky Ann 
 conducted Miss Baldwin was an im- 
 posing edifice, elegantly furnished, 
 presided over by a woman whom we 
 will call Madame Gibson. It was 
 simply a very aristocratic, high toned 
 assignation house. There was an air 
 of perfect respectability about the es- 
 tablishment, and even the neighbors 
 were not aware, at that time, of its 
 true character. Madame Gibson was 
 an elderly woman, somewhat inclined 
 to corpulency, with hair sprinkled 
 liberally with gray. She had remark- 
 ably clear black eyes, wore gold spec- 
 tacles, and her whole appearance was 
 rather attractive for one of her years. 
 Her real character will be clearly de- 
 fined before this romance is conclu- 
 ded.

 
 40 
 
 With the exception of the Madame 
 and two servants, (colored), there 
 was no one in the house at the time 
 we introduce her; but evidently she 
 was expecting a visitor, for she was 
 standing at a window of the front 
 parlor, peering through the blinds 
 with eyes that seemed too anxious 
 for ordinary curiosity. 
 
 u He wrote me a note that he would 
 be here this afternoon early," she 
 said to herself, " and here it is nearly 
 3 o'clock and no signs of his appear- 
 ance. That he means business I 
 know, for Jack Dunning is one of thit 
 kind; and he is one, too, who is will- 
 ling to bleed freely provided his wishes 
 are faithfully complied with. He is no 
 common customer, for he is too shrewd 
 to pay the price I demand for apart 
 ments, when he knows where to find 
 others, that will answer the same 
 purpose, for one quarter the amount ; 
 but when he requires a long head, a 
 brave heart, and a cunning brain, he 
 knows where to find it, and knows, 
 too, that he will have to pay for 
 iff ' 
 
 " Ha ! here he conies," she contin- 
 ued, with animation, as she has- 
 tened to the front door to admit her 
 expected friend and patron, even be 
 fore he had rang the bell. 
 
 "My dear Madame," exclaimed 
 Jack, shaking her warmly by the 
 hand, " I am delighted to find j-ou at 
 home. Did you receive my note?" 
 
 44 Yes, and it is lucky you wrote 
 one, for I had intended to enjoy an 
 afternoon ride to day." 
 
 "For pleasure, I suppose?" he 
 queried, with an expressive glance in 
 her face. 
 
 " Oh, for that matter, I always 
 combine business with pleasure," she 
 replied; 'the old woman always 
 keeps her eyes open, if she does look 
 through spectacles." 
 
 " And pretty sharp eyes they are, 
 too," he gallantly rejoined, as they 
 walked into the parlor. 
 
 Both having taken a seat on the 
 same sofa, Madame Gibson looked 
 up with a questioning gaze. 
 
 " I know what you would ask," he 
 said. 
 
 " Yes ? Well, if you are a mind- 
 reader, please tell me, what would I 
 ask?" 
 
 " You want to know my business 
 here." 
 
 " You are partly right, and partly 
 wrong. If you have any special 
 business with me, of course it is but 
 natural that I should have some curi 
 osity as to its nature; but one thing 
 I can assure you, Mr. Dunning you 
 will always find a cordial welcome to 
 the hospitalities of my house, whether 
 you come to seek my services, or as 
 a friendly caller !" 
 
 Jack Dimming did not repeat his 
 thoughts! It he had, one word would 
 have been sufficient " Gammon." 
 He knew that Madame Gibson would 
 do anything for money, and that as to 
 friendship she was a thoroughbred 
 wolf. But notwithstanding this 
 knowledge, he thanked her very 
 warmly for her kind assurances, and 
 then proceeded: 
 
 " Madame, it will only take me one 
 little minute to explain the reason of 
 my visit this afternoon. I wish to 
 engage you!" 
 
 " That is a queer wish, Jack; pray 
 make your meaning a little more 
 plain."" 
 
 " "Well, then, I want you to act a 
 part for a day or two. Do you think 
 you could consent to own me for a 
 son for that length of time ?" 
 
 " I should be proud of you if you 
 were my son," was the flattering re- 
 ply. 
 
 " But that does not answer m.jr 
 question." 
 
 " Really, I know I am thick head- 
 ed, but I must own that I don't quite 
 understand you. 
 
 " Then I will explain fully. Two 
 ladies will call here this afternoon. 
 One ot them, Miss Isabella Martin- 
 dale, you must recognize as a friend 
 you have met in New Orleans. She 
 is in mv employ. The other is a reat 
 lady, Miss Baldwin by name, with 
 whom I am madly in love, but have 
 no acquaintance. While they are 
 here, 1 will happen in. I am your 
 son, and of course you will introduce 
 me as such. Atter that, I can man-
 
 41 
 
 age the little play myself. An oppor- 
 tunity is all I ask." 
 
 " Now I understand the whole 
 business, as well as though I had 
 studied it a month. You say the 
 ladies will be here this afternoon?" 
 
 * At or near 4 o'clock." 
 
 "But suppose the young lady, by 
 some strange freak, does not prove 
 as tractable as you imagine P' 
 
 " If such should be the case," and 
 there was a wicked gleam in the two 
 eyes that he flashed upon the Mad- 
 ame, " then you and I may have oc- 
 casion to engage in further business 
 transactions /" 
 
 " I understand 1" was the reply. 
 
 There was more meaning in these 
 two words than could be explained 
 in an entire printed page. The voice 
 and the eye can tell more in a second 
 than words can express in an hour. 
 
 It was fortunate for them that a 
 quick understanding had been per 
 fected, for just at that moment the 
 clear-sounding bell announced that 
 at least one more visitor had ar 
 rived. 
 
 Jack Dunning did not desire to 
 meet his charmer at once. He con- 
 sidered that it would be much the 
 better plan to wait until she should 
 become partially acquainted with his 
 mother^ and then quietly drop in on 
 them, and secure the introduction he 
 coveted. 
 
 Retiring to a rear room, where he 
 would be unobserved, he awaited 
 further developments ; awaited them 
 with an anxiety he had never felt be- 
 fore. 
 
 A servant answered the bell, and 
 at once conducted the ladies, who 
 were none other than Cranky Ann 
 and Josephine Baldwin, to the main 
 parlor. 
 
 Madame Gibson was so completely 
 astonished, so thoroughly surprised, 
 so exceedingly pleased, that the 
 tears actually rolled down her cheeks, 
 as she hugged and kissed, and kissed 
 again, her dear friend 7 
 
 Her joy knew no bounds. She 
 was almost speechless with ecstacy. 
 
 And then there was another hug, 
 still other kisses, and further 
 
 vigorous and protracted shaking erf 
 hands. 
 
 After these demonstrations of de- 
 light, that had been admirably acted, 
 partially ceased, " Miss Martindale " 
 in due form introduced Madame 
 Gibson to Miss Baldwin. But she 
 did not make use of the old woman's 
 right name. Oh, no! Such a course 
 would have been fatal to any future 
 plans, and Jack Dunning had been 
 very careful to caution her. " Mrs. 
 Robinson ' ' was the name used for 
 the occasion a name that was pure 
 ly fictitious, and that would afford no 
 clue should after events require the 
 very respectable old lad y to retire to 
 some secluded city retreat. It was 
 not probable that a stranger would 
 remember the number of a house, 
 in a neighborhood where nearly all 
 residences resembled each other ; but 
 she would certainly remember a nanu 
 and who could tell her of the 
 whereabouts of " Mrs. Robinson," 
 when no such woman existed ?" 
 
 These schemers were sharp, shrewd, 
 cunning ; they had laid their plans 
 deep; they had prepared for any 
 emergency; they were bound to win, 
 by fair means or by foul ! 
 
 " Mrs. Robinson" was exceedingly 
 polite and entertaining to her visit- 
 ors, and Miss Bald win could not help 
 but form a very favorable opinion 
 concerning her. The old woman was 
 educated, and well versed not only 
 in the etiquette of the parlor, but in 
 the genial topics that make conversa- 
 tion pleasant and one's society agree- 
 able. 
 
 As for Cranky Ann, she astonished 
 even herself. She had not thought 
 it possible for her to represent a lady 
 so well. It was, indeed, perfection 
 itself. 
 
 And there are many more women 
 of the town in Chicago who, were 
 they so disposed, could so conduct 
 themselves as to make many a reai 
 lady envious ! 
 
 Half an hour was passed in an in- 
 terchange of sentiments that would 
 naturally find expression at a meet- 
 ing of two friends who reside so far 
 apart as are the cities of New Orleans
 
 42 
 
 and Chicago, in which Miss Baldwin 
 took small part; but she was not en- 
 tirely neglected, and soon found her- 
 self on quite familiar terms with her 
 new acquaintance. 
 
 Cranky Ann knew that Jack Dun- 
 ning was waiting with all the pa- 
 tience he could muster, in another 
 part of the house. It required no 
 great skill to find an excuse for mo- 
 mentarily leaving the parlor, and, as 
 soon as she decently could, she beck 
 oned a servant who was passing 
 through the hall, and followed her 
 out, leaving; the old woman to enter- 
 tain Miss Baldwin while she sought 
 Jack. 
 
 He was watching for her. A door 
 in the rear of the hall opened, and he 
 beckoned her to approach. 
 
 The servant, of course, was deaf, 
 dumb W^A. blind} They always are 
 in such places. 
 
 Jaek was looking his very best. 
 He was what many would consider a 
 handsome man. 
 
 " Crank ! is everything all right ?" 
 he whispered, eagerly. 
 
 " Everything is O. K., and now, 
 while I am away, is the time for you 
 to march forward and receive the in- 
 troduction that you have so set your 
 heart upon." 
 
 " Shall I go into the parlor now? " 
 
 "No; you had better go out 
 through the back gate, slip around 
 through the alley, and ring the front 
 door-bell. That would look as though 
 you had been away all the time." 
 
 " Your head is level, Crank I will 
 go at once." 
 
 u Wait a minute, Jack!" command- 
 ed the street walker. 
 
 " What do you want?" he inquired, 
 impatiently. 
 
 44 1 want to tell you this : Don't be 
 too rash ; don't be impetuous; don't 
 over-act your part. Make a favorable 
 impression if you can, but don't go 
 at it as a butcher does when he com- 
 mences a, day's work in slaughtering 
 beeves. I shall not have a chance, 
 probably, to speak to you again, 
 alone, before we leave for her home." 
 
 " Is she going home to-nigkt ?" he 
 impaired, almost savagely. 
 
 "Certainly! Why not? Do yow 
 expect to win a woman in an hour?" 
 
 u I may not win her, but I will 
 have her !" was the significant reply. 
 
 14 Yes, but not to day not to- 
 night! There is plenty of time. You 
 and your mother can call on /, and 
 after that, perhaps, an afternoon ride 
 on the boulevards, and after that " 
 
 " I am satisfied with your plan, 
 Crank! To-day I meet the beauty! 
 To-morrow or the day after we meet 
 again! The following day a ride! 
 After that" 
 
 The smile upon his face as he shot 
 through the back door, with the in- 
 complete sentence upon his lips, wa 
 sardonic it was devilish! 
 
 "After that.'" repeated Cranky 
 Ann, between her shut teeth ; ' after 
 that, Jack Dunning, you will find a 
 wolf in your path a hungry she-wolf, 
 who would tear the liver from your 
 foul carcass and feed it, warm and 
 dripping, to bitch curs, before stie 
 woulu permit you to harm one hair 
 of that girl' s head! Oh, I am glad 
 that I am a party to this unholy and 
 most devilish conspiracy ! I am glad 
 that Jack Dunning met me instead of 
 some wretch withaut a soul^ when in 
 search ol some one to help concoct and 
 execute an infamy blacker than hell ! 
 Guilt and gain, 'tis true, prompted 
 me to this wickedness! I did not 
 hesitate to sell myself for a few pal- 
 try dollars to assist in a scheme wor- 
 thy only of the queen of hell, the 
 devil's wife I But from this time 
 forth, though I may seem to serve my 
 master, I will be the soldier that will 
 stand guard over virtue ! Jack Dun- 
 ning shall only win her hate, her 
 contempt, her scorn ! I will poison 
 her mind ! I will do anything, every- 
 thing against him and this whorish 
 slut whom I have caressed this hour 1 
 I will foil them in their vile plans 
 peaceably, if I can; but if not, let 
 them beware when the tigress is at 
 bay r 
 
 And when she returned to the par- 
 lor and was honored with an intro- 
 duction to this same Jack Dunning 
 whom she had so bitterly denounced, 
 her face was wreathed in smiles, and
 
 43 
 
 there was a holy calm upon the brow 
 that had been so recently black and 
 furrowed with anger ! 
 
 Ah, Cranky Ann! you were in- 
 deed an excelent actress that after 
 noon! 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 We left Harry Harper and Mr. 
 Baldwin together in the room they 
 had rented down town the former 
 happy in ihe thought that the fair 
 daughter of his companion had spoken 
 of him, not only in kindness, but 
 with earnest enthusiasm. 
 
 Had he but known, at that instant, 
 where Josephine Baldwin was, he 
 would have prayed God for the wings 
 of an eagle, that he might fly to her 
 relief ! 
 
 But he was all unconscious that 
 danger was hanging like a threaten- 
 ing cloud over her innocent head 
 that base conspirators were planning 
 and plotting in an endeavor to en- 
 trap and ruin her ! 
 
 For a few moments there was si- 
 lence in that room. One was fondly 
 and tenderly nursing in his mind the 
 outlined image of a great j->y; the 
 other was brooding over the dark 
 shadows of an overpowering grief. 
 
 Mr. Baldwin first broke the si- 
 lence. 
 
 " Harry," he said, " when am I to 
 see my niece?" 
 
 A shade passed over the young 
 man's brow, but it was momentary, 
 and he replied seriously : 
 
 "Mr. Baldwin you are a much old- 
 er man than I am in years, but in ex- 
 perience in the lower walks of society 
 you are but a child, while I am a 
 veteran. I' am sorry that this unfor 
 tunate recognition took place, be- 
 cause it was a shock from which you 
 will not soon recover; it will always 
 be a cloud hovering near you, ready 
 to leap between you and sunshine at 
 any time or in any place, unless you 
 will listen to calm advice from so un- 
 worthy a person as myself." 
 
 44 And what would you advise, my 
 by?" 
 
 There was a painful earnestness in 
 
 the old man's gaze, his voice trem- 
 bled, and it was with visible effort 
 that he kept back tears of sorrow. 
 
 " You will not be offended if my 
 language is plain?" 
 
 44 1 shall expect you to speak just 
 as you think." 
 
 ' 4 1 am glad you feel that way, my 
 kind friend, because I would not lor 
 the world say one word that would 
 cause you unnecessary pain. The 
 girl that you recognized is, I am sor- 
 ry to say, one of the lowest creatures 
 in this city. There is a report that, 
 years ago, she was very charming * 
 
 44 She was beautiful beuutitul!" 
 
 Harry did not notice the interrup- 
 tion, but continued : 
 
 44 It is said that, even after she had 
 been on the town lor five years, she 
 retained the fresh appearance of a 
 school-girl, and was accorded the dis- 
 tinction of being the queen of the 
 circle in which she moved But her 
 charms quickly faded, and it was not 
 long before Dolly Washington for 
 that was the name by which she was 
 known became a drunken little sot 
 the most conspicuous among those 
 whom the police are called upon to 
 arrest. That was some twelve years 
 or more ago. Not having the means 
 to pay btr fines, nor friends when 
 most she needed them, poor Dolly 
 frequently found herself in the Bride- 
 well, sometimes for short terms and 
 then again for long ones. For two 
 or three years she hardly ever re- 
 mained at liberty more than a week 
 at a time. When drunk she was very 
 ugly and quarrelsome so vicious 
 that very few men cared to meet her, 
 while she was a perfect terror to those 
 of her own sex. On one occasion, 
 when in the place culled the 4 Bull 
 Pen ' at the old Armory a little en- 
 closure where the prisoners, both 
 male and female, were huddled to- 
 gether, previous to being called be- 
 fore the Judge lor trial D )lly met.a 
 negro- ^whkewasher named Tom Wil- 
 son, who had been arrested for drunk- 
 enness, and who had plenty of money 
 to pay his fine The girl was sick, 
 penniless and down-hea*ted. The 
 negro took pity on her, paid her fine,
 
 44 
 
 gave her a small sum of money, and 
 bought her an entire new suit, so 
 that she could present a neat and 
 tidy appearance. Dolly's heart was 
 touched. She looked beyond his 
 black skin, and saw only the kind 
 heart that beat in the bosom of the 
 whitewasher. - really believe that 
 she loved him from that hour. la 
 less than a week they were married, 
 and for a year or more they lived 
 happily and contentedly together. 
 During that time a child was born 
 as beautiful a babe as I ever saw. 
 Shortly after that Dolly's appetite 
 fa/ strong drink overcame her, and a 
 fearful quarrel with her husband was 
 the result. Both were arrested, but 
 the little yellow innocent that she 
 held in her arms, together with sol- 
 emn promises of future good behavior, 
 secured their discharge. A recon- 
 ciliation had taken place in the same 
 ' Bull Pen ' that brought them togeth- 
 er at first, and Tom and his white 
 wife went happily back to their home. 
 Since then they have lived peaceably 
 and at war at stated intervals. Tom 
 was very jealous at first, and has 
 many a time threatened to kill nig- 
 gers and white men who have paid un- 
 due attention to his dear Dolly, but 
 time has produced a change, and now 
 he permits her to do just about as 
 she pleases, frequently going with 
 him himself to just such places as old 
 Black Dan's dance house." 
 
 Harry paused for a full minute, 
 expecting to hear something from the 
 old gentleman. But Mr. Baldwin 
 did not open his lips. His bowed 
 head rested upon his hands, and his 
 mind was deep in thought. Harry 
 continued : 
 
 " Mr. Baldwin, I have given you a 
 brief outline of the history of this 
 unfortunate young woman, whom you 
 believe to be your sister's child." 
 
 " Believe !" exclaimed the aroused 
 listener, " I know she is! I would 
 swear to it!" ' 
 
 ** I am sorry to say that I know it, 
 too,' 're plied Harry. "She told me this 
 afternoon that she had seen her lath- 
 er, her mother and her uncle within 
 two weeks, but that she wouM not 
 
 have them recognize her for the 
 world." 
 
 " You have seen her, Harry ? 
 Where?" 
 
 " At her home." 
 
 " Then you know where the poor 
 child lives!" 
 
 " She lives within four blocks ot 
 the spot where we now stand." 
 
 " Then let us go to her at once!" 
 
 The old gentleman was excited. 
 
 ' I do not think we had better go, 
 Mr. Baldwin," was Harry's calm re- 
 sponse. 
 
 "Not go? Not rescue my niece 
 from worse thaj death?" gasped the 
 merchant, in amazement. 
 
 "You could 'not rescue her," was 
 the confident reply. 
 
 " Why not why not?" 
 
 " Because, Mr. Baldwin, she loves 
 her children, she loves her home, and 
 she loves her husband /" 
 
 The old merchant groaned. 
 
 " How do you know this ?" he said, 
 with quivering voice. 
 
 "Because she told me so." 
 
 " You did not betray me? You 
 did not tell her you had found her 
 relatives?" 
 
 " Heaven forbid that I should be 
 guilty of so base an act !" 
 
 " Then tell me how you came by 
 this knowledge." 
 
 " I will do so, gladly. Your neice 
 lives in the basement of a house of 
 ill tame known as the Long Branch, 
 on Van Buren street, west of Clark 
 a long, narrow, one-story -and-base- 
 ment wooden building, occupied 
 above by white prostitutes and be 
 low by poor negro families. After 
 the discovery made by me last night, 
 I determined to seek her out, and sat- 
 isfy myself as to whether anything 
 could be done that would better her 
 condition. I found her surrounded 
 by her little ones, and seemingly per- 
 fectly happv. She received me cor- 
 dially, and we had a long talk. I 
 told her that there were reports going 
 the rounds that her parents and rel- 
 atives were people of high respecta- 
 bility, and she candidly confessed 
 that these reports were true, and told 
 me enough to convince me that she
 
 knows you all. I then said, ' Dolly, 
 suppose your people would overlook 
 the past, and welcome you with open 
 arms to the old home that you de- 
 serted, what would you say?' 'What 
 should I say, Harry ?' was her ques- 
 tioning reply ; ' I'll tell you what I'd 
 say it would be, never T 'Why 
 not ? ' I inquired. * Harry Harper,' 
 she replied, ' look at me ! What sort 
 of a lady would I make, in my fath- 
 er's parlor, with these nigger children 
 on one side, and Tom Wilson, the 
 white washer, on the other ?' ' But it 
 would not be necessary to take them 
 with you,' I said, ' they could be pro 
 vided for elsewhere.' 'What!' she 
 exclaimed, ' do you think I would 
 separate trom my little ones, or my 
 Tom ? No / These are my pets ; I 
 am their mother, and God knows I 
 love them. Tom is black, I know ; 
 but he took me when I was down ; he 
 saved me from hardship and prison ; 
 he has been good to me; he has over- 
 looked faults that a white man would 
 never forgive ; and were his skin ten 
 times blacker, I would love him just 
 the same, for his heart is white ! I 
 am satisfied with my condition. I 
 am happy here. Would I, could I 
 say as much if I should tell these 
 children that I brought into the world 
 that they were black brats, that their 
 father was a low-down nigger, and that 
 I was a born lady, and would return 
 to the luxuries of my avenue home ?' 
 I tell you, Mr. Baldwin, that girl 
 spoke with an eloquent tongue, and 
 I could make no answer. You know 
 it all now." 
 
 The merchant could hardly speak, 
 so powerful were his emotions. But 
 at length he found his voice. 
 
 " Harry," he said, sadly, " the girl 
 is right! Much as I could wish to 
 rescue her from that den in which she 
 lives, I would not do it even if she 
 should consent, for I know it would 
 make her miserably unhappy ; and I 
 feel, too, that it would be an act that 
 God would frown upon to take a 
 mother from her children or a wife 
 from her husband. ' Let her live as 
 she has lived ; let her be happy if she 
 can ; but if must look after her, trid 
 
 see that she never comes to want." 
 " I am glad you feel that way," was 
 Harry's response. A heavy load 
 had been lifted from his mind. 
 
 He shortly after left the room, 
 promising to return at an early hour 
 in the evening, when the two would 
 take a stroll under the gaslight. 
 
 CHAPTER XVJII. 
 
 Cranky Ann and Josephine made 
 quite a lengthy call at the residence 
 of " Mrs. Robinson," but they left 
 for home long before dark. 
 
 Madame Gibson had exerted her- 
 self to the utmost to make the callers 
 feel that they were welcome in the 
 broadest sense of the word; and 
 when they left, both the old lady and 
 her "son" were eloquent in their im- 
 portunities for a renewal of the ac- 
 acquaintance so auspiciously begun. 
 UpOQ the invitation of Miss Baldwin, 
 and the eager solicitation of u Miss 
 Martindale," it was arranged that 
 mother and son should call at the 
 Baldwin mansion on the following 
 Monday, (the Sabbath only interven- 
 ing-) 
 
 " They seem to be extremely pleas- 
 ant people, do they not ?" said Miss 
 B to her companion, as they leisure 
 ly proceeded homeward. 
 
 Crank hesitated. 
 
 " The lady does seem to be very 
 agreeable and entertaining," she 
 finally replied. 
 
 "The lady does! Why, you seem 
 to ignore her son altogether." 
 
 " I am a very candid woman, Miss 
 Baldwin, and plain of speech, and if 
 I should express to you my opinion 
 of the young man of whom you have 
 spoken, I am afraid you would con- 
 sider me not only vulgar and rude, 
 but impudent and offensive." 
 
 " By no means 1 These are people 
 that neither one of us have seen be- 
 fore, and if you have discovered any- 
 thing out of the way, or even sus- 
 picious, it is your duty to make me 
 your confidante." 
 
 " I cannot say that I have seen any 
 thing out of the way, Miss Baldwin; 
 but I have never yet been deceived
 
 47 
 
 in a human face ! I can read the mind 
 of man or woman with rare accu- 
 racy." 
 
 u And what, pray tell me, did you 
 read in the mind of young Mr. Rob- 
 inson ?" 
 
 " I would not dare to tell you all I 
 read !" 
 
 Miss Baldwin was getting inter- 
 ested. 
 
 " Why, Miss Martindale," she said, 
 " you talk as though there was some- 
 thing terrible about this handsome 
 sonof your friend. Asforme, Imust 
 confess that he interested and pleased 
 me very much. He is polite, gen- 
 teel, pleasant, attentive, sociable, and 
 a gifted conversationalist. Now, 
 what else could be desired?" 
 
 " He is all that, Miss Baldwin, I 
 must confess," returned Crank, "but 
 ihe is, too, something more than that ! 
 Oh, if you knew what I know ! " 
 
 " You alarm me ! Did you ever 
 see him before?" 
 
 \ Crank had gone further than she 
 had intended to; but she was equal 
 to the emergency. 
 
 " Why, no ! Of course I never 
 saw him before, and perhaps I ought 
 not to have spoken as I did. Some- 
 times I forget myself, and talk of 
 things as positive facts that are merely 
 conjectures of mind. Whenever I 
 wish to do so, I really believe I can 
 tell exactly what a person is thinking 
 of." 
 
 Miss Baldwin looked at Crank cu- 
 riously. 
 
 " Will you permit me to put you 
 to the test ?" she inquired. 
 
 " I have no objection," was Crank's 
 reply, but she felt uneasy she was 
 was getting into deep water, and 
 could not swim. 
 
 "Then tell me this: What am I 
 thinking about now ?" 
 
 Cranky Ann fixed upon Josephine 
 a penetrating gaze, as though she 
 would read her very soul. She then 
 said in very solemn tones : 
 
 " Miss Baldwin, I have read your 
 mind ! Were you to speak your 
 thoughts at this moment your words 
 would be : * Is this woman sane or is 
 she crazy ?' " 
 
 Josephine Baldwin came very near 
 staggering, and she certainly turned 
 very pale. 
 
 " Word for word!" was all she said 
 in reply, and there was a pause; but 
 her mind quickly rallied, and she 
 turned toward Cranky Ann with 
 great earnestness and said : 
 
 * Miss Martindale, I believe you 
 are gifted with wonderful powers of 
 penetration, to say the least. You 
 repeated to me my very thoughts, 
 though I lisped not a syllable. If 
 you can thus read my mind, you can 
 with equal certainty read his. You 
 have made use of expressions that 
 are calculated to alarm me. You 
 have indicated to me that there is 
 something about him that is mys- 
 terious, if not dangerous. Now, my 
 friend, tell me his thoughts this after- 
 noon !" 
 
 She had taken the arm of her com- 
 panion, and was looking steadily, 
 searchingly, pleadingly into her face. 
 
 Crank hesitated a moment, and 
 then said: 
 
 *' Miss Baldwin, did you ever see 
 a beautiful snake ? " 
 
 The young lady shuddered. 
 
 " I have seen serpents that were 
 beautiful, and yet they were hideous 
 they were repulsive," she said in 
 reply. 
 
 "But they were not more repulsive 
 than this accomplished gentleman 
 would be to you, could >ou look 
 with my eyes." 
 
 "You have not answered my 
 question what were his thoughts ?" 
 
 " I cannot repeat them !" 
 
 " What were their nature ?" 
 
 " Deceit / Treachery ! Lust!" 
 
 " And yet you did not repel him ? 
 You even inviied him to visit us at 
 our house !" 
 
 " Miss Baldwin," replied Crank, 
 " this man acted like a gentleman ; I 
 assume to be a lady ; how, then, could 
 I have done otherwise ?" 
 
 " That is true," said Josephine, re- 
 flectively ; " it is possible that you 
 were mistaken, and in that event you 
 would have wronged one who is in- 
 nocent. But we will have another 
 opportunity to read this man, and I
 
 4ft 
 
 will m3*sen take observations on the 
 sly." " 
 
 The residence of Mr. Baldwin was 
 reached without further conversation 
 of interest. 
 
 Upon entering the parlor, a servant 
 handed Cranky Ann a letter, with a 
 city post mark, addressed to " Miss 
 Isabella Martindale, care Alanson 
 Baldwin, No. Wabash avenue." 
 It read as follows: 
 
 ** PALMER HOUSE, Saturday. Miss 
 Martindale : A lady now stopping at 
 our hotel requests me to invite you 
 to call upon her without delay. She 
 is a friend of yours from the South. 
 
 CLERK. 
 
 "I wonder who this can be?" 
 mnsed Crank, as she handed the note 
 to Josephine for perusal. 
 
 "Oh!" she continued, "I know! 
 It's my cousin Anna, and she gave no 
 name because she wanted to surprise 
 me 1 Oh, I must go right off and 
 meet her! We shall go to the the- 
 atre to-night, and I don't believe I 
 can possibly get away from her be- 
 fore Monday!" 9 
 
 The decietful girl had written the 
 note herself. She wanted to get 
 away from her prison to pull off 
 the mask to be herself for a short 
 time, at least. 
 
 Miss Baldwin was very sorry to 
 lose the companionship of her visitor, 
 and so expressed herself; but she 
 could interpose no objection, and 
 in a very short time Cranky Ann 
 was in her own room, with her gor- 
 geous garments laid aside, her face 
 painted, her hair frizzed, and attired 
 in an old wardrobe. 
 
 Later in the evening she sauntered 
 out. 
 
 " There are two men that I don't 
 want to meet to-night Jack Dun- 
 ning and the old man I saw for the 
 second time this afternoon," she said, 
 proceeding leisurely along. 
 
 She had scarcely walked a block 
 when she came to a sudden halt, and 
 quickly dodged into a hall way. The 
 next minute Harry Harper and Mr. 
 Baldwin passed. 
 
 " I wonder who that man is ?*' said 
 Crank, as she gazed alter them ; "the 
 
 first time I met him, Harry Harper 
 was near by, and now I find them 
 together, as familiar as father and son 1 
 There's something up, and old Crank 
 will not be many days older before 
 she finds out all about it!" - 
 
 And she proceeded down the street, 
 all unconscious of the fact that she 
 would meet with an exciting adven- 
 ture that very night 1 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Mr. Baldwin felt greatly relieved 
 in mind after he had heard the state- 
 ment made by Harry Harper concern- 
 ing Dolly Washington. He regret- 
 ted, of course, that a niece of his 
 should have descended to such deg- 
 radation ; but he admired the courage 
 with which she clung to her offspring, 
 and to the black man she so foolish- 
 ly consented to marry. Knowing 
 that Dolly was happy and contented, 
 he dismissed her for the time being 
 from his thoughts, inwardly deter- 
 mining that, further than assisting 
 her in case of need, he would never 
 interfere between her and hers. 
 
 "This is Saturday night," said 
 Harry to Mr. Baldwin, that evening, 
 after they had partaken of a substan- 
 tial supper at a famous restaurant. 
 
 ** I was aware of that fact," said 
 the merchant, complacently ; " but I 
 did not consider it of enough impor 
 tance for special mention. Is there 
 anything very peculiar about Satur- 
 day night?" 
 
 " Nothing: very peculiar, but in my 
 experience I have found it much 
 livelier around town on that evening 
 of the week than on any other. Mon- 
 ey is more plentiful and more peo- 
 ple are at leisure." 
 
 " Have you the programme marked 
 out for to-night, Harry ?" 
 
 "I have been thinking over the 
 matter for a few minutes. I guess 
 we'd better take in two different 
 kinds of wickedness Sin in Siik and 
 Chicago Under Ground" 
 
 " Very well ; and let me assure you 
 of this, Harry I shall be astonished 
 at nothing that I shall see. My eyea 
 are getting wide open already."
 
 49 
 
 Later in the evening the .two 
 leisurely walked down State street 
 Alter they had passed Van Buren 
 Harry said: 
 
 44 Did you see that woman dodge 
 into a hall-way?" 
 
 'I thought I saw a petticoat flut- 
 tering, but paid no attention to it." 
 
 " That was yonr friend, Cranky 
 Ann, the girl so full of wonderful 
 mysteries. Ah! my friend, I am 
 afraid you will have tough work in 
 making anything but a hardened old 
 street- walker out of that piece of baa 
 flesh." 
 
 " At any rate, Harry, there can be 
 no harm in trying. The more aban- 
 doned the wretch, the more the ne- 
 cessity for putting forth an effort in 
 her behalf. I have faith that I can do 
 that woman good." 
 
 " We shall see what we shall see," 
 was Harry's rather incredulous re- 
 mark, as they passed on down the 
 street, turning on Harrison and pro- 
 ceeding to Fourth avenue. There 
 they took another turn to the north, 
 when the old gentleman remonstra- 
 ted: 
 
 " Why, Harry, you seem to be 
 taking the back track. Are you 
 about to return to where we started 
 fron?" 
 
 "Not exactly," was the reply; 
 " you have not far to go." 
 
 Scarcely had they ceased speaking 
 when they found themselves in front 
 of a mammoth stone front four-story 
 building. 
 
 " We will make a short call here," 
 said, Harry, at the same time mount- 
 ing the stone steps leading to the 
 front door. 
 
 " Excuse me," said Mr. Baldwin 
 " if you have friends here that you 
 wish to see, I will wait for you on the 
 outside. I am not in condition to 
 appear in respectable society 1" 
 
 " The society that you will meet 
 here will not object to your appear- 
 ance. This is not what is called a 
 respectable house. It is one of the 
 most elegant palaces of sin in this 
 country, owned by a woman who 
 might now be one of the finest ladies 
 
 in the land, had she not been in hard 
 luck, as we sporting folks call it." 
 
 Expressing surprise that so grand 
 a structure should be devoted to so 
 foul a purpose, Mr. Baldwin hesitated 
 no longer. 
 
 The merchant had determined, no 
 matter what he saw, not to allow 
 himself to seem astonished; but when, 
 for the first time in his life, he looked 
 upon Sin in Silk, he became confused 
 and bewildered. 
 
 And well he might be 1 
 
 The grand hall, with mirrors reach- 
 ing to the high ceiling; one hundred 
 feet of parlors, connected by folding 
 doors that, when opened, combined 
 the whole into one immense room; 
 the walls adorned with hundreds of 
 oil paintings, of great value; the spot- 
 less ceilings frescoed with the match- 
 less taste of an unequalled artist; the 
 carved furniture ornamented with 
 miniature paintings of chaste design ; 
 the velvet carpets soft and pliant to 
 the foot's touch; and all the surround- 
 ings grand beyond description. 
 
 But this was nothing ; ne had seen 
 elegance before. That which so as- 
 tonished him was the presence of a 
 dozen or more magnificently dressed 
 women women as beautiful and 
 lovely in appearance as any ladies 
 that he had ever met in his life. 
 Among them was one that partic- 
 ularly attracted his attention. She 
 wore skirts that reached to the knees 
 only, and really looked to be but a 
 mere child. The "ladies * who were 
 lounging about in the hall, approached 
 as Harry and Mr. Baldwin entered, 
 and the " child " singled out the old 
 gentleman, clasped her fair arms 
 around his neck, pulled down his 
 head, and kissed him ! 
 
 Mr. Baldwin had recovered his 
 equinimity, and not only made no 
 objection, but Harry, who had 
 watched the movement with an 
 amused smile, could have sworn that 
 the kiss was returned with commen- 
 dable warmth. Proceeding to the 
 back parlor, they seated themselves 
 in close proximity, and without cere- 
 mony entered into animated conver-
 
 50 
 
 sation, the nature of which will form 
 a separate chapter in this romance. 
 
 In the meantime, Harry, who was 
 always a favorite with the ladies, 
 made himself agreeable in his own 
 " sweet" way, and time passed rap- 
 idly. 
 
 Visitors came and departed. The 
 merry popping of the wine cork was 
 frequently heard, and Madame Wil- 
 liams, the keeper of the house, was 
 happy. 
 
 Harry was seated on a lounge in 
 the hall, and of course all who came 
 in were compelled to pass in review 
 before him. The bell rang, and with 
 natural curiosity, when the door 
 opened, he glanced at the face of the 
 visitor. 
 
 "My God !" he exclaimed, as his 
 eyes tell upon the person who had 
 entered. 
 
 It was Jeremiah Baldwin, son of 
 the merchant ! 
 
 A girl sprang forward as he en- 
 tered, to welcome "her Charley," as 
 she called him, and arm in arm, in 
 very loving contiguity, they walked 
 down the hall, toward the very par- 
 lor wht re sat the old gentleman on 
 the same sofa with the short skirt 
 ed" child." 
 
 " They must not meet," Harry 
 thought as he quickly arose and fol- 
 lowed. 
 
 But he was not quick enough. 
 They were in the door before he 
 reached them. Hoping that the old 
 gentleman was so busily engaged in 
 talking that he would not recognize 
 his son, Harry fairly pulled him back 
 by main strength, and whispered : 
 
 " I wieh to speak to you in private 
 for one moment." 
 
 For an instant young Baldwin 
 turned red in the face, and stammered. 
 But it was only an instant. Extend- 
 ing his hand, he said, frankly: 
 
 " Harry, I confess that I would not 
 have cared to meet you here ; but as 
 we have met, I will not attempt to 
 deny that I come here whenever I 
 (eel like it, and that I am really not 
 :ishamed to own it, although it would 
 be mqre pleasant to meet none but 
 strangers." 
 
 " It was not that to which I had 
 reference," returned Harry; " I con 
 sider that it is neither my business, 
 nor that of anybody else, where you 
 go or what you do. But I have a 
 particular friend in that parlor, who 
 would prefer to be alone ; and it you 
 and your lady would occupy this 
 room, you would greatly oblige 
 me." 
 
 " Most certainly we will ! I would 
 not for the world disturb your friend 
 in any little flirtation that he may 
 wish to have with any of Madame 
 Williams' fair boarders." 
 
 "Thank you, Charley" said Har- 
 ry, with a smile. 
 
 He turned, and there, not two feet 
 from them, standing in the door, 
 stood Alanson Baldwin! He had 
 heard the entire conversation! 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The meeting of father and son in 
 the house of Madame Williams was 
 such a surprise as the old gentleman 
 had never before experienced. At 
 first he was shocked ; but he brought 
 all the resolution that he could com- 
 mand to his aid, and, suppressing his 
 emotions, determined to learn the 
 full extent of his son's sinfulness. 
 
 As has been stated, he listened to 
 the conversation between Harry and 
 his boy. 
 
 Extending his hand cordially, and 
 grasping that of the younger Bald- 
 win, he said, with forced hilarity: 
 
 " 1 am always glad to shake the 
 hand of any friend of Harry Harper ! 
 Come, now, boys, and you too, my 
 fair bundle of loveliness, let's ad- 
 journ to the back parlor and test the 
 quality of Madame Williams' wine!" 
 
 Harry was the most astonished in 
 dividual in that party. He had ex- 
 pected a " scene," and could only 
 wonder in amazement at the unex- 
 pected jollity of the merchant. 
 
 The wine was brought by a colored 
 seivant, and all drank. 
 
 Harry felt uneasy, as he detected 
 a strange gleam in the eyes of the 
 father as he touched glasses with his 
 eon under such remarkable circum-
 
 51 
 
 stances. But he had no opportunity 
 to interfere, even if he had felt in- 
 clined ; and, believing that it would 
 be better to let them talk it out, he 
 managed to attract the attention of 
 the two girls. 
 
 The old man noticed this with a 
 smile ot approval. 
 
 "Do you reside in the city?" in- 
 quired Jerry, as they took seats on 
 a sofa. 
 
 " Well, I am here part of the time, 
 and away the other part. But by 
 the way, your face looks familiar. It 
 seems to me that I have seen you 
 before." 
 
 " And then he whispered: 
 . " Are you not old Baldwin's 
 ^on ?" 
 
 "Hush! "was the reply; "I see 
 that you recognize me, and your 
 voice seems familiar, though I cannot 
 recall your features ! But do not 
 call me by my right name here, 
 where I am known simply as Charley. 
 How long have you been acquainted 
 with my father ?" 
 
 " We were inseparable companions 
 for years!" 
 
 " Indeed ! It is strange that I never 
 met you before! But I am so busy 
 at the store that I may have met and 
 forgotten you. One thing, however, 
 I must ask of you, and I am sure you 
 will not refuse that you will not 
 mention this meeting to my father." 
 
 " Not for the world! But sup 
 pose the old man should find it oat? 
 What would you say? What would 
 you do ?" 
 
 " I will tell you what I would say, 
 and wlnt I would do! I would talk 
 and act like a man ! I would deny 
 nothing, but I w6uld justify myself 
 so clearly that I know he would not 
 have one word of censure!" 
 
 " My young friend, you speak like 
 a man who believes what he utters, 
 and yet you talk wildly. Would you 
 dare stand face to face with your own 
 father, and attempt to make any ex- 
 cuse for being found in a house of 
 this kind ?" 
 
 " Not only with my father, sir, but 
 with my God!" 
 
 " I believe you are sincere in what 
 
 you say, but I cannot but think that 
 you have permitted yourself to be 
 influenced by false and dangerous 
 arguments. Tell me, now, my boy, 
 what would you say to me, suppo- 
 sing that I were your father?" 
 
 " That would be impossible, sir ! 
 My father would sooner cut off his 
 right arm than visit a place of this 
 kind!" 
 
 " Are you sure of that?" 
 
 " Sure of it ? I am so sure that I 
 would wager my existence that he 
 was never in all his life within the 
 walls of a house of infamy!" 
 
 " But supposing that I should tell 
 yoi} that I have seen your father buy 
 wine for a party of revelers in this 
 very room what would you say 
 then ?" 
 
 " I would say," exclaimed the 
 young man, springing to his feet, 
 greatly excited, " I would say this : 
 You are a liar and a dog /" 
 
 He raised his hand to strike, but 
 quicker than thought Harry Harper 
 was between them. 
 
 The merchant did not even arise 
 from his seat; but he was deeply 
 moved, for there were tears in his 
 eyes! 
 
 " Let him strike, Harry, let him 
 strike." he said, with broken accents, 
 "for I deserve blows for my cruel 
 words. Young man, (addressing his 
 son), I beg your pardon; I went too 
 far, in an attempt to produce a forc- 
 ible illustration." 
 
 Jeremiah Baldwin's impulsive na- 
 ture was subdued in an instant, and 
 he expressed regret for his violent 
 manifestations of a moment before. 
 
 " Tell me the illustration you allu- 
 ded to," he said, resuming his seat. 
 
 " It was this : Your father, I know, 
 has unbounded confidence in your 
 honesty and integrity. He believes 
 you to be the ver soul of honor. 
 He would to-morrow place his entiiv 
 fortune in your hands, and feel as 
 safe as though it was under lock and 
 key in his own home. Suppose some 
 meddling mischief-maker shou'd g > 
 to him and remark, ' I saw your son 
 in a house ot ill fame last night,"
 
 52 
 
 gentle- 
 
 He 
 
 what do you think the oM 
 man would say ?" 9 
 
 The young man hesitated, 
 tried to speak, but could not. 
 
 "He would not probably be as 
 demonstrative as his son, but would 
 he not be equally as indignant?" 
 
 " I believe he would," was the re- 
 sponse, "but I also believe that, after 
 he heard what his son had to say in 
 his own defense, he would think long 
 before he would utter one wcrd ot 
 censure or reproach." 
 
 " I have a curiosity to know what 
 would be the nature of that defense," 
 said the merchant, with a tone of in- 
 quiry in his voice. 
 
 "It would take a long time for 
 me to give my views at length, but I 
 can give you an outline briefly." 
 
 " Go on, I am all attention." And 
 the old gentleman settled back in his 
 seat preparatory to hearing that 
 which seemed to interest him so- 
 deeply. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Harry Harper, though he had been 
 industriously engaging the attention 
 of the ladies, after lather and son had 
 become reconciled, felt something 
 more than natural curiosity concern 
 ing the nature of the strange inter- 
 view, and his quick ears were active 
 in taking in, as completely as possible, 
 all that was said. The girls, too, 
 finally became interested in what was 
 being said on the other side of the 
 room, and, naturally enough, young 
 Baldwin's audience was more atten- 
 tive than he probably would have 
 desired. 
 
 " I told you that I should be very 
 brief," said the young man, reflec- 
 tively, " but the fact that you are so 
 well acquainted with my father makes 
 it necessary that I should the more 
 carefully explain to you my defense 
 in being found in a place ot this kind. 
 I might tell you a lie, and say that I 
 was innocently betrayed into com- 
 ing here by companions in whom 
 I blindly trusted; but I would 
 scorn to descend to such cow- 
 ardice. I have been here many 
 
 times before, and I came with a full 
 knowledge of the character of the 
 house. Why did I come ? you may 
 ask. I can only tell you in reply, 
 that I came for the same reason per- 
 haps that you did that others do 
 who frequent houses where charac- 
 less young women flaunt their charms 
 in the face of he who visits, and are 
 ever ready to sell themselves for 
 money. If, instead of being a man 
 ot the world, you were what they call 
 a strictly moral citizen, you would 
 hold up both hands in horror, and 
 turn from me with pious disgust, 
 without hearing one more word. 
 That you are here now is proof that 
 you are not a person of that stripe." 
 
 The old gentleman was a little un- 
 easy in his seat, but he said nothing, 
 and his son continued : 
 
 " The history of prostitution com- 
 menced, I might say, with the his- 
 tory of the world. The first sin ever 
 committed was the sin of lust. It 
 was followed by banishment, lust as 
 it is to-day, with this exception: 
 the Creator made no distinction be- 
 tween man and woman; while we, 
 more wise than He, exalt the strong 
 man, and condemn to everlasting in 
 famy the weak woman! During all 
 the succeeding thousands of years, 
 it has existed in one form or another, 
 and to-day we find it in Cnicago, as 
 well regulated, I think, as it is pos- 
 sible to regulate an acknowledged 
 yet ineradicable evil. There is not 
 an officer, high or low, in the city of 
 Chicago, who does not know that 
 this is a house of ill-fame and yet 
 it is never molested. Why ? Sim- 
 ply because it ought not to be. No 
 thief, no loafer, no outlaw of any 
 kind, is tolerated here. No one is as- 
 saulted, or insulted, or robbed here. 
 You are now as safe as you would 
 be in the best hotel in the city. 
 Knowing that it is useless to attempt 
 to abate the social evil, the author- 
 ities confine themselves to an earnest 
 endeavor to blot out its most objec- 
 tionable features, and as far as pos- 
 sible conceal its hideousness from the 
 public gaze. I have now told you 
 the reasons for the existence of houses
 
 53 
 
 of this kind, and I have acknowl- 
 edged my object in coming here. I 
 have told you, too, that I have a de 
 fense, and I have a good one. You 
 read the daily papers, of course. Take 
 up the Times, for instance, any morn- 
 ing of the seven in the week, and 
 glance down the calendar. What 
 will you see ? * Every other heading 
 will be : Suicide /' ' Seduction /' 
 
 * Desertion /' 'A bortion ! ' * Rape /' 
 
 * Infanticide ! ' ' Murder ! ' What 
 does this mean ? It means, sir, in 
 each case, that a lying, leacherous, 
 lustful man has led a weak but trust- 
 ing woman to her doom ! Led her 
 there by his eloquence; led her there 
 by false promises; led her there by 
 brute force ! It matters little what 
 may have been the primary steps, i 
 the result in each case is the same. 
 Man's most powerful passion is Lust. 
 Deny it, and I will point you to a 
 list of scandals in high places that, 
 p'acedone upon another, would reach 
 the clouds. Add to these the thou- 
 sands on thousands of crimes of the 
 same nature that never reach the 
 public eye, and you have a frightful 
 column ! * If you ask me if it is sin- 
 ful to visit the house of Miss Wil- 
 liams, or any other decent place of 
 the kind, I boldly answer, no! lam 
 but human, sir, I have the same 
 passions that all these bad men ex 
 hibit in their infamy. I cannot pre- 
 vent it any more than I can prevent 
 the gnawings of hunger when the 
 stomach demands food. I do not 
 believe that I am responsible for it. 
 Now, then, sir. I am considered to 
 be a young man in good circumstan- 
 ces. An indulgent father has spared 
 nothing in preparing me for society 
 and business. // is not necessary for 
 me to come here ! There are a thou- 
 sand innocent girls in Chicago that 
 
 I could ' catch ' with the flimsiest 
 tale with a dozen words used at the 
 right time and in the proper place. 
 
 II I chose, I could make liaisons with 
 married women every day in the 
 week. I know it, for many a time 
 they have more than half revealed an 
 inclination that way. Only to day a 
 young man boasted to me of the girls 
 
 he had fooled, and the women lie had 
 debauched ! My blood boiled with 
 indignation, and I could have struck 
 him in the face, had I acted as I lelt. 
 Do you now know why I come here? 
 Have I not said enough? or must I 
 continue to the end. and say, as ear- 
 nestly as man ever spoke, that I visit 
 these girls because I am an honorable 
 gentleman, who would not soil his 
 soul with treachery, or pollute his 
 lips with kisses that would bring dis- 
 grace, shame, crime and death upon 
 the deluded victim ? I can lay my 
 hand upon my heart and call on the 
 God that made me to witness that I 
 never wronged the innocent, that I 
 never betrayed a Jriend, and that I 
 uever brought sorrow to even the 
 humolest fireside ! Should the fact 
 of my being here be published to all 
 Chicago to-morrow morning, there 
 would be howls of censure from every 
 diaection, I know. And among those 
 who howled the longest and loudest 
 would be lechers who prowl about 
 like wolves in search of prey, ever 
 hungry for a feast the bones of which 
 will be the skeleton of one loved and 
 lost ! Oh. sir, Heaven forgive me, 
 but when I think of these wretches I 
 can find but three words with which 
 to express my feelings God damn 
 them!" 
 
 The young man spoke with deep 
 feeling, and his utteranceswere truly 
 eloquent. After but momentary 
 pause he continued : 
 
 " I have made to you, sir, the same 
 explanation that I would make were 
 you my own father, instead of a 
 stranger. I come here, I spend my 
 own mony, and I believe I am per- 
 fectly justified in doing so." 
 
 The old man had listened eagerly, 
 and beneath his disguise Harry Har- 
 per could detect a flushed face not 
 of anger, but rather pride. He grasped 
 his son by the hand and said : 
 
 14 Young man, were /your father I 
 would say l God bless you, my son / ' ' 
 
 ' I thank you, sir, tor your good 
 opinion," rejoined the younger Bald- 
 win; and then he called: 
 
 " Come, Delia dear 1 Good nigh t, 
 gentlemen ! "
 
 54 
 
 Delia and her " Charley " lelt the 
 room, and when the eyes of Harry 
 and the merchant met, there was in 
 the glance a world of meaning ! 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 " I wonder what I'm out for to- 
 night?" thought Cranky Ann, as she 
 leisurely proceeded on her way, after 
 Harry Harper and the mysterious old 
 man had disappeared. 
 
 She really was out, for once, with- 
 out a purpose. There was no neces- 
 ity for her to " ply her vocation '* at 
 that particular time, for she was in 
 the employ of a good paymaster; and 
 to her credit be it said, she despised 
 the street-walking business as sin- 
 cerely as any woman in the city. 
 
 " She was not looking for a " suck- 
 er" that night. What should she 
 do? 
 
 A convenient turn soon brought 
 Crank to C.'ark street, and she found 
 herself standing, she scarcely knew 
 why, in front of an old clothes shop. 
 
 A fantastic idea entered her quick 
 brain, and she walked into the store. 
 
 Ten minutes afterwards she was 
 again upon the street with a bundle 
 under her arm, retracing her steps, 
 and walking rapidly toward her 
 room. 
 
 In a quarter of an hour from the 
 time Cranky Ann disappeared up the 
 stairway that led to her apartments, 
 a prim looking young man, plainly but 
 neatly dressed, with a handsome 
 brown mustache, and carrying a 
 nobby little cane, made his appear- 
 ance at the lower door. 
 
 It was old Crank, cleverly dis- 
 guised ! 
 
 " I can't have any fun in petticoats," 
 she thought ; " everybody knows me 
 as the street walker, and the chances 
 are that I would get the collar the 
 minute I stepped off my regular beat; 
 but I fancy that, as an elegant young 
 gentleman, I can go unmolested 
 wherever my sweet will may choose 
 to take me." 
 
 Crank enjoyed herself amazingly 
 that evening. She took in several of 
 the billiard rooms, a number of prom- 
 
 inent saloons, the Adelphifor a short 
 time, then the Coliseum, and finally, 
 at about 11 o'clock, entered the 
 Toledo. 
 
 She saw Jack Dunning and a com- 
 panion seated at an obscure table, 
 drinking beer, and engaged in earn 
 est conversation, evidently being 
 verv little interested in the music of 
 the Vienna Orchestra, that drowned 
 the voices of those who sought to- 
 converse in the hall. 
 
 Crank recognized in the compan- 
 ion of Jack a notorious burgl-ir. Feel- 
 ing interested in the parties,and deter- 
 mining to find out what scheme was on 
 foot, the took a seat directly back o- 
 them, and strained her ears to list 
 ten. 
 
 At first she could hear not a single 
 word ; but the music suddenly ceased, 
 and she distinctly heard Jack say : 
 
 " > tell you there's not a man In 
 the house. The old man is out of 
 town, and the young feller is in the 
 arms of his lady-love on the avenue. 
 The coast is clear. There's lot of sil- 
 ver ware and jewelry, even if you don't 
 get any mjney, and no danger at all. 
 You and your gang can do the job, 
 but remember (holding up one finger) 
 halves!" 
 
 " In course ! You gets an even 
 half of the swag." 
 
 Crank heard no more for some 
 time, though she was crazy to take 
 in every word. The two men finally 
 arose to depart; but before leaving 
 Jack whispered, so loud that Cranky 
 Ann caught the words : 
 
 "Three o'clock No. Wabash 
 avenue 1" 
 
 Had Crank been an ordinary wo- 
 man she would have screamed and 
 fainted on the spot. 
 
 As it was, she started and tnrned 
 pale, but not a sound escaped her 
 lips. 
 
 Jack Dunning had named the num- 
 ber of Mr. Baldwin's house! 
 
 Not satisfied with an at' e m pt to 
 ruin the daughter of the me: chant, he 
 was basely plotting the robbery of the 
 old man's home! 
 
 Not for a moment did the street- 
 walker hesitate.
 
 55 
 
 "Your game is up," she muttered, 
 menacingly, casting a look of hate 
 upon Jack Dunning, as he sauntered 
 out. 
 
 What should she do ? 
 
 This was a serious question. She 
 believed the statement of Jack con- 
 cerning young Baldwin, because, 
 from experience, she was aware that 
 many a nice young man was not ex- 
 actly what he seemed. She knew the 
 only male servant employed at the 
 house slept in the barn, and that the 
 others lodged in a remote part of the 
 house. Suppose she should inform 
 the police? Her own identity would 
 at once be disclosed, and who would 
 believe a masquerading street- 
 walker? 
 
 " If I could only find young Mr. 
 Baldwin !" she thought, as she walked 
 with quick steps in a southerly di- 
 rection, leaving the Toledo; "but 
 how can I ? He does not go by his 
 right name, I am sure of that, and it 
 would be foolish to attempt to find a 
 man without a name in one of the 
 Fourth avenue houses. I don't know 
 o! but one other man in Ch cago that 
 I could trust. If I could see Hart}' 
 Harper, I would tell him who I am, 
 disclose the discovery that I have 
 made, and ask him to heJp me; and I 
 know he'd do it, for he is a lion in 
 bravery, and I do think he's honest, 
 no matter if he is one of the boys." 
 
 What induced the girl to enter a 
 variety concert hall (in a cellar) she 
 could not explain. The music and 
 singing attracted her attention, and 
 down she went. 
 
 Her sharp eyes took in the au- 
 dience at a sweep. 
 
 Joy! There, tn one of the front 
 eats, sat Harry Harper and the old 
 gentleman with whom she had a tol- 
 erably intimate zcquaintance ! 
 
 Taking a card, she wrote upon she 
 blank side these words: 
 
 "MR. HARPKR I would like to 
 speak with yon, alone; will not de- 
 tain you buta moment. Please come 
 to the rear a - once. A FKIKXD." 
 
 Telling Mr. Baldwin that he would 
 be back in a minute or two, Harry 
 followed the usher, and was ap- 
 
 proached by Crank, who led him to 
 a place in the room where they could 
 not be overheard. 
 
 "Do you know me, Mr. Harper ?" 
 she inquired. 
 
 " Can't say that I do," replied 
 Harry, after a careful look, "and yet 
 I'd swear I've seen you somewhere." 
 
 "They call me Cranky Ann, Har- 
 ry," she said, with a smile; " now I 
 guess you know me !" 
 
 The young man was astonished, 
 but peifectly convinced. He was so 
 completely surprised that he waited 
 in wondering silence for an explana- 
 tion. 
 
 " Harry," she said, " I have c.^me 
 to you lor advice and assistance " 
 
 " Are you in trouble, Crank ?'* he 
 asked in kindly tones. 
 
 " No," was the reply, " but others 
 are threatened with danger. I made 
 the discovery in an accidental way, 
 while skylarking in this disguise. I 
 cannot call on the police tor help, as 
 you well know ; and when I saw you 
 sitting there I said to myself, 'there's 
 the boy for the business." " 
 
 "Goon," said Harry, who felt 
 somewhat flattered. It is pleasant to 
 be thought well of, even by a street- 
 wa ker. 
 
 " I have discovered that the house 
 of a merchant is to be robbed at 3 
 o'clock to-morrow morning!" 
 
 Crank then explained to Harry the 
 manner in which she had gained her 
 information. 
 
 'Where is the house situated?" 
 asked Harry, whose thoughts had 
 been busy. 
 
 " The residence threatened is that 
 ot Mr B ildwin, on Wabash avenue !" 
 
 Crank was about to proceed and 
 exp nin concerning the absence of the 
 merchant and his son, but the men- 
 tal excitement with which Harry was 
 struggling attracted her attention. 
 
 His lace was livid. His eyes glared 
 with a madman's fury. His hands 
 trembled. He was almost beside 
 himself with some powerful passion. 
 
 The excitement died away as 
 quickly as it had appeared, and left a 
 rigid face, in which could be read 
 calmness finmess and danger !
 
 56 
 
 "Will, you assist me, Harry?" asked 
 Crank, after a brief pause. 
 
 " Will It You need not ask that 
 question more than once. Yes ! If 
 necessary, I will be with you to the 
 death! And, Cranky Ann," he con- 
 tinued, "you will lose nothing by 
 what you have done to-night ! You 
 are a thousand times better than 
 many who pretend to despise you!" 
 
 There was a balm of comfort to the 
 heart of the street-walker in these 
 words, but she was anxious to come 
 to an understanding. 
 
 " What shall we do ?" she inquired ; 
 " you know we have but three hours 
 in which to prepare ; after that we 
 must act J" 
 
 " Have you no plan ? " questioned 
 Harry, who had not thought of de- 
 tails. 
 
 " Yes ! I will go to the house qui- 
 etly, as a private detective, and in a 
 guarded way inform Miss Baldwin of 
 the threatened invasion, at the same 
 time assuring her that ample assist- 
 ance will be at hand, and that no 
 harm can possibly result. While I 
 am doing this you can also make such 
 preparations as you think best/ I 
 presume you will have no trouble in 
 separating from the eccentric old 
 gentleman I saw you with?" 
 
 "I shall take him to his room and 
 leave him there. Your plan looks 
 feasible, and I have no doubt will 
 work admirably. But where shall we 
 meet?" 
 
 " The burglars will be on time to 
 the minute. At half past 2 I will 
 meet you in front of the house, and 
 we will both enter." 
 
 " Will Miss Baldwin be there ?" 
 
 " I shall advise her to remain in her 
 room, and have no fears." 
 
 "That will be the best plan," 
 mused Harry. But he would have 
 felt lighter at heart had another an 
 swer been given. 
 
 "By the way, Harry," remarked 
 Crank, "is there any way of finding 
 out where young Mr. Baldwin can be 
 found?" 
 
 Harry wondered why he had not 
 thought of that before. 
 
 " I can put my hand on him with- 
 in fifteen minutes," was the reply. 
 
 " Good ! Then there will be three 
 of us two brave men and one des- 
 perate woman, as good as most men 
 and let the housebreakers be- 
 ware!" 
 
 Harry gave Crank his revolver, and 
 and then they separated, he returning 
 to the seat he had vacated, as cool 
 and unconcerned as though nothing 
 had happened. Two minutes later, 
 by special invitation, they entered 
 the wine room, where we will leave 
 them, with the promise that their 
 experience among the big-legged and 
 nearly naked beauties of that far- 
 famed resort shall be fully narrated 
 in another chapter. 
 
 Crank clutched the revolver with 
 a nervous grip when she reached the 
 street. She only wished that the 
 hour was at hand when she might be 
 called upon to use it 1 
 
 " Jack Dunning," she hissed, " I 
 am in your employ 1 It is my duty 
 to watch you ! / -will stick to you 
 closer than a brother!" 
 
 And the street -walker laughed. 
 
 But it was a cold, harsh, soulless 
 laugh 1 
 
 CHAPTER XXIL 
 
 As stated in a former chapter, Mr. 
 Baldwin, in company with the ex- 
 tremely young looking girl in short 
 skirts, retired to the rear parlor, where 
 for half an hour they were left undis- 
 turbed and unobserved by the gay 
 gathering that had assembled in 
 Madame Williams' parlors. 
 
 When the wine that had been or- 
 dered was brought them, the old 
 man's pretty little companion mod- 
 estly declined to accept the spark- 
 ling liquid. 
 
 " Do you not drink wine ? he 
 asked, somewhat astonished at the 
 fact that she ghould refuse to partake 
 of the temptfng beverage. 
 
 " No, sir, I never drink anything 
 which is intoxicating," said the girl, 
 with a half-sad tone of voice. " 1 
 have not become so low as that /" 
 
 " Then you have not been in this
 
 58 
 
 house a very long time, I imagine." 
 
 " I came here three weeks ago, sir," 
 arswered the female, and she hung 
 her head, and Mr. Baldwin imagined 
 he discovered a blush on her fair 
 young face. 
 
 "Will you tell me why you came 
 here?" 
 
 " Oh, sir, you must not ask me 
 that 1 It is enough for you to know 
 that I am her. Men who visit such 
 places as this would take very little 
 interest in thereasons which induced 
 some of us girls to resort to the lives 
 we are leading." 
 
 "Really, young woman, }>ou in- 
 terest me. Indeed you do ! Let 
 me prevail upon you to reveal the 
 cause of your entering into this this 
 this business, I suppose you call 
 it" 
 
 " Sir 1" returned the girl, sorrow- 
 fully, " I cannot comply with your 
 request at least not here .' Tnere 
 are quick ears all around us, and the 
 Madame does not permit us to reveal 
 to strangers our lite histories not, 
 at least, in the parlors." 
 
 " Then cannot we go to some other 
 room, where we will not be anno) ed 
 by the presence of listeners ?" 
 
 " Yes, sir, we can go into my room. 
 if you have no objection." 
 
 " I certainly have not the least ob- 
 jection, lor I am anxious to learn w hy 
 a young girl of your intelligence, and 
 your beauty and refinement, should 
 descend to the position you now oc- 
 cupy." 
 
 " Then we will quietly leave the 
 company, and retire to the privacy 
 of a solitary apartment. This way, 
 sir, if you please," she continued, 
 as she led the way to the rear stair- 
 way, unobserved by Harry, who was 
 making himself agreeable to the girls. 
 
 When they had reached the sec- 
 ond floor the girl opened the door of 
 her bed-room, and invited Mr. Bald- 
 win to walk in. 
 
 Then, for the first time, the pecu- 
 liar nature of his position became man- 
 ifest to his mind. He hesitated when 
 he saw the snow-white covering of 
 the bed, and finally remarked. 
 
 " My child, have you no other 
 parlors than those below ?" 9 
 
 " There are no parlors up stairs," 
 was the reply ; " but this is mv room 
 and we will not be interrupted:" 
 
 " I did not apprehend any interrup- 
 tion, but this, you see, is a <5<?</-room, 
 and not exactly the place for a man 
 of my age and standing, although, I 
 assure you, I came here to-night for 
 no bad purpose. Let that be under- 
 stood, and I shall not object to this 
 room, however suspicious may be the 
 circumstances." 
 
 " Indeed, sir, the thought of your 
 being a bad man never entered my 
 mind. I can see in your face that 
 you are not accustomed to visiting 
 such places as this, and your words 
 and actions tell my heart that you 
 are a kind, noble, genrous, humane 
 man." 
 
 :' I thank you for your confidence, 
 young woman," was the rep 1 }' of the 
 old gentleman, as they entered the 
 room and were seated he in a large 
 arm chair, and she on an ottoman at 
 his feet. 
 
 " Now, then, my poor child, will 
 you tell me your name ?" 
 
 "Do you want my ^eal name, or 
 the one by which I am called here?" 
 
 " And have you more than one 
 name ?" 
 
 ' Certainly ! All the girls have 
 fancy ' names, generally the name 
 of their man." 
 
 " Their man ! What do you mean 
 by that ?" 
 
 " Why, you must know, sir, that 
 nearly every woman here has a friend 
 something like husband who is 
 called her man." 
 
 " No, I did not know it ! What an 
 ignorant old lool I am ! Have you 
 got a man ? ' ' 
 
 " Indeed I have not, nor do I want 
 one. Oh, how I do despise those low 
 creatures, those lazy vagabonds who 
 live up-^n the generosity of a fallen 
 woman!" 
 
 " You do not mean to tell me that 
 these girls I saw down stairs actually 
 support and clothe these men?" 
 
 "They do, sir. They buy their 
 clothing, give them money, and tur-
 
 nish them with everything they may 
 ask.' 
 
 " And what do they receive in re- 
 turn ?" 
 
 " Curses and blows !" 
 
 " Blows ! Do they really "whip 
 them ?' ' 
 
 " Did you not notice a girl down 
 stairs with a discolored and blood 
 shot eye ? Her man leltthose tokens 
 of his love upon he r this morning. 
 Why, they all expect to be whipped 
 once or twice a week, and the men 
 who are the most brutal are thought 
 the most off by their mistresses !" 
 
 " Can it be possible ! But you 
 told me you had two names. What 
 are they?" 
 
 -v^ " Little Maude is the name I go by 
 here." 
 
 "And your right name?" 
 
 " Will you not divulge it?" 
 
 " Upon my sacred honor as a man, 
 I will not !' ' o 
 
 " I believe you, sir; my real name 
 is Madeline Black." 
 
 "Madeline, you have told me } our 
 name; now, let me know how you 
 came to such a place as this." 
 
 " I told you I had been here but 
 three weeks. A month ago I came 
 to this city a stranger and an or- 
 phan" 
 
 "Poor child !" interrupted Mr. 
 Baldwin, who noticed tears in the 
 bright eyes of the unfortunate girl. 
 
 'I had but little money, and that 
 was soon gone. Then I applied at an 
 intelligence office lor a situation. 
 The very day I went there a gentle- 
 man engaged me to work in his fam- 
 ily. I went with him, and found 
 when it was too late that he was a 
 villain. The nexf morning I awoke 
 in his arms ! Frightened, almost 
 crazy, I rushed from the house 
 When on the street my sober senses 
 came. I realized my shame, and re- 
 linquished all hopes of ever redeem- 
 ing myself from the disgrace of that 
 night. I sought outahackman, made 
 known my intentions to become a 
 woman of the town, and he brought 
 me here. Oh ! if I could only go 
 home once more, how happy I should 
 be !" 
 
 " Mav I ask," said Mr. Baldwin, 
 " why do you not go home ?" 
 
 " Alas! my kind friend, I cannot. 1 
 have no money with which to pay my 
 board here, none to pay car fare on 
 the cars, and no frjends to assist 
 me 1" 
 
 " How much would it require to 
 take you home and pay all your in- 
 debtedness ?" 
 
 " Oh the amount almost frightens 
 me ! I could not get away from here 
 tor less than one hundred dollars !" 
 
 " Jf that is all, then you shall have 
 it this very night ! Indeed, I will 
 conduct you from this abode of sin 
 myself ! I have not the money with 
 me now, but I can borrow it yes, 
 thank God, my word is good for that 
 amount, a thousand times over I 
 Come, poor girl, we will stay here no 
 longer. Let us return to the par- 
 lor." 
 
 Their return created as little atten- 
 tion as their departure, and neither 
 Harry nor any one else had noticed 
 that they had been out of the room 
 to which they first repaired. 
 
 The scene then transpired that has 
 been narrated in previous chapters. 
 
 After the merchant's son had dis- 
 appeared with " Delia" on his arm, 
 Mr. Baldwin sat for a short time in 
 silence. He then seemed to discard 
 the subject entirely from his mind, 
 and his thoughts turned to the young 
 girl with whom he had conversed. 
 
 " Harry," he said, " I would like 
 to speak with you privately." 
 
 That young man deserted the " la- 
 dies," and in an instant was beside 
 his friend. 
 
 " Have you any money with you?" 
 asked the merchant. 
 
 " Plenty of it," was the reply; " I 
 have doubled up on that thousand 
 that I borrowed from you the other 
 
 Then I wish you would let me 
 have one hundred dollars until to- 
 morrow." 
 
 " May I ask what you want it for?" 
 inquired Harry, as he pulled a well- 
 filled wallet from an inside breast 
 p cket. 
 
 ' Oh, I wish to use it to-night."
 
 60 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 Here 1" 
 
 Harry insisted on particulars. The 
 youngf man commenced to smell a 
 rat. 
 
 " I want to se^id a poor unfortun- 
 ate girl back to the home she left a 
 month ago," explained the good- 
 hearted merchant. 
 
 " And who is that poor unfortun- 
 ate gill," inquired Harry ; and an 
 amused smile played upon his hand- 
 some face. 
 
 Mr. Baldwin pointed to the female 
 who had revealed to him her sad his- 
 tory. 
 
 " You don't mean the girl with the 
 short dress ?" 
 
 The old man gravely nodded. 
 
 Harry laughed boisterously. 
 
 The merchant frowned. 
 
 " Do you know her?" he finally in- 
 quired. 
 
 " Do I know her ? I should think 
 I did ! I know every hair in her head ! 
 Hav known her tor years! Why, 
 that girl is known all over town as 
 Little Maud, the Big Fraud /" 
 
 Mr. Baldwin was completely sur- 
 prised. Concluding that there was 
 not much prospect of doing any act 
 of charity in that house, he signified 
 a desire to go, and, without even say- 
 ing good-night to the girl who had so 
 worked upon his feelings, he took the 
 arm of his friend and was quickly on 
 the street again. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Cranky Ann, in her life of sin, had 
 participated in many scenes of ex- 
 citement. She had witnessed bar- 
 room and ball-room fights by the 
 score; she had jumped from high win- 
 dows to escape from her na'ural en- 
 emies, the police; she had been 
 dragged half-naked through the 
 streets, and shoved roughly into a 
 damp cell ; she had looked down the 
 steel barrel of a cocked revolver, and 
 never moved a muscle ; but never be- 
 fore had she been so corap etely and 
 thorough'y excited as on the night 
 when she left the Clark street variety 
 den, and walked with firm tread in 
 
 the direction that gave promise of 
 thrilling adventure before daylight. 
 
 It is easier to plan than to execute. 
 Crank's programme had been marked 
 out, but her part was harder to per- 
 form than she had supposed, f 
 
 " It's midnight," she muttered as 
 she turned toward Wabash av- 
 enue; "Miss Baldwin has been 
 in bed an hour, at least. How 
 shall I attract her attention without 
 alarming her ? There is but one 
 way I must boldly ring the bell, and 
 trust to luck." 
 
 Crank took particular pains to 
 make all the noise she could, when 
 she opened the gate leading to 
 the merchant's mansion. She pulled 
 the bell vigorously, and then walked 
 up and down the portico in front of 
 the house, her footsteps being heavy 
 enough to be heard a block off. 
 Knowing that Miss Baldwin's room 
 was on the second floor, in front, she 
 walked leisurely to the gate, where 
 she could be seen from the open win- 
 dow above, and hummed a familiar 
 tune. 
 
 As she expected, a female voice in- 
 quired: 
 
 " What is wanted ?" 
 
 " I wish to speak with Miss Bald- 
 win a moment," was the reply. 
 
 " I will call my brother " and she 
 was about to leave, when Crank 
 quickly replied : 
 
 "Your brother, Miss Baldwin, is 
 not at home I left him only a short 
 time since, when he le!t the store 
 with a western merchant, and stated 
 that he would not be home before 
 2 or 3 o'clock," 
 
 "Wait a moment," was the only re- 
 ply, and the young lady was gone. 
 But she quickly returned. 
 
 " You are right about my broth- 
 er's not being at home," she said. 
 " As your business cannot concern 
 me you can call in the morning, at 
 any hour, and he will be here to meet 
 you." 
 
 " My business is very important, 
 and it concerns^*?**,' ' was the response 
 of Cranky Ann, who spoke with such 
 appealing voice that it completely
 
 61 
 
 disarmed the young lady of any fears 
 she may have entertained. 
 
 "You seem to be a friend," said 
 the voice from above, " and I will 
 meet you in a moment." 
 
 " I am indeed your friend," was 
 the solemn reply of the street- 
 walker. 
 
 Miss Baldwin turned on the gas in 
 the parlor and in the hall, and then 
 opened wide the door. 
 
 Their eyes met, and there was no 
 more distrust on the part of the lady. 
 
 With consummate skill in the use 
 of words, Crank revealed the plot to 
 rob the house in such a way that 
 Miss Baldwin was not alarmed in the 
 least. 
 
 ' You can now return to your room, 
 and place implicit trust in my pjwer 
 to protect you," said Crank, at the 
 same time displaying the revolver 
 that Harry had provided her with. 
 
 " But you are not going to meet a 
 gang of burglars alone?" asked Miss 
 B., alarmed for the safety of her pro- 
 tector. 
 
 "Oh, no! A friend of mine will be 
 here to assist me. He knows your 
 brother, and is now looking for him." 
 
 " You say he knows my brother ? 
 Then he must know me, also. Will 
 you tell me his name ?" 
 
 ' I do not think you ever saw or 
 heard of him. He has probably met 
 your brother in the store," replied 
 Crank, who had no idea that Harry 
 Harper's acquaintance extended be- 
 yond the saloons, gambling rooms 
 and houses of ill-fame. 
 
 * But it is possible that I may know 
 him," returned Miss B., whose curi- 
 osity had been aroused ; " please tell 
 me his name." 
 
 " Oh, I have not the slightest ob- 
 jection. The name of my young 
 friend is H rry Harper!" 
 
 "Harry Harper.''' 
 
 Her heart gave a great bound, and 
 the blood rushed to her cheeks and 
 temple?. A- d then she said as calm 
 ly as she could : 
 
 " Yes, I think I have heard my 
 brother speak of the young gentle- 
 man! And now, I witl return to my j 
 
 room, as you suggested, and trust 
 entirely to vou." 
 
 " And Harry" she whispered to 
 her wildly beating heart, as she quick- 
 ly left the parbr and a cended the 
 stairway, with the light of a great 
 passion sparkling in her datk eyes. 
 
 Cranky Ann p iced the parlors with 
 an impatient tread. 
 
 An hour, that seemed an age, 
 elapsed. 
 
 R'pid footsteps were heard ap- 
 proaching. They halted at the gate, 
 and two men entered. 
 
 A pair of lustrous eyes peered 
 through the closed shutters of the 
 second floor. They rested a second 
 upon the merchant's son, and 
 then followed the form of Harry 
 Harper until it disappeared beneath 
 the porch. 
 
 Josephine Baldwin felt safer then 
 than she would have felt had the 
 house heen surrounded by a hundred 
 policemen. Her brother quickly ap- 
 peared at her door to tell her that all 
 was right, but she needed no such as- 
 surance she had a blind confidence 
 in at least one ot her protectors ! 
 
 Crank posted young Baldwin con 
 cerning the "business at the store " 
 that detained him, and was cordially 
 thanked for her shrewdness. But 
 the merchant's son was not enlight- 
 ened concerning Crank's sex. It was 
 not necessary that he should know 
 that a common street walker had 
 saved his home from invasion while 
 he was almost within hailing distance, 
 wrapped in the close embrace of 
 slumber ! 
 
 The watchers anxiously waited. 
 
 "Ten minutes to three!" whis- 
 pered the merchant's son. 
 
 Crank was looking through the 
 shutters with eyes penetrating as 
 those of a night bird. A man was 
 slow'y passing and a hack drove leis 
 urely by. Seiziog Harry by the col- 
 lar, she fairly dragged him to the 
 window. 
 
 " Do you know that man ?" she 
 whispered, huskily. 
 
 Harry looked at him almost sav- 
 agelv. 
 
 " I have met him, I think," he said,
 
 62 
 
 *'but I cannot recnll his name. But 
 see ! he halts, and looks searchingly 
 this way ! Is he the burglar, Crank ?" 
 
 "No! that is a friend of mine! 
 His name is Jack Dunning! It was 
 an accident that made him stop. He 
 has gone now." 
 
 "Jack Dunning Jack Dunning," 
 mused Harry; " I have heard of him, 
 I have met him, but I do not know 
 much of him." 
 
 At that instant young Baldwin 
 rushed excitedly into the room. 
 
 "They have come!" he said; they 
 are in the back yard now there ara 
 three of them !" 
 
 'Three against three man for 
 man 1" cried Crank, taking the lead 
 in spite of Harry, who could have 
 forced her back. 
 
 " That's a game girl," he thought, 
 as he looked at the intrepid street- 
 walker admiringly. 
 
 *' They are forcing the basement 
 door!" she whispered, hoarsely: and 
 with surprising familiarity with the 
 house, she was halt way down 
 the stairway before the other two had 
 started. 
 
 With reckless daring she rushed to 
 the outer door, unbolted it with a 
 jerk, turned the key, and stood face 
 to face with three masked robbers ! 
 
 The villains heard other footsteps 
 approaching, they saw the glittering 
 mounting and polished steel of a re 
 volver, and, taking to their heels ran 
 to the alley, where stood a hack ready 
 to receive them. 
 
 Crank was at their heels, and twice 
 her revolver spoke with peculiar and 
 emphatic eloquence. 
 
 A groan followed the last shot, but 
 the men clambered into the carriage, 
 the horses sprang at the crack of the 
 whip, and away they went. 
 
 Bang! bang! Cranky Ann stood 
 in the middle of the alley, and fired 
 at the retreating hack. When the 
 vehicle was about thirty feet away, 
 the i pper portion of a man's body 
 appeared through the side window, a 
 steady arm was raised, a sharp click 
 followed, and a loud icport rang out 
 on the clear night air. 
 
 The street walker threw up both 
 
 hands, and with a groan of agony fell 
 into the arms of Harry Harper ! 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 The reader who has ever entered 
 the *' wine room " ot a variety the- 
 atre can imagine the state of mind of 
 the merchant when he followed Harry 
 Harper through the door that led to 
 that resort. He had mingled with 
 low-down creatures who frequent 
 Dan Webster's dancing den; he had 
 walked arm-in arm with a street- 
 walker, and had in her room been 
 tempted; he had witnessed volup- 
 tuous ease in its most luxurious garb, 
 in the parlors of the reigning queen 
 of the demi-monde. These glimpses 
 of fast life had prepared him for al- 
 most any shape that the great evil 
 might assume; but for all this, he was 
 staggered, confused, confounded, 
 when he entered that " wine room." 
 It was a eight that his imagination 
 had not provided for, and tor a mo- 
 ment the old gentleman was dazed 
 with the bewildering dazzleinent of 
 the "scene of enchantment" that 
 met his eyes. 
 
 The room was not more than fifteen 
 feet square, with a " private box " in 
 one corner, an entrance to the "stage" 
 in the other, and a multitude of arm 
 chairs for the accommodation of the 
 " ladies " and their visitors. 
 
 There were a dozen "actresses" 
 in the room, all so nearly nude that 
 it would have been scarcely less in- 
 decent had they discarded the few 
 flimsy garments that adorned their 
 limbs and bodies. 
 
 At a distance of twenty or thirty 
 feet, the scene would have been in- 
 toxicating to almost any man's mind ; 
 but upon close inspection the beau- 
 ties were stripped of their charms, 
 and disgust rather than admiration 
 would be the result. 
 
 While the best of us could hardly 
 be expected to shut our eyes to the 
 revealed charms ot lovely woman, 
 there are few who would not turn 
 from such exhibitions as that which 
 met the gaze of Mr. Baldwin, in the 
 Clark street cellar.
 
 63 
 
 Beauties they may have been once, 
 but contact with dissipation and sin 
 had long ago robbed them of their 
 heritage, and left them miserab e 
 wrecks, that no fictitious trappery 
 could make attractive to other than 
 than the most debased of mortals. 
 
 They were bloated, pimpled, sore- 
 eyed, toul-rnouthed, disgusting spec 
 imens of lost womanhood. This could 
 not be concealed by the lavish appli- 
 ance ot paint and pawder, and Mr. 
 Baldwin shuddered, when, after he 
 had taken a chair, one of them drop- 
 ped on his knees and placed her 
 bare arms affectionately around his 
 neck. 
 
 She was attired in tights that ex- 
 posed all that could well be seen, and 
 the other extremity was almost com- 
 pletely destitute of covering of any 
 kind. 
 
 ' My dear," she said, trying to be 
 affectionate, 4i won't you buy me a 
 drink? I feel as dry as a smoked 
 fish." 
 
 " Certainly you can have a drink. 
 What do you wish ?" 
 
 " Well, sometimes I drink lemon- 
 ade, sometimes beer, and then again 
 wine ; but this time I guess I'll take 
 a little whisky. You look like a 
 whisky-drinker yourself, and I al- 
 ways like to be agreeable and socia- 
 ble with my friends." 
 
 Just then another painted damsel 
 sidled up. 
 
 "Can't I have something too ?" 
 she said, with a poorly simulated 
 pout. 
 
 " Why, yes, of course \ The ladies 
 can all take what they wish," replied 
 the old gentleman, so loud that none 
 failed to hear him. 
 
 The boss beer jerker of the estab 
 lishment was busy for a minute in 
 taking orders for whisky, gin, brandy, 
 rum punches, beer and other bev- 
 erages such as were dispensed at the 
 bar. 
 
 ' What is yours?" he said, ad 
 dressing Mr. Baldwin. 
 
 " I'll take whisky straight!" 
 
 Harry Harper, who had been cu- 
 riousty watching the merchant's 
 movements, was betrayed into a sud- 
 
 den start. He could not believe in 
 his own earsl 
 
 He looked at the old man sharply, 
 and a sly wink assured him that his 
 friend had not altogether taken leave 
 of his senses. 
 
 The drinks came, and a close ob- 
 server might have detected Mr. 
 Baldwin in a clever feat of jugglery, 
 as he neatly disposed of his raw 
 whisky in the spittoon 
 
 He handed the girl who had or- 
 dered them a five dollar bill, and re- 
 ceived a sweet " thank you," but not 
 a nickle in change. 
 
 At the same time the " fair " crea- 
 ture gave his hand a suggestive 
 squeeze, which he returned with in- 
 terest ! 
 
 Evidently the venerable visitor 
 did not intend to be taken for a 
 greenhorn. 
 
 Fifteen minutes and another round 
 of drinks, sickened the merchant, and.., 
 he expressed deep regret that he was 
 compelled to tear himself away from 
 such agreeable com pain'. In the 
 meantime he had made engagements 
 with thiee females, all of whom were 
 to meet him on the following day. 
 Each insisted that the present was a 
 much better opportunity, as the 
 "show " was nearly cut, but the lib 
 eral old cove was sorry that circum- 
 stances would not permit of such an 
 arrangement, and promised faithlully 
 to make good his appointments for 
 the following day a promise he had 
 no notion of fulfilling. 
 
 The visit was one that the mer- 
 chant will never forget. It opened 
 his eyes to the wickedness that 
 thrives in the very heart of this great 
 city, and convinced him tkat the an- 
 gels of the wine room are as depraved 
 devils as ever wore singed wings. 
 
 " You will have to occupy our 
 room alone to-night," said Harry, af- 
 ter they had gained the street and 
 taken in a deep draught of pure air. 
 
 " Oh, you young rascal !" was the 
 only reply made. 
 
 Harry made no explanation, con- 
 cluding that it would be better to let 
 Mr. Baldwin rest under a delusion 
 that did injustice to himself, rather
 
 64 
 
 than throw out any insinuations that 
 would raise a suspicion in the old 
 man's mind. 
 
 They separated, the one to reflect 
 upon what he had seen of Chicago 
 under ground, the other to engage in 
 an adventure in which his whole 
 heart and soul was enlisted 1 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Harry Harper was laboring under 
 the most intense excitement when he 
 heard the report of the pistol from 
 the hack, and saw Cranky Ann throw 
 up her hands. He would have pur- 
 sued the robbers had not the brave 
 girl fallen ; but as it was, much as he 
 desired to bring the villains to jus- 
 tice, he could not abandon one who 
 had proven herself to be true as steel, 
 even though she was a pick-up of the 
 street. 
 
 There had been another witness to 
 the encounter. From the rear win- 
 dow, Josephine Bald win, withflushed 
 face and heaving bosom, had watched 
 with eager eyes all that had taken 
 place. The reckless daring and un- 
 daunted bravery ot the young "man" 
 who had first warned her of danger, 
 filled her with admiration, and when 
 she saw the hero fall a piercing scream 
 escaped her lips. Rushing to the 
 scene of the encounter with stream- 
 ing hair and frightened look, she iell 
 upon her knees beside the prostrate 
 form, tore the cap from the head of 
 the sufferer, and revealed to her as- 
 tonished gaze locks as long and flow- 
 ing as her own ! 
 
 "Great heaven!" she exclaimed, 
 " this is not a man's hair ! It is a 
 woman who has saved us from rob- 
 bery, and sacrificed her own life!" 
 
 Gently the senseless form was con- 
 veyed to the house, and young Bald- 
 win went hurriedly in quest of a 
 physician. 
 
 The body of Cranky Ann was placed 
 upon a sofa in the back parlor, and 
 Miss Baldwin went up stairs to pro- 
 cure a pillow, while Harry Harper 
 commenced a search in the yard and 
 alley, to secure it he could some evi- 
 
 dence by which to identify the rob- 
 bers and murderers. 
 
 When Josephine Baldwin returned 
 with the pillow and such restoratives 
 as are usually kept in every family, 
 she stopped in the door as suddenly 
 as though she had been shot, and a 
 ghastly pallor overspread her fair 
 
 The body of Cranky Ann was no- 
 where to be seen ! 
 
 The alarm was given, Harry was sum- 
 moned, a search was made, the street 
 was scanned up and down, and not a 
 trace could be found ! 
 
 The corpse had been stolen ! 
 
 The front door was wide open, and 
 Harry Harper concluded that the 
 bold burglars had invaded the house, 
 and taken away the evidence of their 
 great crime ! He knew full well that 
 unless the body could be found, no 
 trial or conviction for murder could 
 
 be effected. 
 
 ***** 
 
 On Monday morning, between 10 
 and 11 o'clock, Miss Isabella Mar- 
 tindale, the Southern lady, made her 
 appearance at the residence of Mr. 
 Baldwin ! 
 
 She was magnificently dressed, and 
 seemed to be in excellent health and 
 spirits ! 
 
 She had, she said, enjoyed in an 
 unusual degree her visit with her 
 cousin, who had merely spent the 
 Sabbath here, and was already onhei 
 way to the East. 
 
 It will be observed that Cranky 
 Ann could tell a lie as easily and 
 readily as she could shoot a burglarl 
 
 Miss Baldwin had entirely recov- 
 ered from the effects of the startling 
 encounter with the midnight maraud- 
 ers, and regaled " Miss Martindale " 
 with a complete and graphic account 
 of the adventure, including the heroic 
 conduct of the mysterious person 
 who had warned her of the contem- 
 plated robbery, the death shot of the 
 burglars, the unexpected discovery 
 of the sex of the victim, and the sud- 
 den and unexpected disappearance 
 of the corpse. Miss Baldwin was 
 eloquent in her praises of the dis- 
 guised woman, and her eyes filled
 
 66 
 
 with tears as she explained how brave 
 and desperate was the attack upon 
 the ruffians, and how piercing was the 
 death cry of the poor girl whose body 
 had been riddled with a cold and 
 cruel bullet! 
 
 " Whoever she was, whatever may 
 have been her faults, however dark 
 may have been the stains upon her 
 soul, however deep in sin she ma 
 have plunged, my prayer shall ever 
 be, ' May God have mercy on her 
 soul !'" 
 
 There was moisture in the eyes of 
 Josephine Baldwin as she fervently 
 uttered these words. 
 
 But what caused the deep emo- 
 tion of Isabella Martindlale ? Wh}' 
 did she tremble and turn pale ? 
 What strange power thrilled her soul 
 and'forced unwilling tears from eyes 
 that seldom wept ? Why did she 
 gasp for breath and reel as one par- 
 alyzed ? 
 
 Miss Baldwin attributed this un- 
 usual display of emotion to a sym- 
 pathetic !eeling for the unfortunate 
 unknown. > 
 
 It had been many, many years 
 since pure lips had said to Cranky 
 Ann, "God bless you," and the 
 words sank deep down into her heart. 
 They were more precious to her than 
 gold, and for a moment she was 
 transfixed with the irresistible im- 
 pulse of a great and overpowering 
 joy. 
 
 That afternoon, " Mrs. Robinson " 
 and " her son" drove to the door of 
 the Baldwin mansion with one of the 
 most elegant turn-outs in Chicago. 
 
 Miss Baldwin received them cor- 
 dially, and Cranky Ann's face beamed 
 with gracious smiles. 
 
 But could Jack Dunning and Mad- 
 ame Gibson have read her thoughts, 
 they would have shuddered, for be- 
 neath her smile there lurked the 
 amiability of the hyena rather than 
 the dove ! 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 The bullet aimed at Cranky Ann by 
 the burglar would have terminated her 
 existence had it not been for circum 
 
 stances that would seem almost prov- 
 idential in their nature. The bat 
 that she had purchased at the second- 
 hand clothing store was at least two 
 sizes too large for her head. In or- 
 der to overcome this difficulty, when 
 the street- walker reached her room 
 she padded the leather lining with 
 several thicknesses of brown paper, 
 in that manner securing a perfect fit. 
 The bull that would otherwise hare 
 buried itself in her skull was resisted 
 by leather and paper, and glanced 
 upward, but had no effect upon the 
 disguised woman, except to tempo- 
 rarily stun her. She was conscious 
 when the cap was torn from her head, 
 and her sex discovered. But she 
 made no demonstration, for her light- 
 ning brain had been at work, and 
 she determined to escape before rec- 
 ognition was possible. The oppor- 
 tunity came sooner : than she expect- 
 ed. The instant she found herself 
 alone and unwatched, Crank sprang 
 to hei- feet with the agility of a fright- 
 ened deer, made her way noiselessly 
 to the front door, and disappeared 
 around the nearest corner with the 
 swiftness of the wind. Without en- 
 courtering a soul, she was within a 
 very short time in her own room on 
 State street. The exciting adventure 
 through which she had passed, to- 
 gether with the unusual exertion of 
 her flight, somewhat unnerved the 
 heroic girl, and she threw herself 
 panting and exhausted upon the 
 bed. 
 
 The cool night air had an invig- 
 orating and inspiriting effect, and 
 when, not long afterward, the clear 
 eastern sky was streaked with threads 
 of silver and gold, and dawn succeed- 
 ed darkness, Cranky Ann's excite- 
 ment had all passed away, and she 
 was again in full possession ol all her 
 wonderful faculties. 
 
 But she did not arise. She laid 
 upon her bed and abandoned her 
 mind to thought. 
 
 Way back, as far as memory could 
 reach, she wandered in her wakeful 
 dream. All the act a of her life passed 
 in rapid review before her. The 
 strange story of her life, as related to
 
 67 
 
 Mr. Baldwin only a short time pre- 
 vious, was vividly portrayed in the 
 brilliant colorings of active imagin- 
 ation. Quickly the scene shifted, 
 until finaHy came the last act in her 
 checkered career. When, in her 
 mind's eye, she looked upon the dark 
 and hateful days of her sinful life, 
 there was an expression of pain, 
 agony and remorse upon the face of 
 her who had been a heroine an hour 
 before ; but the thought of that one 
 good deed drove away the black 
 clouds as the sun's brightrays drives 
 darkness from the face of the earth, 
 and left there a smile as peaceful as 
 that which plays' upon the features 
 of an infant in its sweetest dreams. 
 
 And from the corners of the street- 
 walker's closed eyes there came tears 
 not of sorrow, not of anger, not of 
 agony, but of thankfulness; she wept 
 her thanks to that Unseen Power that 
 had guided her steps for good on 
 that night of adventure and peril. 
 
 Cranky Ann was startled by a sharp 
 rap upon the door. Brushing away 
 the tell-tale tears, she turned the 
 key, and Harry Harper grasped her 
 hand and held it in a firm and cor- 
 dial clasp, and his voice was hoarse 
 and husky as he said : 
 
 "Crank, God bless you, I'm glad 
 that I have found you 1" 
 
 The girl did not speak, but she 
 returned the warm pressure of his 
 hand, and her heaving bosom told 
 with an eloquent tongue how deep 
 was her emotion. 
 
 Leading her to a seat, Harry hur- 
 riedly asked: 
 
 " Were you hurt, Crank ?" 
 
 " No I was merely stunned for a 
 moment," was the reply, and then 
 she related the miraculous story of 
 her escape from instant death. 
 
 " But you ought not to have fled 
 as you did," said Harry; "Miss 
 Baldwin and her brother are both in 
 deep distress regarding your fate. 
 They believe that you were killed, 
 and that your body was stolen by 
 the murderers, who hoped in that 
 way to escape the death penalty, 
 should they be tracked down. 
 ome, Crank, go back with me, and 
 
 not only relieve their minds, but let 
 them at leat thank you for what you 
 have done !" 
 
 "Not for the world!" was her 
 quick and passionate reply. 
 
 "Why not, Crank?" 
 
 " I cannot tell you now, Harry, 
 but before another week passes you 
 and they will knoW something about 
 C ranky Ann, the street walker, that 
 will cover up at least some of the 
 wicked deeds that distort and dis- 
 figure the record of her life 1" 
 
 " But why delay a week ? Why 
 not tell the story now ? I ana cer- 
 tain, Crank, that there will never be 
 a better opportunity, and I know 
 that it would relieve brother and sis- 
 ter Irom an anxiety that mus't be 
 painful." 
 
 " I cannot even explain my rea- 
 sons," said Crank in reply; "but if you 
 wish you may say to the youug lady 
 and gentleman that the person wkt 
 warned them of danger was a prof 
 ligate woman who daily walks the 
 streets and solicits from the passing 
 crowd, and that she is entirely un- 
 worthy of a single thought from such 
 as they. You may also say that she 
 was not injured by the bullet, and 
 that she is glad to have been of some 
 slight service in protecting them 
 from the scheming depredators." 
 
 " Crank," replied Harry, earnest- 
 ly i "you are throwing away the op- 
 portunity of a lifetime. Though you 
 are a pcor unfortunate street walker, 
 you are as brave and as noble a girl 
 as ever breathed the breath of life " 
 
 " Hush 1" cried Crank, impulsive- 
 ly? "you forget yourself, Harry Har- 
 per! You forget who I am! Yon 
 forget that for long, long years I hre 
 walked the streets of Chicago, an ob 
 ject of loathingand scorn a despised 
 outcast, from whom purity has turned 
 with cold and haughty frown, and 
 upon whom none but the vicious and 
 corrupt have smiled 1 You forget 
 the reputation that the world gives 
 to Cranky Ann, the street prostitute! 
 You forget yourself when you call a 
 creature like me a brave and noble 
 girl 1 No, sir! I am a woman of the 
 town, and the tears of all the angels
 
 68 
 
 could not wash away that stain ! I 
 do not want the thanks of those good 
 people, and I will not go near them, 
 tor I know, and you know, too, that, 
 however generous the irapu'se ot 
 thankfulness might be, there would 
 creep into their hearts a feeling of 
 loathing should they even touch the 
 hand of the public strumpet who had 
 been of momentary service to them 1" 
 
 The girl spoke vehemently, and 
 was moved almost to tears, so earnest 
 were her words. 
 
 Harry, too, was unusually af- 
 lected. 
 
 " The words that you have used 
 are the fruits of excitement," he said, 
 " and have no foothold outside a dis- 
 ordered imagination. True, the 
 world in general hates prostitutes, 
 because it believes them naturally 
 bad, and incapable of anything good ; 
 but once let it be known that the 
 lowest and filthiest outcast that 
 wades through the depths of Chica- 
 go's slums has performed such an 
 act as you did not much more than 
 an hour ago ; let any harlot that 
 walks these streets rise up in defense 
 of the life or virtue of any innocent 
 girl threatened with peril, and there 
 is not a decent man or woman in this 
 great city who would not shout the 
 voice oi praise, and who would not 
 warmly welcome her to their hearts, 
 their homes and their affections !" 
 Cranky Ann listened with an ear- 
 nest, eager, hepeful look in her flushed 
 face and inflamed eyes. 
 
 "God! "she exclaimed, "I only 
 hope that what you say is true!" 
 
 Harry endeavored to prevail upon 
 her to return to the residence of the 
 merchant, but she resolutely refused. 
 As he was about going she said: 
 
 " Harry Harper, you have spoken 
 and acted kindly toward me, and you 
 do not know how thankful I am. 
 Within the next few days I may 
 need the help of a friend. It is pos- 
 sible that I may ask him to face dan- 
 ger, and strike with a strong arm. 
 If I should seek that friend in you, 
 what would you say ?" 
 
 Harry never opened his lips, but 
 he took the right hand ot Crank in 
 
 both of his, and she was satisfied 
 with the answer ! 
 
 "Whenever I send, come quick- 
 ly I" 
 
 " I'll be there, staunch and true!" 
 
 And he was gone ! 
 
 Crank fastened the door, darkened 
 the room as much as possible, dis- 
 robed, and was quickly in bed. Her 
 last words before sleep came were: 
 
 * Is it true ? Is there one ray of 
 hope for the old street walker ? ' 
 
 She closed her eyes, and not an 
 ugly dream disturbed the sweetness 
 ot her slumbers. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Madame Gibson, under the name 
 of Mrs. Robinson, accompanied by 
 Jack Dunning, who assumed to be 
 her son, made her appearance at the 
 Baldwin mansion at the appointed 
 hour on the Monday afternoon suc- 
 ceeding the day that witnessed the 
 exciting events narrated in this ro- 
 mance. * 
 
 The Madame, in personal appear- 
 ance, was impressively respectable. 
 Maturity had set its rigid stamp upon 
 her face, and without artful appli- 
 ances she was really a magnificent- 
 looking lady one who would com- 
 mand attention and respect wherever 
 she might be. On this occasion she 
 took particular care that neither in 
 look, in act, nor in speech should she 
 betray the treachery that was hidden 
 by the mask of mildness, gentleness, 
 and loving kindness. 
 
 Jack Dunning was equally careful 
 in the performance ol the part he had 
 undertaken. But he did not know 
 that the vivacious and voluptuous 
 young lady on whom he had cast his 
 baleful eyes had been timely warned, 
 and was watching his every move 
 ment with a scrutiny close and care- 
 ful. Josephine Baldwin could not but 
 admire his manly appearance, and 
 the polished politeness with which 
 he addressed her. But at times, when 
 he thought himself unobserved, there 
 was a lascivious look in his expressive 
 face that did not escape the notice of 
 the fair heiress. * That he admired
 
 69 
 
 her, she did not doubt ; but whether 
 it was the admiration of the roue and 
 the rake or that of honesty and ex- 
 alted manliness, was a matter upon 
 which grave doubts suggested them 
 selves in her mind, as she listened to 
 the smooth-sounding compliments 
 that were addressed to her as they 
 rode along the avenues and the boule- 
 vards. 
 
 Cranky Ann, in the character of 
 Isabella Martindale, the Southern 
 lady, was perfection itself, and even 
 Jack Dunning, knowing, as he did, 
 that she was only a common street 
 walker, could not but admire the 
 mar ner in which she represented the 
 high-toned lady that she assumed to 
 be. There was no look of recogni- 
 tion between the villain and the wo- 
 man he had hired to aid in his wicked 
 designs. She and he were taking the 
 leading parts in a drama of real life, 
 and it had been arranged at the re- 
 hearsal that they were to act in every 
 way as though she were really a lady 
 and he actually an upright and hon- 
 orable young man. But the disguised 
 street- walker had a little plot of her 
 own concocting to add to the play as 
 originally prepared ; and though she 
 was outwardly amiability itselt, her 
 mind was excited by thoughts that 
 only wonderful self control could con- 
 ceal from the attention of those with 
 whom she was conversing in the most 
 woildly and matter of iact of wa*ys. 
 
 To all but Crank the ride was a 
 pleasant one. The heartless procur 
 ess was gloating over the ease with 
 which she was earning her reward ; 
 the reckless libertine, infatuated with 
 the charms of the lovely woman 
 whom he had determined at all haz- 
 ards to win, was jubilant at heart at 
 the prospect of an early accomplish- 
 ment of the ends at which his base 
 designs aimed ; the merchant's daugh- 
 ter, having no suspicions that a con- 
 spiracy threatened her, was full of 
 life and animation; the street-walker, 
 while she smiled and gave voice to 
 such words as a stranger would nat- 
 urally use when enjoying a trip un- 
 der the shades of great forest trees, 
 and fanned by the soft sighs of a 
 
 mighty inland ocean, was all the time 
 planning a counter-conspiracy that 
 would bring down wrath and ven- 
 geance on her own head, instead of 
 ruin and destruction upon that of the 
 proud beauty who sat at her sido. * 
 
 Thus the minutes and the hours 
 rolled on, until the lengthening shad- 
 ows told them that evening, with its 
 darkness and its dampness, would 
 soon be upon them. But the cool 
 breezes were so soothing in their 
 effects that no one thought of turn- 
 ing the heads of the horses home- 
 ward or if they did so think, no 
 mention was made of it, and it was 
 quite dark when the happy party 
 halted in front of the house of Mad- 
 ame Gribson. 
 
 That scheming woman insisted 
 upon the honor of entertaining her 
 friends under her own roof, for a 
 short time, at least, and without 
 marked hesitation the three ladies, 
 preceded by Jack Dunning, entered 
 the assignation house. 
 
 As Josephine Baldwin was being 
 assisted from the carriage by "Mr. 
 Robinson," two gentlemen were 
 passing. One, an elderly man, she 
 did not knoqy; but the other WHS 
 Harry Harper,' and for some reason 
 that she did not herself realize, she 
 was thankful that he did not recog- 
 nize her while she was graciously re- 
 ceiving the attentions of another 
 man. 
 
 Crank, too, recognized the hand- 
 some young sporting man, and she 
 thanked God that he was so near. 
 Something told her that he would 
 soon return that way, and she had no 
 trouble in penciling, unobserved, 
 upon a slip of paper, these words : 
 
 "HARRY: You said you would 
 come whenever I called on you. Be 
 here at 11 o'clock to-night, without 
 fail, and come prepared for any emer- 
 gency. CRANK" 
 
 In fifteen minutes she stood at the 
 gate, fan in hand, apparently enjoy - 
 irg the ever- welcome air of sultry 
 summer evenings, but in reality 
 watching eagerly for the appearance 
 of a well-known form. 
 
 She had not long to wait. Hairy
 
 70 
 
 and Mr. Baldwin came sauntering 
 leisurely along, the former on the in- 
 side of the walk. The instant he 
 reached the spot where Crank waited 
 he felt the pressure of a hand in his 
 own, and when, like a flash, the un 
 known grip was withdrawn, a cram- 
 pled note to d him that an explana- 
 tion would be made whenever be 
 should get an opportunity to read. 
 He merely glanced at the woman, but 
 he did not know her, although he did 
 know the character of the house, and 
 supposed that the missive so myste- 
 riously received was of no more im 
 portance than wculd be an invitation 
 to a soiree of a questionable character. 
 Indeed, such he supposed it to be, 
 and was in no particular hurry to pe- 
 ruse the hastily written lines. 
 
 But when he did read the words that 
 Cranky Ann had penned, it had the 
 effect of an electric shock, and, taking 
 hold oi the arm of the old gentleman 
 with a grasp that was more vigorous 
 than he supposed, he sa.d: 
 
 " Mr. Baldwin, we must make 
 haste ! I have an appointment to- 
 night that I must keep to the very 
 second. Let us take a street car, and 
 reach our room as quickly as possi 
 ble. I suppose I might leave you 
 here, but with the assistance of the 
 cars there is plenty of time, and I 
 may need one or two small articles 
 that I left behind when we started on 
 our rambles up and down the ave- 
 nue." 
 
 Mr. Baldwin was somewhat sur- 
 prised at the abruptness of the an- 
 nouncement made by his young 
 friend. He had supposed that, as the 
 irght advanced, they were at least to 
 remain together, and probably see 
 some ,more of Chicago after dark; 
 and the old man hinted as much to 
 his companion, though he was care- 
 l ui to make no direct mention of the 
 matter. 
 
 Harry was silent for some time. At 
 h iigth he said: 
 
 " I see, Mr. Baldwin, that you are 
 :> trifle disappointed at what I have 
 told you ; but let me assure you that 
 until within a very short time ago I 
 
 hid no idea that I would be called 
 away from \ ou." 
 
 The merchant was inclined to 
 doubt. He said: 
 
 "Of cours ', I understand that I 
 have i o claim upon your time, and * 
 would not demand it if I had; but it 
 Appears to me that you are somewhat 
 eccentric in your statements. What 
 do you mean by a very short timet" 
 
 " I mean that uniil about five 
 minutes ago I had no idea that I 
 should be called away from you. This 
 may seem strange to you, who have 
 been with me constantly for several 
 hours. But this little note, that was 
 handed me as we have been walking 
 along, will convi ce you that I am not 
 trying to deceive you." 
 
 Mr. Baldwin took the note signed 
 by Cranky Ann, and carefully pe- 
 rused it. 
 
 " Who gave you this, Harry?" he 
 inquired. 
 
 " I do not know, positively," he 
 replied, " but nay impression is that 
 Crank handed it to me herself. She 
 is a strange girl, Mr. Baldwin, tind 
 some day you will know more of her 
 than you do now, even though she 
 has related to vou the history of her 
 life." 
 
 The cars soon brought them down 
 town On the way neither had epokr n/ 
 After they reached the pavement Mr. 
 Baldwin said : 
 
 ''Harry, what does this sudden 
 and mysterious call on you mean?" 
 
 " I cannot tell you," was the reply; 
 " the woman who handled it to me 
 stood at the gateway of a very select 
 assignation house, to which none are 
 admitted who are not known to the 
 keeper. If it was not Crank herself 
 who gave it to me, it was some other 
 girl, probably of the same class. That 
 she will be there, I am certain; but 
 concerning what she wants of me, or 
 why she wants me to come armed, I 
 am entirely ignorant." 
 
 " Why not let me go with you, 
 Harry ?" 
 
 This proposition was one that had 
 not entered the head of Harry Har- 
 per, and it startled him. From the 
 actions of Cranky Ann, and from the
 
 1-1 
 
 tenor ol his brief message on paper, 
 he believed that an adventure not 
 entirely fiee from danger, was before 
 him. He had seen Crank face to face 
 with peril, and he knew that such a 
 feeling as that of fear had never found 
 a place beneath her breast. When, 
 therefore, she asked for help, it was 
 not the call of a weak and timid wo- 
 man, but rather the war cry of a star- 
 tled tigress when its young was 
 threatened with danger from a pow 
 erful foe. Into such an adventure 
 he did not wish to lead the man whom 
 he regarded as something more than 
 a friend, and whose daughter he held 
 in an esteem that he scarcely dared 
 admit even to himself. But hew 
 could he sayjno? 
 
 " I am afraid," he replied, after a 
 pause, "that you would not relish an 
 adventure of this kind, Mr. Baldwin. 
 Jt may possibly be dangerous busi- 
 ness that I am called upon to engage 
 in." 
 
 " Then why do you go? What par- 
 ticular claim can this woman have 
 upon you, that she should call upon 
 you to risk perhaps your life in her 
 behalf?" - 
 
 The woman herself has no claim, 
 but she seems to be speaking for 
 some one else it may be some one 
 who stands in need of the protection 
 of an arm stronger than her own." 
 
 " The danger, at the worst, cannot 
 be very great, and I hope you will 
 not insist upon sharing it alone, Har- 
 ry, unless" the old man paused a 
 moment "unless it is of a private 
 nature, the details of which are only 
 known to Cranky Ann and her very 
 confidential friend." 
 
 He smiled as he said this, and the 
 tone of his voice was not such as 
 could give offense, though the words 
 might have been so considered had 
 the} 7 come from almost any other 
 source. 
 
 'I assure you that there isj'noth 
 ing that I know cf that concerns me, 
 in what may transpire to night. I 
 have warned you of possible danger. 
 I have endeavored to dissuade you 
 Irom keeping me compnm, because I 
 would not knowing!}' lend you to 
 
 any spot where a disturbance would 
 be likely to take place. But if, know- 
 ing all that I have told you, you in 
 sist upon going, then I can only take 
 you by the hand and pledge to you 
 the protection that lies in this right 
 arm, and such trusty weapons as may- 
 be necessary to meet whatever force 
 may threaten." 
 
 " Then let us at once . prepare for 
 action," said the enthusiastic mer 
 chant, as they entered their room. 
 
 Two hours later, Harry Harper and 
 a well-dressed gentleman, who look- 
 ed to be about 35 y^ars of age, with 
 dark hair and waxed mustache, en- 
 gaged a hack opposite the Sherman 
 House, and instructed the driver to 
 take them without delay to the vi- 
 cinity of the assignation house. 
 
 The merchant had assumed a new 
 disguise, ,and he was embarking 
 upon a mission that, before two 
 hours should pass, would freeze his 
 blood with horror ! 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 An hour was spent in pleasant con 
 versation by the strange party that 
 had congregated in the parlor ot 
 k * Mrs. Robinson." During that time 
 Jack Dunning had exercised every 
 art within his knowledge to please 
 Miss Baldwin ; and he had succeeded ! 
 His manner was so respectful, his 
 words and actions were so gentle- 
 manly, and his deceit so thoroughly 
 covered up, that the merchant's 
 daughter discarded the doublings ot 
 the afternoon, cast aside as unworthy 
 of credence the warnings of "Miss 
 Martindale," and permitted herself 
 to be charmed by the human snake 
 who was seeking to encompass her 
 ruin. 
 
 All this time Cranky Ann conduc- 
 ted herself as a lady of education and 
 refinement should. Though caretul 
 not to interfere with or interrupt the 
 interview that was kept up between 
 the youti couple, &bt sufficiently 
 identified herself with the conversa- 
 tion to make her presence agreeable, 
 and at the same time watched with 
 sharp eyes the movements of the pro-
 
 curess, and the villain who had em 
 ployed her. 
 
 Jagk secretly admired the street- 
 walker's genius in playing her part 
 but he would have shuddered could 
 he have read the thoughts that agi- 
 tated the brain of Cranky Ann as she 
 smiled upon him, upon the girl who 
 had already been caught in a trap, 
 and upon the hag whose roof covered 
 them! 
 
 In the neighborhood of 10 o'clock 
 Crank detected signals passing be- 
 tween Madame Gibson and Jack, 
 and she well knew that deviltry was 
 on foot. 
 
 The Madame a moment later ex- 
 eused herself, and soon after Jack, 
 under a plausible pretext, also left 
 the room, and the two friends were 
 alone! 
 
 "Ok, if I could but warn her!" 
 thought Crank. 
 
 But how could she ? ^n the eyes 
 of Josephine Baldwin, Isabella Mar- 
 tindale was a lady, and as such could 
 not know of any conspiracy, unless 
 she herself were as guilty as the oth- 
 ers. 
 
 As these thoughts ran through her 
 mind, the right hand of the street- 
 walker disappeared beneath her skirts, 
 and when withdrawn buried itself in 
 her bosom. These strange actions 
 were expressly designed to attract 
 the notice of the merchant's daugh- 
 ter, and they were successful. 
 
 " You seem to be somewhat nerv- 
 ous, Miss Martindale," said Jose- 
 phine. 
 
 " Ah! then you detected my move- 
 ments just now, I perceive," was the 
 reply. 
 
 " I confess that I did think you 
 somewhat eccentric in your acts; atd 
 now that you have made mention of 
 the matter youiself, I hope you will 
 not think it rude if I inquire your 
 reasons tor what many would deem a 
 strange performance." 
 
 ' Most certainly not," was the re 
 pi v ; and then Crank continued : 
 
 " We are two women, all alone." 
 
 The street- walker crossed the room, 
 and t ok a seat on the same sofa with 
 Miss Baldwin. 
 
 " Yes, we are alone at present, it 
 seems," replied Jopsephine. 
 
 " No one can see, no one can hear." 
 
 " It would appear not." 
 
 Crank then arose, raised her skirts, 
 and exposed, beneath the striped silk 
 hose, convenient for use at any mo- 
 ment, a silver-mounted revolverl 
 
 Miss Baldwin's eyes opened wid 
 with wonder, but she had not an op- 
 portunity to speak before Crank had 
 seized her hand, and thrusting it 
 quickly beneath the folds of her dress, 
 it rested upon the cold ivory handle 
 of a stilletto ! 
 
 Withdrawing her hand like a flash, 
 the daughter of the merchant recoiled 
 and trembled. 
 
 " Do not be alarmed," said the 
 street- walker, in a voice whose gen- 
 tleness and mildness were in strange 
 contrast with the ugly weapons that 
 she carried. 
 
 " Now feel of my muscle," she re- 
 sumed. 
 
 Miss Baldwin did so. It was hard 
 as iron. 
 
 " Please tell me why you carry 
 these terrible implements," pleaded 
 the innocent young woman, whose 
 alarm had vanished. 
 
 " I can tell you in a few words," 
 said Crank; 1 , "it is the custom J of 
 Southern ladies to perfect themselves 
 in the use of such weapons as may at 
 some time be needed lor self protec- 
 tion. And it is also usual, in our 
 country, to develop to the fullest ex- 
 tent every physical gilt of nature. 
 As forme, I consider myself the equal 
 of any man in the art of using the re- 
 volver or the knife, and there are few 
 men who are capable of standing up 
 before me without a weapon of any 
 kind. Thus, you see, while travel- 
 ing, I am my own protector, and 
 never have cause for nervousness or 
 fear." 
 
 In coining this clever fabrication, 
 Cranky Ann had a motive, that per- 
 haps the reader has already conceived. 
 She knew that in less than an hour an 
 exciting scene would be enacted in 
 that house; she could not warn Jose- 
 phine Baldwin of the impend ing dan- 
 ger; but she could and would give
 
 the young lady some assurance of pro 
 tection, and this was the quickly de- 
 vised way she took to do it. 
 
 Putting her arms affectionately 
 around the neck of her companion, 
 Cranky Ann drew her to her bosom 
 and kissed her. And then she said 
 with a kindly smile: 
 
 " So you see, my dear Miss Bald- 
 win, that whenever you are near me 
 you have a companion who, though 
 not so pleasing nor so gallant as the 
 handsome young son of our amiable 
 hostess, is yet fully as able to pro- 
 tect and preserve you from all harm." 
 
 Josephine was about to reply, but 
 she was interrupted by the entrance 
 of Madame Gibson. 
 
 14 What !" exclaimed the procuress, 
 " can it be possible that my son has 
 been so unpardonably rude as to 
 leave you two ladies all alone ?" 
 
 The old woman looked and talked 
 as though she was really surprised! 
 
 44 The ladies will excuse me, I know, 
 mother," said Jack, who entered at that 
 moment, ' 4 when they know that it 
 was for their own comfort that I left 
 them." 
 
 14 The day has been quite close," 
 he continued, "and I am sure that 
 the refreshments that I have ordered 
 from the restaurant over the way 
 will be more acceptable than would 
 have been my dull company!" 
 
 The " refreshments " were being 
 prepared in that very house 1 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 When Madame Gibson caught the 
 eye of Jack Dunning, she knew that 
 he wanted to see her alone, and that 
 she would quickly follow when he 
 left the parlor. She waited for him 
 in the hall, and when he made his 
 appearance they silently and with 
 noiseless tread disappeared through | 
 a rear door, and made their way to a 
 room in the basement, where none 
 could hear. 
 
 "Well?" said the Madame, inquir 
 ingly, as she faced him. 
 
 There was a dark, foreboding scowl 
 upon his face. 
 
 " There is but one thing to be 
 
 done!" he muttered, in low tones 
 
 The procuress understood him 
 well, but she disliked his looks, and 
 pretended she did not know what he 
 meant. 
 
 44 1 see that you are getting alon^ 
 swimmingly," she said, with a forced 
 smile. 
 
 14 Getting along hellishly, you had 
 better say," was the coarse and gruff 
 reply. 
 
 "Why, my son, I really thought 
 you had captivated the gentle liitle 
 dove. It I am any judge, you have 
 progressed remarkably fast in your 
 love-making." 
 
 "Then you are no judge. I tell 
 you, Madame Gibson, that girl is a 
 lady, and all the arts of the devil 
 could not lure her from the path of 
 rectitude. I can see that she is 
 pleased with my attentions, as any 
 lady would be with the attentions of 
 a gentleman for whom she entertains 
 respect; but should I make one im- 
 proper, or even indelicate advance, 
 she would spurn me from her with 
 indignant scorn, and forever after 
 there would be between us a moun- 
 tain of ice!" 
 
 Again that sardonic query was pro- 
 pounded: 
 
 " Well ?" 
 
 44 You know your business" was the 
 suggestive response, and a devilish 
 light gleamed -in the eyes that met 
 her own. 
 
 44 Don't you think you had better 
 try peaceable measures for a few 
 days, Mr. Dunning? A man ot your 
 peculiar powers of persuasion could 
 hardly fail to win the confidence of 
 almost any young beauty in Chi- 
 cago." 
 
 " No ! I will not try anything ol 
 the kind, lor I know that I should fail. 
 To-night we have her ! Let her go, 
 and the opportunity has passed for- 
 ever! There is no occasion to wait 
 another half hour, not another min- 
 ute, for they are golden now ! Crank 
 has done her part well. She is true 
 as steel and sharper than chain light- 
 ning! One glass of wine wili do the 
 business! Come! We are gone too 
 long already ! Let a collation be
 
 75 
 
 prepared, and trust no hand but your 
 own in arranging her glass of wine .'" 
 
 "I have already ordered lunch. 
 As to the rest, trust mt /" 
 
 No more was said, and as the read- 
 er already knows, they both returned 
 to the parlor. 
 
 Not two minutes had elapsed when 
 a colored waiter announced that lunch 
 was waiting them, and the entire 
 party proceeded to a large room, el 
 egantly furnished, in another part of 
 the house. 
 
 " A little wine before we dine, 
 mother," suggested Jack, smiling at 
 the rhyme he had unwittingly perpe- 
 trated. 
 
 " You need not have spoken, my 
 son, tor I had anticipated the wants 
 of our friends," replied the Madame, 
 blandly, as she proceeded to a closet, 
 and presently appeared with a silver 
 tray, on which were four wine glasses, 
 well filled. 
 
 It was offered to Cranky Ann 
 first. 
 
 Had not Jack Dunning been thor 
 oughly deceived, he would have 
 thought it strange that the face of the 
 street- walker should turn to scarlet, 
 and that her eyes should blaze with 
 unwonted fire. But in his joy he did 
 not notice anything, and thought of 
 nothing but the prize that was already 
 within his grasp. 
 
 Crank's jeweled hand was steady 
 when she took the glass, though* her 
 heart was beating wildly, and it was 
 with difficulty that she could sit still 
 in her chair and witness the drugging 
 ot one whom, in three short days, 
 she had learned to love as she had 
 never loved man or woman before. 
 
 But she had sworn a solemn oath 
 that the villains should be foiled. 
 She had two trusty weapons, two 
 strong arms, and aheart as braveand 
 true as ever beat in human breast. 
 
 "Harry wi 1 not tail me," she 
 thought; " I feel that he is near me 
 now; but if he does " 
 
 She pressed hfr hand upon her 
 swelling hosom, and felt the dagger's 
 shape ! The revolver, too, was in 
 its place ! 
 
 "A toast!" she said, just as they 
 
 were raising the wine glasses to their 
 lips. 
 
 "A toast!" repeated Madame Gib- 
 son, gleefully. 
 
 Jack was somewhat confused, but 
 he q lickly gathered his thoughts and 
 prop ised : 
 
 '* Let us eat, drink, be merry and 
 laugh long and loud !" 
 
 " Hold !" cried Crank, as the glasses 
 were again raised ; " let me offer a 
 sentiment!" 
 
 " You honor us greatly, Miss Mar- 
 tindale," bo Wed theMadarue and her 
 son ; and in clear tones t he street 
 walker said, as she raised her glass : 
 
 " He laughs loudest who laugiis 
 lastr 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Jack Dunning and Madame Gib- 
 son were both deceived by the sin- 
 gular toast offered by Cranky Ann, 
 just as they were raising the wine 
 glasses to their lips. 
 
 " He laughs loudest who laughs 
 last! Excellent! Excellent!" ex- 
 claimed Jack; " I drink to it with all 
 my heart !" 
 
 " And I too," said the procuress, 
 raising her glass. 
 
 " Oh, God ! why does he not 
 come?" were the unspoken words 
 that trembled upon the lips of Cranky 
 Ann, whose mental excitement was 
 terrible. Should she permit Miss 
 Baldwin to drink the " prepared " 
 wine? She had delayed as long as 
 was possible. It was eleven o'clock! 
 The supreme moment had arrived ! 
 The poisoned cup already touched 
 the lips of the innocent young wo- 
 man ! Another instant, and through 
 her blue veins would course n subtle 
 drug ! Swifter than an electric cur- 
 rent the thought flashed upon the 
 mind of the street -walker: 
 
 " Miss Baldwin is a woman of del- 
 icate constitution. The sleeping 
 draught may be too strong. // may 
 kill!" 
 
 These thoughts ran through her 
 mind a thousand times qmcker than 
 tongue could utter them, and the 
 street- walker no longer hesitated
 
 76 
 
 Josephine Baldwin should not drink 1 
 She listened with ears sharp as 
 those of an Indian on the war path, 
 but heard no approaching footstep. 
 Her whole system was worked up 
 to a fearful pitch of excitement. Her 
 veins were swollen to twice their 
 usual size, her muscles were like 
 cords ol iron, her eyes flashed with 
 unnatural brilliancy ! The street 
 walker was on fire with excitement ! 
 
 With a sweet smile upon her beau 
 tiful face, Josephine Baldwin raised 
 the frosted glass ! 
 
 But it never reached her lips ! 
 
 So quick that the movement could 
 hardly be perceived. Cranky Ann 
 seized the arm of hert'riead, and the 
 tender vessel that held the drugged 
 wine dropped to the marble table and 
 was shattered to pieces! 
 
 The shock was so great that with 
 one shrill shriek, Miss Baldwin fell 
 fainting to the carpeted floor! 
 
 Both Madame Gibson and Jack 
 Dunning were thunderstruck 1 Their 
 surprise and astonishment were so 
 great that for a moment neither could 
 speak ! 
 
 With a fearful oath Jack sprang to 
 bis feet, and glared with savage fury 
 upon the street- walker, who remained 
 in her chair, with a calmness and firm- 
 ness that was indeed wondertul. 
 
 " Crank, d n your soul, what have 
 you done ?" he hissed. 
 
 " I have merely spilled a little 
 pure wine, Jack," was her provingly 
 cool reply. 
 
 "Slutl hussy! traitor!" cried the 
 infuriated man, losing all control of 
 himself, " you shall pay for that wine 
 with your own blood !" 
 
 He had already drawn a knife, and 
 was ready to spring upon her, when 
 Madame Gibson interfered. That 
 quick-witted woman did not care to 
 have a tragedy enacted in her houre. 
 The consequences, not the crime^ was 
 what troubled the old woman. 
 
 " Jack," she said, with all the mild- 
 ness she could in her excitement 
 muster, " do not forget yourself ! By 
 attacking this false woman, you lose 
 your beautiful prize! Seel She is 
 senseless upon the floor ! Go and 
 
 take her, and leave this friend of 
 yours to me! You can settle with 
 her hereafter !" 
 
 Probably no other argument would 
 have struck Jack Dunning with such 
 force. In his rage, he had for a mo- 
 ment forgotten the sole object of that 
 night's adventure. 
 
 " You are right, Madame," he said, 
 "for the present I will leave this 
 street- walking hag in your care, but 
 I will have a settlement with her 
 hereafter. I will teach her a lesson 
 that she will never forget. I will see 
 you again, Cranky Ann," were his 
 sarcastic words, as he turned and 
 made a movement in the direction of 
 the prostrate young lady. 
 
 'You will please come with me 
 into another room," was the severely 
 spoken solicitation of the procuress 
 to the street -walker. 
 
 "You will please go to hell, where 
 you belong," returned Crank, with 
 mock gravity. 
 
 But she was not in a merry mood 
 just then! With a quick movement 
 she drew back her right arm, and 
 planted a blow in the face of the hag 
 that sent her reeling and staggering 
 across the room. In her fall she 
 struck the marble mantle, and the 
 next second she, too, was insensible 
 on the floor, with a gash in her head 
 that looked ugly and bled freely. 
 
 This little by-play took place be- 
 fore Jack Dunning had reached Miss 
 Baldwin. He turned with the wild 
 glare of a demon in his black eyes, 
 and once more the bright blade of 
 that dreadful kniie glittered in the 
 gas-light! 
 
 " May the devil damn your sou 1 !" 
 he cried, as he drew the knife. 
 
 "Stop!" exclaimed Cranky Ann, 
 in a commanding voice. 
 
 The maddened man could not re- 
 sist the order. He stood like a pan- 
 ther waiting to spring upon his prey. 
 
 " Jack Dunning," said the street- 
 walker, with a command over her 
 emotions that was wonderful, "throw 
 away that knife and I will fight you 
 hand to hand !" 
 
 " Fool 1 I could choke the life out 
 of your rotten carcass in five seconds,
 
 77 
 
 but I had rather see the crimson as it 
 flows from your false heart ! You 
 will never betray another man as you 
 have me ! If you have a prayer to 
 say, Cranky Ann, say it quick, for in 
 a minute from now you will be in 
 hell !" 
 
 *' I have one short little prayer, if 
 you will let me say it!" 
 
 She was calm, but oh! how painful 
 was the effort ! 
 
 " Go on, you cursed slut, and be 
 quick 1" 
 
 " It is only this!" and her voice 
 suddenly leaped with the violence ol a 
 hurricane from her throat as she 
 screamed: 
 
 " God damn Jack Dunning /'* 
 
 There was a cocked revolver in her 
 hand as she spoke, but in the blind- 
 ness of his iury he saw it not 1 
 
 Just as he sprang toward her the 
 heroic girl pulled the trigger ! 
 
 The treacherous weapon proved 
 false ! 
 
 With a presence of mind that'was 
 remarkable, Crank avoided the at- 
 tack of her infuriated enemy by 
 quickly stepping aside. 
 
 In doing so the revolver was again 
 cocked, and held in her left hand, 
 while in her right was firmly clasped 
 a weapon that never fa Is ! 
 
 At that moment there was a crash 
 at the front door, and Harry Harper, 
 as it led by instinct, leaped into the 
 room! 
 
 'Thank God you have come!" 
 cried Crank. 
 
 Like a tiger at bay Jack leaped 
 upon her. 
 
 But a hand more power f ul than his 
 own had him by the neck before he 
 reached the defiant girl, and then and 
 there, without a word, a "rough-and- 
 tumble" fight occurred such as has sel- 
 dom been witnessed in Chicago. The 
 knife was quickly wrested from the 
 villain's hand, Cranky Ann taking 
 possession of it. The brave girl 
 watched the battle with eager eyes, 
 and stood ready at any time to ren 
 der Harry such assistance as might 
 be needed. * 
 
 But he required none. 
 
 In less than five minutes Jack 
 
 Dunning yelled like a whipped cur 
 for mercy. The blows and the kicks 
 that he had received were given with 
 such rapidity and force that his only 
 defence was a vain effort to avoid 
 them. 
 
 As soon as he begged for mercy 
 Cranky Ann, who had a high sense of 
 what is known among sporting peo- 
 ple as " honor," interceded in his 
 behalf, and the battle ended. 
 
 "When a man says enough" said 
 Crank, " I hate to see him pounded ; 
 but God knows Jack Dunning de- 
 serves to die a dog's death this verjr 
 night, and I believe he would if he 
 had been left to me !" 
 
 Jack was fearfully disfigured. He 
 had nothing whatever to say, but 
 sneaked out of the house at once. 
 
 There wag another witness to this 
 contest. The merchant, completely 
 horrified, and scarcely knowing what 
 to do or say, stood at the open door, 
 staring with startled gaze upon a 
 sight such as he had never seen be- 
 fore 1 
 
 The confusion over, Harry Harper 
 looked around, and his glance rested 
 upon the senseless and bleeding form 
 of Madame Gibson. 
 
 " Who did this?" he inquired. 
 
 " 2 did 7" replied Crank, with par- 
 donable pride in her voice and looks, 
 "and I'm glad of it!" Harry then 
 turned, and his gaze fell upon the 
 prostrate form of Josephine Baldwin. 
 He recognized her instantly, and 
 with a deathly pallor in his face and 
 trembling voice, he grasped Crank 
 by the arm and whispered huskily : 
 
 " In the uame of God, how came 
 she here ?" 
 
 At the same time he confronted 
 Mr. Baldwin, and the idea flashed 
 upon his mind that it would be a 
 kindness to hide from him the fact of 
 his daughter's presence in that 
 bouse. 
 
 But he was too late. The old gen- 
 tleman had caught one glimpse at 
 the woman on the floor, and wildly 
 rushing forward he exclaimed with 
 choking utterance: 
 
 "Josephine! My child I"
 
 78 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 The scene at the assignation house 
 was one so exciting and so thrilling 
 thata description would be utterly im- 
 possible. 
 
 Jof-eplune Baldwin heard her fath- 
 er's wild cry. She knew the voice, 
 and with returning consciousness 
 gazed hewilderingly around the 
 room. 
 
 Father and daughter embraced 
 each other with streaming eyes, and 
 a warmth and terror that only comes 
 with grief. 
 
 Harry Harper {urned to Cranky 
 Ann. who was the only person in the 
 room that had retained anything like 
 composure. 
 
 " I know you, Crank," he whis- 
 pered, " by your voice ; and I believe 
 you can explain this whole unhappy 
 affair. Will you do so ?" 
 
 ' This is hardly a suitable place 
 lor this young lady to remain in," 
 replied Crank; "If you have a car- 
 riage, we had better at once leave 
 it." 
 
 This advice of the street-walker 
 was acted upon, and in two minutes 
 all were ready to go. 
 
 " What shall be done with this 
 woman ?" inquired Harry, pointing 
 to the procuress. 
 
 " Let her die ! Let the hag rot !" 
 was the reply of the indignant and 
 excited woman. 
 
 And they left her as she was, and 
 were soou wheeling in silence toward 
 the residence of the merchant. 
 
 Upon arriving, Cranky Ann, with- 
 out addressing any of the others, and 
 purposely avoiding the gaze of Miss 
 Baldwin, called Harry aside, and 
 they held a "whispered consultation, 
 at the end of which Harry took Mr. 
 Baldwin by the hand and said : 
 
 " My friend, there is a mystery to 
 be cleared up to-night. In half an 
 hour we will return, and then you 
 shall both know all." 
 
 Entering the hack, they rapidly 
 drove away. 
 
 In the meantime Mr. Baldwin nar- 
 rated to his daughter a part of his 
 experiences while in the company of 
 
 Harry Harper, c mitting, however, aH 
 reference to Cranky Ann. 
 
 Josephine also had a strange story 
 to tell the visit of Miss Martindale, 
 the attempted robbery, the rescue, 
 the strange disappearance of the 
 brave young man, and, finally, that 
 afternoon's ride, and its incompre- 
 hensible termination 
 
 The bell rang, and both Mr. Bald- 
 win and his daughter answered the 
 summons. 
 
 When the door opened Harry Har- 
 per walked in, followed by Cranky 
 Ann, painted, powdered, and dressed 
 exactly as she was when Mr. Bald- 
 win first met her on the street, a lew 
 days before. 
 
 The merchant stood back in amaze- 
 ment ! 
 
 " Harry," he said, " why have you 
 brought that woman to my house ? ' ' 
 
 Josephine, in alarm, came forward 
 and demanded: 
 
 " What have you done with Miss 
 Martindale, Mr. Harper ?" 
 
 "Miss Martindale no longer!" ex 
 claimed the street- walker; and before 
 any one could interrupt her she stood 
 in the middle of the parlor and con- 
 tinued : 
 
 " I came here in disguise, Miss 
 Baldwin ! I was a false friend to you 
 at first, but at the last, true ! Here- 
 after, you must not know me, for I 
 am not Miss Martindale, a lady, as 
 you supposed, but only CRANKT ANN, 
 THE STREET WALKER! only a poor 
 girl on the town 1" 
 
 She almost broke down with emo- 
 tion as she uttered the words. 
 
 Harry Harper then told his story, 
 and in doing so he did not fail to 
 place the acts of Cranky Ann in a 
 light truly heroic. 
 
 When Josephine Baldwin had 
 heard all, she fairly rushed towards 
 Cranky Ann, clasped her arms about 
 the street- walker' s neck, folded her 
 to her bosom, and wept as though 
 her heart would break 1 
 
 " Not know you ? " she cried ; " not 
 know the preserver of my life ? Not 
 know the brave woman who has stood 
 as a shield of steel and wall of iron 
 between me and harm ?*
 
 79 
 
 She fairly hugged poor Crank, and 
 the two women wept ! 
 
 Miss Baldwin continued: 
 
 " Henceforward you are my friend 1 
 I care not what you have been ; I know 
 what you are, and I know that you 
 are brave, noble and true ! If before 
 you come here you were bad, it must 
 have been because you were driven 
 to it, as good and noble women are, 
 alas ! so often driven to do that which 
 in their souls they loathe ! Whatever 
 maybe your name, whatever your 
 shame, whatever your guilt, 1 love 
 you, and from this day onward yo j 
 are my chosen companion, my dear 
 friend ; and whoever does not wish to 
 recognize you, can pass me by too 1" 
 
 Alan son Baldwin then came for- 
 ward. His hand trembled as he 
 reached it out to clasp that of Cranky 
 Ann, and he embraced her as a father 
 would embrace a child. 
 
 " My daughter has spoken like a 
 true woman," he said, manifesting 
 much feeling, " and her faljter can do 
 no less than say amen to every word. 
 Your sad history, my dear young 
 woman, I have heard from your own 
 lips !' In me you probably recognize 
 the disguised man who^went with 
 ou to your room, and by Kind words 
 yersuaded you to reveal the history 
 pf your checkered career. You prom- 
 ised to meet me againgin ten days 
 The time has not~^^ - me' 
 
 developr-- 1Jta Ol to-night convince 
 laic th r tne reasons for your delay 
 ed to exist. You little 
 
 ugh that the bad man who em- 
 >loycd you that night, was conspir- 
 ing against the daughter of him who 
 sought to save you from sin 1 You 
 euiered into that dark compact with 
 iesitation;your better instincts pre- 
 vailed ; four heart was warmed to 
 me; you turned upon villainy with 
 horror; you became the champion 
 and defende/r of right and virtue ; you 
 have saved )me and mine from worse 
 
 than death; and now, in return, I beg 
 of you to accept fie poor offering of 
 a home, and of friends who will cher- 
 ish and love you as earnestly, as 
 faithfully and as truly as though you 
 had never been a woman of the 
 town I" 
 
 The old man kissed her as he con- 
 cluded, and Crank, entirely overcome 
 by such unexpected kindness, wept 
 like a child ! 
 
 That washer answer. It was more 
 eloquent than words; for one tear, 
 one pressure of the hand, one sigh of 
 relief from a terrible bondage, re- 
 veals the heart's promptings as noth- 
 ing else can. 
 
 Our story is well nigh told. Cranky 
 Ann burned every rag she wore as a 
 street- walker. She assumed another 
 name, and now stands high in the es- 
 timation of all who know her. 
 
 Harry Harper at once accepted a 
 position of trust in the store of Alan- 
 son Baldwin. He discontinued his 
 wild and dissipated habits, makes the 
 residence of his employer his Tioine, 
 and himself and Josephine 'baldwiw 
 are constant ons at hours 
 
 when duty does tfr} require his atten- 
 tion. jS* 
 
 MadamgtiMbson was not seriously 
 hurt; an^Wack Dunning has not bee* 
 seen im the city since that night on 
 -.. mch his dark designs were so suc- 
 cessfully frustrated. 
 
 The son of the merchant was cured 
 ot his infatuation for " Miss Martin- 
 dale," but he is a staunch friend of 
 'hat woman in her new name and 
 life, and is proud to call himself her 
 brother. 
 
 Alanson Baldwin does not wish to 
 see any more of CHICAGO IN CHI;> 
 He is satisfied with the tew nights of 
 adventure and excitement which he 
 has already experienced ; and to his 
 dying day he will bless the night on 
 which he met CRANKY ANN, THB 
 STREET WALKBR. 
 
 TUK- KND.
 
 
 A:, 
 
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