What Could She Do

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Her father's death brought Sylvia Fairfax face-to-face with conditions she was unequipped to handle, and after an unsuccessful attempt to fill the position of governess in the Windermere home, she went to New York, where her experiences in a typical boardinghouse were varied. Finally, thanks to Hetty Sharp taking her under her experienced wing, Sylvia escaped Bannes' machinations and finally secured a position in the same department store where Hetty worked. In an effort to stop systematic thievery, the store owner had employed a detective and his suspicions fell on Sylvia. It so happened that just as Hetty had taken a handsome collar from the case, she was called to the main office. Thrusting the package into Sylvia's hand, telling her to keep it until she returned, she hurried away. A few moments afterwards Sylvia was confronted by the detective, and, despite her declaration of innocence, was taken to the office of the owner and charged with robbery. The two girls were examined separately by the police inspector, and being unable to secure any evidence from Hetty, he proceeded to apply the third degree to Sylvia. In spite of all their efforts, she refused to tell who gave her the package. Hetty, listening in the next room, could finally stand it no longer and burst into the room with a full confession that cleared Sylvia. Struck by Sylvia's fortitude, the Inspector offered to employ her on the force, and her first case turned out to be the abduction of little Kittie Gray. Sylvia had met Robert Gray before her misfortunes, and on discovering that she was to work in his home, she prevailed upon him not to divulge her identity. Clever work enabled Sylvia to locate the abductors through the complicity of Lizzie the maid, and after a terrific pistol fight ending in the capture of the thugs, little Kittie was restored to her mother's arms, while Robert made known Sylvia's real identity to his mother. Deciding to resign from the force, Sylvia and Robert went to the police station, and as Hetty had been released on a suspended sentence, Sylvia took the girl to her new home in an effort to make some return for Hetty's former kindness.