The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-02-24
cHAPTER mi.

eS. sir. replled the tmpudent page
girl. by no means abashed. and she
threw open the parlor door. Right
in here" She grinned as she switched
ON the lights for him and saw that he
was oppressed by the fact or the drawn
curtains.
The yellow haired woman found him
standing solidly in the center of the
room. facing the door.
Where is my wife?v be loudly de
manded.
Don't bark at me-" snapped the yel
low haired woman.
The man abated none of its intensity
as he repeated his demand.
..ln minute" The yellow haired
woman was quite calm and collected
Il don't mind turning over a parlor to
settle a domestic scrap. but ! want my
bill settled first. Eight-6fty."
How do know that she Is guilty OF
gamblingf How do know that she Is
here?'
The woman's lip curled
Want to see her with the goods2
Well. jackson. If you'll promise to be
have Ill show her to you through a
peephole."
The mans fists clinched convulsively
You'd better pass over my eight-fif
~ first" said the yellow haired wo
man.
Just a minute. please" A sweet
voice. low, gentle. .cultured-no such
voice as the man had expected TO hear
III this place. He was equally impress
ed when he turned and saw the beau
ufuI young girl who had glided through
the rear door. her face full OF serious
purpose.
who rang for your" snapped the
yellow haired woman, her eyes dam
ing with instant resentment.
81 stayed in this house for no other
reason than to see Mr.. Perry" an
nounced June. with no trace of timidi
ty about her.
What do you know about this r
Mrs. Perry is in deep trouble and
needs your help
"She had no reason to be In trouble.
give my wife an ample allowance
The man turned from June.
"You give it" Across June's mind
there flashed again the whole of her
own vital problem-that whatever the
wife has must come from the husband
in the nature of charity. She saw her
self again as the piteous little beggar
before Ned. whom she loved. and SHE
saw Mrs. Ferry in that same attitude
before this stern husband. "Whal
right have you to call 1t a giftY'
The man stopped and turned to June
with a puzzled brow. She mad sci
nstir in him new thought.
This angel of mercy stuff is bad fol
profits" rasped the voice of the yellow
head. "But | can't overlook a chaDc,
like this. / know your kind. jackson
Perry. You give your wife an allow
ance that covers everything but emer
geneies. You figure the plumber t,
come in three times a year, and II hi
comes in four she loses. If she has &
mad passion to treat few of hel
friends to ice cream sodas she has Il
wait till next months allowance day
If she ever saved $25 you'd reduce hel
| pay. I'll bet this poor little wife o.
yours FIRST got into trouble through
losing 81 In a friendly penny auction
game. and she's been trying to ovel
take it ever since"
A gentle hand was laid on the man
arm.
"You win help herT' The low. swee
voice was full OF more than appeal;
was full of trust and confidence.
There was slight conyulsive heaN
ing of Perry's shoulders. but that wa
all. He drew out a pocketbook an
counted some money into the yello'
haired woman's hand
'Now, bring Gwen to me-" he sait
and his voice had no harshness. n
eyes no sternness, his smile no bite
ness.
With moist eyes June hurried frol
the room. She was glad that she ha
stayed here. glad that she had com
very glad indeed, but now she was
hurry to go! The yellow haired W
man overlook her In the hall, and 81
patted June on the shoulder.
you're all right, Peachie," she a
proved, "but remember this. the fix,
gets the blisters."
June was putting on her hat ar
coat when Mrs. Perry wopderingly Il
4 lowed the yellow haired woma
through the hall. 1t was yellow head
regular plan of campaign to confrol
people without previous explanatio
1t saved wear and tear on the nerves
A moment later there was a shrie
and as June came to the door MI
Perry, her eyes wild and her hair
, ing. came rushing back through 4
hall She had gone only as far as q
parlor door and at the first sight OF b
husband had run. overwhelmed wi
unreasoning terror. Back into the s
lon Mrs. Perry fed and TO her pla
! next the dealer With snakelike swi
ness she jerked open the money dra'
4 er beneath the dealers card box al
snatched from 1t the shining revoly
\ which she had so often seen the
There was an instant's- commotio
I shrieks of fright. an overturning
chairs. as with wild cry the wom
+ swiftly raised the revolver to her te
pie. Before she could press the tr
n ger, however. June's strong young al
y had thrown up the woman's wrist, a
y the bullet which would have end
|. Mrs. Perry's life went into the ceilir
Jackson Perry came bursting thron
the door and found June in the mii
Of the pandemonium. with the liz
d Mrs. Perry IN her arms.
a "GwenT cried the man. and the c
came from his heart He had fear
!, that she was dead. but she opened
n eyes as he took her in his arms. a
there in the midst OF that frantic CO
D motion their lips met In the kiss of
4 new betrothal.
/. The yellow haired woman had wa
o ed only to see Perry clasp his wife
e his arms; then. leaving wide the sal
door. she rushed toward the basems