The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-28


with the big yellow flowers, and the little
blue hat with the nodding red peoples was
set far forward her kinkless wig. The market
Ing trip to the city had been one of Aunt Debby 9
chief joys. but today the buoyancy and the high
pitched laugh Of excitement were absent
You'll stop at Ned's for Mr.. Moore. Debby," said
Mrs. Moore
"Yassum." Aunt Debby stole a glance at Junes
portrait on the wall "You-you amt heard nothin'
yet of Miss Junie!'
At the sound Of that name Bouncer instantly.
head up. perked, tail waggng, eyes eager.
mouth open He was at the window with his paws
on the sill and ready to bark. He whined instead
and dropped his paws to the floor.
Where was June? That puzzing problem Oiled
the entire mind of Aunt Debby by the side OF
the driver she spun into city In the Moore auto
Where Junel dozen private detectives were
securing the city OF New York for her. and they
ported to a stern faced young man who sat in the
'onely apartments which June and be had lifted up
be their nest his only companion a miniature Of
his lovely bride.
Where June' Who this mysterious Gil
bert Blyei What his power over Ned Warmers
bride?
He seized his hat and strobe forth into the streets
IN his never ending search for June
At that moment the door of a strange house had
slammed abruptly behind beautiful June Warner.
And Gilbert Bye had furnished this address to
June's employment agency.
A blase looking page girl inspected June impu-
IDENTIFY in the dim light OF the hail. then with sig
nincant grin left June standing there and staggered
through door at the end of the hall June was
startled that door opened and blaze OF light
,ame with the chatter OF many shrii voices. In
there. amid wreaths OF curling blue smoke moved
handsomely gowned women, and many of them non
chaIantiy pulled at cigarettes AT that instant the
smiling Gilbert Blyes key grated In the lock
a large yellow haired woman came hnrrying from
the salon with Junes employment agency card In
her hand.
Right this way, honey" she rasped in voice TO
which the honey foreign and she led the way
to small side the left of the salon As
June reluctantly entered the strangely furnished lit
tie room at the left Gilbert bye came in ats the
from, door.
With a smile upon his lips and gIinting in his dark
eyes he hurried straight back toward the little room
In which stood June. alone and frightened.
At that instant huge, clumsy maid came tum-
bling up from the basement. followed by pun OF
yellow smoke. With her eyes distended and her
mouth open, ready for the yell OF Fire. she rushed
to the door of the salon. but before she could reach
1t Gilbert Blye had her roughly by the arm and
pushed her through the door which led to the base
ment He stood staring at the smoke which came
curling ominousy through that opening. glanced
again toward Junes and dashed down the
stairs.
That was a strangely furnished little room In
which June found herself. There were two desks
and ning cabinet and Office chairs, but there
a luxurious couch and dainty hangings soft
rug and pink paneled walls and ceiling 1t was all
incongruous. And the work-it was queer too
The yellow haired woman came In from the parior
presently and explained the posting into small blank
books of many memorandum slips. Each slip con-
tanned the name OF woman and a sum OF money.
There slips for men, but there were index
cards about men. June puzzled as to what sort Of
business this might be.
The page girl swished in with of the memo
randum slips The yellow head, whose face
puffy and more highly colored than was wholesome.
took the siip looked at the name on it, frowned,l
shook her head and went out with the girl She,
entered the salon and stood surveying the scene
with cold abstraction Around long table sat the
women whom June had seen. They all had cards
in front Of them and stacks OF playing chips and a
-rawboned woman sitting higher chair than
the rest dealing. The yellow haired woman
dxed her attention the gambler next to the deal
err She was a aufry blond with feversh glitter
In her eyes, and she was bent so intently upon the
fall Of the cards that she did not notice the door
open and close.
Poor Junel She glanced about her with growing
repugnance She abjecty miserable. and sud
denly she was sobbing
In the gambling room the fluffy blond who had
played fevershly saked and lost the last chip in
front Of her. She turned impatenuy to look for
the page girl she met instead the cold hard eye
OF the yellow haired woman. who quietly motoned
her The player reluctantly. and fright came
into her face as she followed into the hall and to
tho little Office where June had been installed
you've reached the limit. Mrs Perry. announced
the yellow haired woman. turning on the unlucky
one sharply she closed the door. Here Is the l.
O q, Belle brought to me l have not O. KID it."
'It's only for $50" faltered Mrs. Perry.
II wouldn't o. X It for so cents" snapped the
Other "Now want action You'll telephone your
husband from this room"
.No, not" The woman wrung her hands. I'm
talk to him tonightl'
II know that game" she scorned. and from Junes
desk she took index card.
~Eighto-eight-o Garden" she told the new secre-
tary. ASK for Mr.. Perry and say that his wife
wishes to speak with him"