The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-14
FIFTH EPISODE. A Woman In Trouble.
CHAPTER |.

A woman In lrOuDle.
 CHAPTER.
 -AT old black Aunt Debby was dressed in her A best marketing clothes, the green percale
 with the big yellow flowers, and the little blue hat with the noddng red poppies was set far forward on her knkless wig. The market ing trip to the city had been one of Aunt Debbys chief joys. but today the buoyancy and the high pitched laugh of excitement were absent.
 You'll stop at Ned's for MT. Moore, Debby," said Mrs. Moore
 .Yassum" Aunt Debby stole glance at Junes portrait on the wall. .You-you ain't heard nothin yet of Miss JuneY'
 At the sound of that name Bouncer rose instantly, head up, ears perked, tail wagging, eyes eager, mouth open. He was at the window with his paws the sill and ready to bark. He whined instead and dropped his paws to the floor.
 Where was June? That pu1zling problem filled the entire mind of Aunt Debby as, by the side of the driver she spun into the city in the Moore auto Where was June? dozen private detectives were securing the city of New York for her, and they re- ported to a stern faced young man who sat in the lonely apartments which June and he had fitted up to be their nest, his only companion miniature Of his lovely bride.
 Where was June? Who was this mysterious Gil- bert Bye? What his power over Ned Warmers bride?
 He seized his and strode forth into the streets in his never ending search for June.
 At that moment the door of strange house had slammed abruptly behind beautiful June Warner And Gilbert Bye had furnished this address to Junes employment agency
 A base looking page girl inspected June impu. dently in the dim light of the hal then with sig nicant grin left June standing there and swaggered through door at the end of the hall June was startled as that door opened and blaze, or hgnt came out with the chatter of many shrill voces In there amid wreaths of curling blue smoke, moved handsomely gowned women, and many of them non- chalanty pufed at cigarettes. At that instant the smiling Gilbert Byes key grated in the lock-
 large, yellow haired woman came hurrying from the salon with Junes employment agency card In her hand.
 "Right this way honey" she rasped in a voice to which the honey was foreign and she led the way to a small side room at the left of the salon. As June reluctantly entered the strangely furnished lit tie room at the left Gilbert Blye came In at the front door.
 With smile upon his lips and glinting 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 puff of yellow smoke. With her eyes dstended and her mouth open ready for the yell of Fire" she rushed to the of the salon, but before she could reach it Gilbert Bye 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 June's room and dashed down the stairs
 That was a strangely furnished little room in which June found herself. There were two desks and filing cabinet and some office chairs, but there were luxurious couch and dainty hangings, soft rug and pink paneled walls and ceiling. It was all so incongruous. And the work-it was queer too. The yellow haired came in from the paror presently and explained the posting into small plank books of many memorandum slips Each slip con tained the name of woman and sum or money There were no slips for men, but there were index cards about men. June puzzled as to what sort or business this might be.
 The page girl swished in with of the memo randum slips. The yellow head, whose face was puffy and more highly coored than wholesome took the slip, looked at the name on it. frowned 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, ana rawboned woman sitting on a higher chair than the rest was dealing. The yellow haired woman fixed her attention on the gambler next to tne oeai ar She was fluffy blond with feverish glitter fin her eyes, and she was bent so intently upon the fall of the cards that she did not notice the door open and close.
 repugnance. She was aDJectiy AiSeA"oAe' anu S1~ denly she sobbing
 In the gambling room the funy plono wno nao played so feverishly saked and lost the last emp m front of her. She turned mpatently to look Tor the page girl. She met instead the cold, nara eye of the yellow haired woman, who quietly motoned her. The player reluctantly, and fright came into her face as she followed into the nall ana 'o the little office where June had been installed.
 You've reached the limit Mrs. Perry, announced the yellow haired woman, turning on the unucky one sharply she closed the door. Here IS the !. O. U. Belle brought to me have not Q. A.d It.
 "It's only for $5O," fatered Mrs. Perry
 "I wouldn't o. K. it for 50 cents," snapped the other "Now want action. You'll telephone your husband from this room."
 No mol" The woman wrung her hands, I'll talk to him tonightv'
 "I know that game" she scorned. and from June's desk she took index card
 "Eighto-eight-o Garden" she told the new secre tary. Ask for MT. Perry and say that bis wife wishes to speak with him"