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

Each slip contained the name of q wo-
man and a sum of money. There were
no 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 one of
the memorandum slips The yellow
head. whose face was puffy and more
highly colored than was wholesome.
took the slip, looked Mt 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 a long table
sat the women whom June had seen
They all had cards in front of them
and stacks of playing chips. and raw
boned woman sitting on higher chair
than the rest was dealing. The yellow
haired woman fixed her attention on
the gambler next to the dealer. She
was a fluffy blond with feverisb gilt
ter in her eyes. and she was bent so in
tentIy upon the fall of the cards that
she did not notice the door open and
close.
Poor June. She glanced about her
with growing repugnance. She was
abjectly miserable. and suddenly she
was sobbing.
Ned! Why had she run away from
him?
In the gambling room the fluffy blond
who had played so feverishly staked
and lost the last chip in front of her
She turned impatiently to look for the
page girl She met instead the cold.
hard eye of the yellow haired woman.
who quietly motioned her The player
rose reluctantly. and fright came into
her face as she followed into the hall
and to the little office where June had
been installed
you've reached the limit. Mrs. Per
ry," announced the yellow haired wo-
man, turning on the unlucky one sharp
ly as she closed the door. Here is the
/. .. U. Belle brought to me- / have
not o. KID it"
"It's only for $50" faltered Mrs.
Perry.
~ wouldn't o. X. it for so cents
snapped the other. Now. l want &C
from this ROOM"
mo. nor The woman wrung her
hands. I'll talk to him tonightr'
al know that game" she scorned
and from June's desk she took an in
dex card.
"Eight-o-eight-o Garden" she told
the new secretary. ASK for MIR. Per
~, and say that his wife wishes tC
speak with him."
Nor cried Mrs. Perry Historically
and reached over June's shoulder t
take the phone. The new secretary
had made no move toward the phone
She was staring at the yellow haired
woman in establishment That deter
mined person was not one to wranglt
in emergencies. She snatched up the
phone herself and called the number
'rYou women think I'm a mark" sh,
scornfully stated to Mrs. Perry whil'
she waited. You'd sting me for I
thousand dollars rather than sting you
husband for it. See this card?' She hell
it out. 1t contained the name of jackson
W. Perry, his business address, his hom
address, his financial rating, probabl
income. clubs and telephone Numbers
And the unfortunate Mrs. Perry seem
ed to shrink into hopeless despair a
she realized the impIacable organiza
ton against which she had pitted her
self. "Mr. Perry. please" The yellow
haired woman's voice had undergon
complete change. 1t was very pleas
ant of infection. though 1t rasped
His wife wishes TO speak with him.
She handed over the telephone. an
June, seeing Mrs. Perry's unsteadiness
rose and compassionately gave the VIC
man her chair. The yellow haired on
walked calmly over to her own desk an
took up the extension phone
June looked at her hat and coat. Sh
seemed quite bewildered. She couI
not quite understand what this was a
about, but she did know that it wa
!. all unpleasant and heartless and d.
grading. She was starting to go whe
something on Mrs. Perry's face touci
ed her sympathies and held her.
Eyes, it's Gwen" trembled Mrs. Pc
t ry, her nervous fingers cIutching de-
perately to keep the quaver from be
, voice IL hope l haven't Interrupt
ed anything important"
, mot very" The mans voice conl
be heard distinctly outside the phone
"Jack"-the voice was full of pleat
ing-'T-I have to have some money
; The frown of the yellow haired w
) man deepened as she listened to tt
mans reply.
al know it's week before my ALLOW
!. ance is DUE" urged Mrs. Perry. an
] now she turned her eyes imploring
; toward the stony, yellow haired on
? "But just must have 1t! Eight hu
t dred dollarsv'
lous exclamation over the wire; the
t sharp question.
b "Why-why. it's to pay billsl Ye
yes. Jack. ] know | was supposed
] keep them paid out of my allowanc
: l didn't want to tell you this until v
J. could sit down quietly together. on
b they're pressing me for payment Ar
e the allowance isn't enough, Jackso
I Yes, know you've raised it-ohP'
e The mans heavy voice had interruI
/ ed her calmly. coldly. She sank bao
o Imply In the chair.
e June hung up the receiver. She vi
y surprised to see the yellow haired W
n man put up her own phone and cor
n across the room with a benign EXPIRE
sion.
"Cheer up" she advised -Hubby
e all right"
L Mrs Perry Strengthened mp.
g "Yes," she said and moistened b
II III aka ee.S that he'd go over the