Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-02-23


cards about men. June puzzled as TIC
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 at the name on IL.
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 able
sat the women whom June had seen.
They all had cards in front of them
and stacks of playing chips. and a raw
boned woman sitting on a higher chair
than the rest was dealing. The yellow
haired woman liked her attention on
the gambler next TO the dealer She
was a fluffy blond with feverjsb gilt
ter in her eyes, and she was bent so in
tently upon the fall of the cards that
she did not notice the door open and
close.
Poor JuneI She glanceo about her
with growing repugnance. She was
abjectly miserable. and suddenly she
was sobbing.
NedI Why had she run away from
himi
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
l. o. U. Belle brought to me. l have
not o. KID it"
Its only for $780," faltered Mrs
Perry.
II wouldn't o. K. IT, for 80 cents"
snapped the other. Now. want ac-
ton You'll telephone your husband
from this room"
NO. mop The woman wrung her
hands. IN talk to him tonightr'
IL 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 Mr.. Per
| ry, and say that his wife wishes to
| speak with him."
mol" cried Mrs. Perry Historically.
and reached over June's shoulder to
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 wrangle
in emergencies. She snatched up the
phone herself and called the number.
'YOu women think I'm a mark" she
scOrnfully stated to Mrs. Perry while
she waited. You'd sting me for
thousand dollars rather than sting your
husband for il. See this card?" She held
it out. 1t contained the name of Jackson
w. Perry. his business address, his home
address. his financial rating. probable
income. clubs and telephone numbers
L
ed to shrink into hopeless despair as
she realized the implacable organiza
ton against which she had pitted her
SELF MIR. Perry, please" The yellow
haired woman's voice had undergone
complete change. 1t was very pleas
ant Of infection. though it rlsped
IBIS wife wishes to speak with him.
She handed over the telephone. and
June, seeing Mrs. Perry's unsteadiness
rose and cOmpassionately gave the wo
man her chair. The yellow haired one
walked calmly over to her own desk and
took up the extension phone.
June looked at her hat and coat. She
seemed quite bewildered- She could
not quite understand what this was ali
about. but she did know that II was
all unpleasant and heartless and de
grading She was starting to go when
something on Mrs. Perry's face touch
ed her Sympathies and held her.
Yes, it's Gwen" trembled Mrs. Per
~. her nervous fingers cIutching des
perately to keep the quaver from her
ed anything important"
Not very" The mans voice could
be heard distinctly outside the phone
'Jack"-the voice was full of plead
ing-'I-I have to have some money"
The frown of the yellow haired wo
man deepened as she listened TO thu
mans reply.
Il know it's week before my allow
ance is due" urged Mrs. Perry. and
now she turned her eyes imploringly
toward the stony, yellow haired one
But just must have 1t! Eight hun
bred dollarsr'
The mans voice doomed an incredu
louS exclamation over the wire; then
a sharp question.
"Why-why, it's to pay bills! Yes.
yes, Jack. i know / was supposed 10
keep them paid out of my allowance.
didn't want to tell you this until we
could sit down quietly together. only
they're pressing me for payment! And
the allowance isn't enough. Jackson.
Yes, I know you've raised it-oh"
The mans heavy voice bad interrupt
ed her calmly. coldly. She sank back
Imply in the chair.
June hung up the receiver. She was
surprised to see-the yellow haired wo-
man put up her own phone and come
across the room with q benign express
sion.
Cheer up" she advised. "Hubby's
all right"
Mrs. Perry Strengthened up.
YES" she said and moistened her
lips, she said that he'd so over those
bills with me tonight"
Il heard him myself" And the yell
low haired woman grinned across at
June Here's your 1. o. o., dearie.
I've 0. KID it You better so In and
play awhile for your nerves"