The Washington herald., 1915-02-14

best marketing clothes, the green percale
with the big yellow flowers, and the little
blue hat with the noddng red peoples was
set far forward on her khkIess wig. The market
ing trip to the city had been Of Aunt Debby's
chief joys, but today the buoyancy and the high
pitched laugh Of excitement were absent
You'll stop at Neds 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 June?'
At the sound Of that name Bouncer rose instantly,
head up, perked, tail waggtng, eyes eager,
mouth open.
Where was JuneH That puzzling problem filed
the entire mind of Aunt Debby as by the side Of
the driver she spun into the city in the Moore auto
Where June? A 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
be their nest, his only companion miniature Of
his lovely bride.
Where was June? Who this mysterious Gil
bert Blye? What was his power over Ned Warmers
bride?
He seized his hat and strobe forth into the streets
in his 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
June's employment agency.
A blase looking page girl inspected June impu-
IDENTITY in the dim light of the hall, then with sig
through a door at the end of the hall June was
startled that door opened and blaze of light
out with the chatter of many shrtl voices. In
there, amid wreaths of curling blue smoke, moved
handsomely gowned women, and many Of them nom
chalanty pulled at cigarettes. At that instant the
smiling Gilbert BIye's key grated in the lock.
A large, yellow haired woman came hurrying from
the salon with June's employment agency card in
her hand.
Right this way, honey" she rasped in a voice to
IalT
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 a puff OF
yellow smoke. With her eyes distended and her
mouth open ready for the yell Of "Fire" she rushed
the door of the salon, but before she could reach
it Gilbert Blye had her roughly by the arm and
pushed her through the door which led TO the base
ment lie stood staring at the smoke which came
curling ominously through that opening, glanced
again toward Junes room and dashed down the
stairs.
That was a strangely furnished little room in
which June found herself There were two desks
and hng cabinet and Office chairs, but there
were luxurious couch and dainty hangings, soft
rug and pink paneled walls and ceiling. 1t was all
so incongruous And the work-it queer too
The yellow haired came in from the paror
presently and explained the posting into small blank
books of many memorandum slips. Each slip
tanned the name Of a 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 one of the memo
randum slips The yellow head, whose face
puffy and more highly colored than was 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 a long table sat the
women whom June had They all had cards
in front of them and stacks of playing chips, and
"a wboned woman sitting n higher chair than
the rest dealing. The yellow haired woman
fixed her attention the gambler next to the deal
er She was a fluffy blond with feverish glitter
in her eyes, and she was bent so intenty 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 abjectlyS miserable, and sud
denly she sobbing.
In the gambling room the fluffy blond who had
Dayed 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
IF the yellow haired woman, who quietly motioned
her, The player rose reluctantly, and fright came
INTO her face she followed into the hall and to
he little ONCE where June had been installed
You've reached the limit Mrs. Perry" announced
he yellow haired woman, turning on the unlucky
1ne sharply she closed the door, Here is the l.
D. U. Belle brought to me- have not o. KID it"
Its only for $50" faltered Mrs. Perry.
81 wouldn't o. X. 1t for 80 cents" snapped the
,ther Now want action You'll telephone your
husband from this room"
mo. nor The woman wrung her hands. I'm
ak to him tonight"
81 know that game" she scorned, and from June's
iesk she took an index card.