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

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 coIored 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 seen
They all had cards in front of them
and stacks of playing chips. and raw
boned woman sitting on a 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 feverish 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.
himY
In the gambling room the fluffy blond
who had played so feverishy 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
/. y. q. Belle brought to me. have
not o. K. d it"
.It's only for $50" faltered Mrs.
Perry.
~ wouldn't o. X. it for 80 cents, .
snapped the other. Now. want &C
from this ROOM
mo. nor The woman wrung her
hands I'll talk to him tonightp'
81 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 to
speak with him."
Nor 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 astonishment. 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 mark" she
scornfully stated to Mrs. Perry while
she waited. You'd sting me for a
thousand dollars rather than sting your
husband for it. 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
And the unfortunate Mrs. Perry seem
ed to shrink into hopeless despair as
she realized the implacable organiza
ton against which she had pitted her
self. Mr.. Perry, please" The yellow
haired woman's voice had undergone
a complete change. 1t was very pleas
ant of infection. though it rasped
His 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 anC
took up the extension phone.
June looked at her hat and coat She
seemed quite bewildered. She coulC
not quite understand what this was al
about. but she did know that it wa:
all unpleasant and heartless and de
something on Mrs. Perry's face touch
ed her sympathies and held her.
"Yes, it's Gwen" trembIed Mrs. Per
~, her nervous fingers cIutching des
perately to keep the quaver from he
voice. IL hope l haven't interrupt
ed anything important"
mot very" The mans voice coul,
be heard distinctly outside the phone.
"Jack"-the voice was full of plead
ing-'1-l have to have some money
The frown of the yellow haired VIC
man deepened as she listened to tn
mans reply.
81 know it's week before my allow
ance is DUE" urged Mrs. Perry. an
now she turned her eyes imploringI
toward the stony, yellow haired one
But just must have IT. Eight hur
dred dollarsr'
The mans voice doomed an incredI
lous exclamation over the wire; the
a sharp question
"Why-why. it's to pay billsl Ye:
yes. Jack. ] know l was supposed t
keep them paid out of my allowance
I didn't want to tell you this until W
could sit down quietly together. onl
! they're pressing me for payment An
. the allowance isn't enough, Jackson
Yes, know you've raised it-ohr'
. The mans heavy voice had Interrupt
ed her calmly, coldly. She sank bac
, Imply In the chair.
: June hung up the receiver. She wa
? surprised to see the yellow haired W,
i man put up her own phone and com
] across the room with a benign EXPIRE
sion.
"Cheer up" she advised. Hubby
e all right"
. Mrs Perry Strengthened up.
3 YES" she said and moistened b,
I IL "S3 e..S that he'd go over the.