The Washington times., 1916-02-01

let me md June Travis and spring the
help me out all right all right.
had Just done what Mary character
lzed as "a foolish dangerous thing, IL
ever there was one"
The girl had sent the following tele-
gram to Lamar-first showing it mis-
GENEROUSLY to the scandalized and pro-
testing Mary:
Mr.. Max Lamar. 5l2 Blank Building:
AS your assistant in Red Circle
cases, j report monkey stolen from
llalian organgrinder by girl with Red
circle on hand. Mary saw her gives
description of red hair and blue eyes.
Better come down and Investigate.
JUNE TRAVIS"
You're never going to send that
crazy message Mary gasped, as June.
pausing in their morning walk. at tho
local telegraph office, scribbled the
dispatch and laughingly showed 1t 60
her.
For reply June handed the telegram
Mary clasped her hands convulsivcly
and seemed about to burst into a tor
rent Of protest, but June drew out into
the street and hurried her along the
sidewalk homeward. Mary suffered her
way she scolded shrilly.
As they reached the foot of the steps
leading up to the Travis cottage. on the
side Of the bluff overlooking the sea.
Mary asked:
"Why ever did you do such thing.
precious?"
She asked It for the fiftieth time in
her TRADE, but for the first time she
paused for an answer. And June re-
piled:
II don't know just why I did 1t
any more than ] seem to know why
do anything at all nowadays. Perhaps
a. a. Ill,
ways goading me on to mischief Per-
haps | feel safer to think of his work.
ing out false clue where I can watcn
him and circumvent him. instead Of lct-
long range: for he's dreadfully clever.
Mary! Perhaps"
But. dearie--"
Perhaps" said the girl. unheeding.
her voice softening and a light creep
ing into her great dark eyes, per
haps I'm-Im little lonely for him"
June" cried the old woman. aGhast.
trying to look into the girls flushed.
averted face. June! My baby, you've
surely never gone and let Yourself
get interested in"
Interested? Yes confessed June.
adding hastily: But not interested the
way you mean. I'm not in love with
Max Lamar. I've never yet been in
love with any man. don't think
quite know what love is. Not yet. And
!
most interesting man 7 have ever met
There Is something about hiTn-some-
thing compelling. magnetic-oh. | can't
describe t,-something that makes me
want to see more of him"
''Oh. deario! My own lamb" exclaimed
Mary. in horror. That's the way folks
start 10 fall in love! And"
Nonsense"
at is" insisted tho nurse land horc
you've got the whole world to choose
st 4,
the ono man who's tracking you down
to nut you In Jail"
I'm not in low" VII" r'm' h"''" do
n'cd June: not one single Dill you old
goose. And besides. he's not tracking
me down He hasn't the very slightest
he shall. Don't worry. He's on the
wrong track, and I'll see he stays
there"
That's what thev all say" ouavered
get so sure Of themselves they take
stop too far. some day. and then"
And then their darling old fussv
nurse comes to the rescue" inter
rupted June. land saves them. Oh.
Mary" she added. with a sudden sad
ness that went to the older womans
heart. DO you suppose 7 enjoy do
ing such horrible things 7 hate a.,
Ninn-terths of the time II makes me
fairly sick TO look back on them.
Then. the tenth tme. something CetS
hold OF me and pushes me on. in spite
OF myself. Not only my body but my
mind too. When-when the Red Circle
begins to burn on the back OF my hand
find myself yearning TO do things
that are-awful, And the more awful
they are the more ] want to do them.
What will Il end in?"
Her sweet voice rose almost to a wall.
Mary gathered the stricken girl into her
arms and strove to comfort her But
almost at once the mood OF terror pass
ed. leaving June again her CAV and
carefree self. She kissed Mary and
plavfuly pushed her aside.
There. there" she cried gayly.