Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-18
The Social Pirates =

Hdihe loi lHyeen' "Hose "he Gil
| to be7"
"You want a name that sounds like
money and respectability," said Mary
reflcctively. Smith IS too common.
So is Jones. How about Douglas"
Splendid. Mrs. Steven Douglas
of Seattle, on an excursion here to see
the sights, and have general good
time, while hubby is sticking close
to the eternal grindstone to provide
the wherewithl Now, if our young
friend, Dick, comes up to specifica-
tons think we can consider the cast
satisfactorily filledl
| Dick Carlton, as the girls had con-
fidently expected, entered into the
spirit Of their plans with a relish, and
when Mona sketched the part he was
to play-that of secretary to her hus-
band, and more than slightly in love
with herself-he accepted the role
with alacrity, particularly the latter
portion.
The next afternoon Mona, as Mrs.
Douglas, with Mary as her secretary
and Mimi as her maid, made a some
what spectacularj appearance at the
!. Roanoake, one OF the select hotels Of
the city, and was assigned to suite,
| which only the most generous bank
roll could have stood. The following.
day Mrs. Burton, who had been noti-
fled of the girls assumed character,
invited her to tea, at which she
was presented to a group Of the city's
socially and financially elect. Mona
kept sharp eye open for Reginald
/ Wentworth, but that gentleman did
not make an appearance.
The next morning found several in
vitations to various affairs in her
mail, and at theater party that eve
ming she met for the first time the
object OF her plottings. Wentworth
was tall, we'll set up fellow in his
early thirties, with a certain grace OF
manner toward the fair sex, which
had obviously won him many friends
among women. He established him
self at Mona's side, and the girl pur-
posely made herself agreeable to him
| in a frank, open manner, which kept
Wentworth with her for the better
part Of two acts.
/ On the following afternoon, Dick
Carlton, registering as Raymond Dan
ieids Of Seattle, sauntcred into the
Roanoake, and that evening he es-
corted Mona to another theater party,
where he was duly presented to Mrs.
Burton and her friends, including
| Wentworth, who showed nek too
great relish when the stranger calm
4 " appropriated the rich young Mrs.
Douglas for the bulk Of the evening.
II was part Of Mona's plan to give
| the impression that she and Carlton
Iwere on terms Of intimate filtration,
and she succeeded admirably.
| Early in the following week she
considered her preparations far
enough advanced to proceed safely
with the next step in her program.
She called Mimi into their sitting
room, and instructed the maid to
make an appointment with the man,
Runkle, for the park that afternoon
at 2 o'clock.
I. Hold him there until Miss Hart
ley arrives with Mr.. Carlton" directed
Mona. Give him any excuse reces-
sary. Tell him that you see a way
, by which you can make capital out
{ OF my supposed indiscretiune4 any
thing to keep him occupied until Miss
Hartley is ready"
. Mimi nodded. She was beginning
to hold this assured young woman in
both fear and admiration. When the
! servant disappeared, Mona went over
J the final details OF her contemplated
! denouement with Mary, rehearsing
the latter until convinced there could
be no mistake.
Promptly at 2 o'clock Mimi strolled
to one of the park benches, over
. looking the main driveway, with
! Runkle--a stockily built, florid-faced
! man, with small, crafty eyes, which
surveyed the maids trim appearance
speculatively.
"You say that this Mrs. Douglas
: Is young, and pretty-and RICH" HI
: purred at the last word as the servant
! nodded vigorously.
There Is no doubt that Min
4 broke off her sentence, A couple
-iwere strolling down the path, engaged
| in an angry dialogue. 1t was Mar,
8 rand Carlton. As they reached til,
! bench, on which Mimi and her CON
r panion were sitting, Mary suddenl,
. broke away from Carlton in torren
3 Of weeping denunciation.
. "You are tired OF mel You ar
b throwing me over for herl know
!. what Is in your heart! You shall re
\ rret Il soon-yery soonp With tina
r she tried to make a scornful toss o
]. her pretty head; Mary staggered
across to any empty bench. Carltoi
II watched her for moment in a Gym
a ical silence, and lighted q cigarette.
/ Perhaps it is better to have
d over within he called after her, liftinl
II his hat with flourish. AT any rate
e you know the truth nowp Withou
4 a backward glance, he strolled bac
+ down the path, leaving the weepinI
girl alone on the bench. For a mo
d ment Mary sobbed conyuisively, an
e then lifted her head--to discover tina
II she was alone. and that Carlton ha
y disappeared. She rose to her fee
u glanced wildly about her, and hes
" tatingly walked to the lake. Appar
u entity she was about to throw hersel
Ie into the wateL Runkle, with a nut
g tered oath, sprang across and graspe
e her arm.
None Of that, young woman!" h
n, snapped as Mary glared at him. 81
a he has thrown you over, there are ia
a better ways Of revenge than thatt
Mary stared at him, as though nc
ie comprehending, while Mimi hovere
y. discreetly in the background. AT tina
r, moment the honk Of an automobil
e, horn sounded from the driveway, an
Is the unicn of REGINALD Wenfwnrf