Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-28

could hardly have been conceived. =
bright mid-morning sun splashec
down upon the shimmering asphalt o
the fashionable avenue, thickly dot
ted with a stream OF richly appear
ing vehicles The past three or foui
days had been dismally threatening
and the lure of the CHEEKY morning
had appealed 10 hundreds OF shoppers
OF the smart set
Mary Burnett leaned back in III,
cushions OF her taxicab, and drew 4
long breath OF luxurious enjoyment
as her glance wandered back from
the scene before her TO the face oil
her ehum, Mona Hartley, by her side
Isn't il just-just heavenly" She
cried There is no more beautiful
scene in the world to me than Fifth
avenue on a spring morning.
Mona laughed
Tit is because we happen TO have
a fairly good purse, my dearl II you
didn't have money in your pocket,
fancy you will find Fifth avenue just
the reverse OF beautiful
You are growing cynicall" retort-
ed Mary And just TO prove TO you
that the store windows have no at
traction for me, I'll wait in the motor
while you do your shopping, and
spend your money to your hearts
dcsirel How is thati"
But that is just what I'm not 60
ing TO do" returned Mona, more
thoughtfully. DO you know, dear,
that I'm coming TO take our work
more and more seriouslyl At first,
| think we we're both bit selfish in
our belief that because men had tried
to wrong our sex we had a right 10
make them pay the debt in any way
possible. And then when we saw just
how much we could do, and how easy
II was for a woman with youth and
fair share OF good looks, 10 snare
the average masculine pursuer, and
when we made up our minds 10 use
these weapons for the good OF others
as we'll as our own, we both had a
new viewpoint. And ii was good for
Us, not 70 mention the sundry ser
vices we were able to do for those
more unfortunate than ourselves. But
lately | have thought we could do
even more, and go even farther. Why,
we can make Of ourselves soldiers for
the common good We can be mod
ern Joans OF Are"
Mona stopped, with a bright flush
on her cheeks, and quite out OF breath
from her unusually long and viva
cious speech. Mary surveyed her
wonderingly, and then caught her
hand.
THAT Is simply splendid Why,
! am proud OF you'll And, OF course,
we shall do just as you say You are
making me crazy 10 start When are
VIC going 10 begin, and howl"
Mona smiled at the others enthu-
siasm.
we will have TO walt for circum-
stances to give us the cue, as we
have always done. ] don't think we
shall have long to wait"
The girl smoothed back her hair
and Strengthened her hat as the mo-
tor came to a whirlwind pause before
the sober front OF the exclusive Far
mans outfitting stores--one OF those
great establishments Of Fifth avenue
which never by any chance display to
the curious public anything so vulgar
as price tag behind their massive
plateglass windows. Mona waved
her hand to Mary and, crossing the
walk, was ushered by liveried at
tendant through a richly curtained
entrance.
Mary prepared for an indefinite
walt and settling herself more COM
fortably on the seat resumed her
study OF the passing through on the
walk. In the back Of her mind were
still running the impetuous words OF
Mona, and the girls face clouded
thoughtfully as she scanned me new
possibilities which they opened up.
And then quite suddenly she was
brought sharply upright and found
herself bending forward through the
door OF the motor, watching a drama
on the walk before her. Into the
CHEEKY panorama of Fifth avenue a
suggestion OF incongruous tragedy
had thrust itself
As Mary sat waiting outside, a
fashionably dressed young man, with
sensual, rather supercilious face,
who was ambling idly down the walk,
had been brought 10 a sudden check
by shabby youth OF not more than
10 or 20, whose gaunt face bore strik-
ing evidence Of either great privation
or great mental shock The youth
apparently had been trailing tho
other, perhaps trying TO brace his
shattered nerves 10 the point OF an
interview. Now, with his fingers
gripping an arm OF the dandy before
him, he stood confronting him like
some haggard Nemesis.
Please. Mr.. Laidiaw, listen to me |
have been following YOU for an
hourl knew you wouldn't see me
AZ your office, and have simply got
% speak 20 your
The young man addressed a. Laid
law struggled angrily, and one Of
those crowds. which in New York
seem to spring up Ike magic, hogan
90 surround the pair Mary found
her view for the moment blocked. hui
over the heads 81 tho curious nnl0nk
eFs she could hear tile irensied voice
~ the shabby youth raised IN shful
appeal aud then the sound 81 4 violent
struggle Finally an officer, attracted
~ tbs fight On The Waik, came shay.
MA through with 4 fine disregard az
me anatomy IN those who blocked Ms
path The officer ponBced upon the
figure nt che young man
Mary OWNED from ihs sudden
Wnytment ai The spectators thar the
pnliesmau had taken the shabby
youth iNtn custody. and ttlt a tN.it
wave % piiF tWetr lhguugh her And
lhsR. a. abe sfgsd parted she saw