The Washington herald., 1916-05-14


I"c1t7d him. The girls watched him go nrtl, ia "
seat at a corner table. from which he COW ID
command a view of the djnrrS vitHout him elf.
being too much in the IimcligIt Nary rl-hed
back her chair, and ro>r hu.rr,IIv to- her feet
She put her hands - her lips H. N.na looked
up in surprise. 1T is better an present that hc
should not see MS together. [ @1o gong to rely
on your ingenuity TO make the arQuaintancc Of
Mr. I.adInW before ne leaves the restaurant
You Will find me at The apartment when YOU get
back"
he was gone
For few moments Mona sat drumming idlv
on the edge Of her table, and toying with her
food. The problem, which her chum had set her.
was not an easy one to say the least. But it sud
denly occurred to Mona to try the old lost money
game, and expected the scene with the waiter
soon brought Dick LaidIaw to the rescue.
Let me pay the bill. 1t will be a pleasure"
said LaidIaw.
The girl hesitated then surrendered reIuct-
antly. "On one condition. You must 60 home with
me so that can pay you back at once"
He bowed. "As you wish.' He drew ont a
bill, and handed it carelessIy to the waiter, who
had reappeared by magic at his motion. With
the girl at his side, Laidaw passed out Of the
restaurant, Pausing in the entrance to call a
taXlcab. Mona took " seat in a kind Of con
strained silence while LaidIaw strove desperately
to maintain a cOnversat tiOn which she prevented
skilfully.
As Mona helped from the taxi by young
Laidlaw, she gave him glance, which to him
might have spelled victory, but which in reality
was but a forced smile, and Mona saw that thu,
first act in her little deception had been sue
cessful.
BY an arrangement with the superintendent
OF the apartment house. Mona and Mary had
secretly installed "buzzer" under the runner of
the stairway, that should either return sud
denly with a stranger the fact could be an
nounced by pressing upon a concealed electric
plate, thus giving the girl in the sufficient
time retire
Hardly anticipating that Mona had been so
successful in netting her victim, Mary slipped
into the boudoir just Mona turned the key in
the lock.
Young Loidlaw at first refused to accept the
money, but Mona with a charming smile insisted
so strongly that he obliged at last to ac-
cept it.
May call again." asked LaidIaw as he left
Suit Yourself" MOna's voice was still icv
Tomorrow" asked Laidlaw eagerly.
"Ges,' said Mona, hesitatingly.
The girl closed the door For moment she
stood listening, and then as she heard the man
turn, and slowly make his way down the hall
toward the stairs, she flew back into the living
room, and into the arms of Mary, who was
smotherlng a yawn in the doorway of their bed
room
And now what of the next step in our cam
Paign" asked Mary, as she curled herself on the
couch, with her feet huddled up under the LACY
robe of her neggee I'VE have only one of our
victims biting, remember. What Of the father?"
That is up to you" said Mona, sereneIy.
You have left the hardest part to me- Laidlaw
Senior must be your task"
AS it developed. it not only during the
next day, but succession of days, that MOna's
talents as actress were called into play in the
fencing bouts with Dick Laidlaw At noon the
telephone rang, and the young mans voice spoke
eagerly over the wire in an invitation to lunch,
winch Mona promptly declined, compromising
finally in a grudging consent to a motor ride
in the afternoon. This followed bv tea with
a reluctant promise from the girl TO attend a
matinee on the following afternoon Refore the