Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-21

Good night-thanks for the ride"
said Mary and left him,
Mona greeted her with a cry OF re-
lief,
"Oh, | was so frightened, Nary
she said, I'm so glad you're backl"
You needn't have worried" said
Mary scornfully. He's not a bit more
dangerous than any other low
minded man~
Tell me all about IT," said Mona.
"And where do | come in2"
That's Just what want 10 do
tell you about it. said Mary. And
you've got Just as hard part to play
as | have. Listen
Mona listened. And when Mary had
done she laughed
"Mary--do you really believe that
man like Goodwin Clay will be
fooled so easilyi"
Il know it~ said Mary, with SUI
preme confidence. "All we've got TO
do is to stick to the plan we've
madew
"Oh--it's going to be fun. after
all said Mona
Mary, thanks to the well-estab-
lished fiction OF her jealous and tai
ented husband was able to do very
much as she liked with Clay in the
days that followed At first Clay, 1t
was plain, believed that she was sim
ply trying to lead him on.
You needn't stall any more, kid"
he told her. You've got me going
all right I've thrown up my hands
I'm ready to dance to any tune You
want to play"
81 don't know what you mean"
said Mary.
"Oh, you're elcver--I hand ii to
you for that" he said. you didn't
want TO let on you liked me, did your
Wanted me 10 get dippy about you
first2 Well, / fell Now quit stall
ing-forgct Otto and be nicer
II can't forget him." said Mary,
with a little SILVER. She acted her
part we'll And il was not long be-
fore Clay was convinced that he had
her.
This had a curious effect on him,
He had been amused by what he con-
sidered Mary's transparent effort to
arouse his curiosity by making her
self a little difficult He supposed
that he was seeing through her arti-
flee, but he had not been al all dis
pleased with her resorting to il. Now,
however, when he was convinced that
she had been telling the truth, that
she was really what she pretended TO
be, a rather guileless little woman,
unhappy by her husbands
devotion TO his art and his Jealousy
he was positively delighted
Had Mary been what he had first
supposed, just another of the seem
ingly endless procession Of women
who constantly passed in review be-
fore him, he might have forgotten
her in few days. But as il was he
began 10 devote himself TO her TO the
of everything else.
Hes quite tame, Mona Mary
told her chum one evening. Says
he's tired OF his old crowd-that he'd
rather be with mel And he really
doesn't bother me at all lie takes
me out riding and he says he's really
glad that ] don't like the big Broad
way restaurants" ......-. o..
But he believes that 1t is because
you're afraid Otto will see your
Eyes! You know--it's a little RI
dieulous, the effect Otto is having on
him. talk about him all the time,
and he's a good deal puzzled. He
simply can't believe that such man
as ! make Otto out to be can really
exist, you see. He doesn't know any
thing about art-he cant imagine
man who would rather succeed in
his art than make lot OF money"
"Where does Clay's money come
froml" asked Mona.
HE inherited a good deal Of it
but he makes a good deal, too. He's
a big contractor. and / believe he's
good, shrewd business man. | don't
see how it's possible, when he dissi-
pates the way he does, but that's the
report
"A contractor-I remember, of
course. suppose that means poll
tics. doesn't itl'
"Of course it doesl He's in with
every crook and grating politician in
the city He has the inside track
whenever anything big is in the wind.
The city pays--and paysH
Charming charaeterl But look out,
Maryl You've been able to control
him very easily so far--be sure that
he doesn't turn on you when you
least expect itr'
oh, I'm all right | have Otto to
protect me, remember Have you
heard anything more OF Clay's wifel"
Poor soul She's utterly crushed.
She doesn't seem TO realize, even yet,
what has happened think she still
cares for him, in some extraordinary
way. She thinks he's been poisoned
against her, and that il he could be
made 10 see the truth he would be
sorry"
Hell be sorry before we're done
with him. said Mary spitefully. But
/ won't be because he has a change
u heart Goodwin Clay isn't the sort
who reforms because his better ma