The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-30

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 EEE@ 8N The two girls were leaning NkI .% W&H over the rail of steamer that was EEaI E4H being warped into her dock by EE5l n#%15T tugs. They had been having AEal tMs vacation trip, and, though that 8t3 ES=es=gaH now and they faced the neces ss1&sS,@ss,z9@sa sity of replenishng the store of
 money, heavily drawn upon for the trip, they looked happy.
 "Som IT, said Mary. "I was tired when we went away"
 Mona laughed These two girls, so we'll dressed, so fashionable in their appearance, had visible means of support.
 They had become embttered some time be- fore by the experience of some close friends who had suffered at the hands of interruptions leeches of society, black-mailers and parasites.
 They had therefore decided to conduct cam- paign against this class of men and make them suffer, especially financially, in what the two girls considered partial retribution for their misdeeds.
 They had pledged themselves to select for their victims only those whose despicable and contemptible actions had already marked them as belonging to the pack of black wolves of society, and in this way the two girls considered that they mefely collected the bill of expense due them for conducting this crusade against such individuals, and the wiles to which they were obliged at times to resort were simply minor detail in this process of collection.
 few minutes later they ashore. For some they did not secure one of the first flight of taxicabs, and had to wait while another was summoned And while they waited they strolled to the end of the per to look at the pass ing river traffic. Suddenly Mary clutched Mona's arm. :.
 Look at that girl, Mona" she said "What do you suppose is the matter with her? I'll swear she is trying to pluck up courage to jump in!
 Mona looked and a young girl who 50 distraught that she not aware that any one was watching her. With quick leap Mona sprang toward her, and was just in time to seize her the girl gathered up her determination and stepped out to drop into the water Mary not moment behind her chum, and together they held her.
 Look here," said Mona, as the girl struggled to free herself "There's sense in that There's no sense in that! There's nothing so bad that it can't be mended! Y
 In moment the girl stopped struggling, and
 .sYou don't know" she said '"There's nothing else for I'd made up my mind-and now Heaven knows if I'll get up my courage again!"
 "Perhaps you won't need to- said Mary Come Mona-brng her along. l see cab waiting for us"
 The girl went with them unresistngly, dully In a few minutes they reached the furnished apartment they had taken before they left the city, and in a few minutes they had the girls story and her name-Stella Worth.
 "You poor kid!'' said Mona sympathetcally In the chorus, you? And some one intro duced you to this Charles Holbrook? He said he'd marry her as he could fix things up with his father? And you were foolish enough to be- Heve him?'
 It was pathetic little story, conventional enough Stella had been innocent-ignorant, in reality. She had believed Holbrook's promises
  curt note had come one day in the mail, tell ing her that things had developed so that he could not see her again, and she had better make arrangement for herself.
 Her desperate appeals to him had gone unan- swered. And now that the mischief done, there plenty to warn Stella.
 "Why-you silly child--I believe you're in love with him still r said Mary.
 Oh, am-if he'd only marry mel" walled Stella.
 Mona and Mary exchanged pitiful glances nd
 You say he's rich, Stella?" she asked
 "Ever and so rich p said Stella.
 "Wel-don't despair yet,' said Mona. "There may be way to help you. For now you've got to take money, and remember that we're your friends and are going to stand by you were going to when you?'
 "I'll promise," said Stella, tearfully. 'Youre awfuy good to me!'
 Look here," said Mary, sharply. after Stella had gone. "We cant do thing for that poor kid, and you know it! Why did you go and raise her hopes that way?"
 "Well-because she had to be cheered up," anything for her, anyhow. don't know yet, but I've got sort of plan. Look here!"
 She lifted her skirts to her knees and exc cuted little dance.
 Do you think I could get job in the chorus?" she asked
 Anywhere P said Mary. "But why?"
 q think I want to meet Mr. Charley Hol- brook-on his ground P said Mona, viciousy. q think luck's coming way Mary-that's what thinki think we'll enjoy collecting little bill from MT. Holbrook, just much did our experience with old Reynolds!'
 "Oh-oh! ]" said Mary. "I'm stupid, Mona! do begin to now, tool Not how do anything for Stella-but how we punish MT. Holbrook, anyhow!'
 "You1l have to see something" said Mona. Because I haven't got anything except what of your racing friends would call hunch. As usual, you'll have to be the to work out the details. You try to up idea while go see about my job. There's show open ing at the Duchess-that's where Stella imagine it'll be sort of hangout for chappies like this Holbrooh, too"
 "Yes. You'll have trouble getting You've even had experience haven't you? I'd for gotten you used to be in the chorus before"
 "Yes, I've had experience said Mona, rather grmly. The chorus is all right if you have inde- pendent means, I have now. But it didn't seem to be intended in my time for girls who had to live their salaries | And--I didn't like the ways that were suggested of increasing my incomel"
 So Mona set out. She found that her luck was with her when she reached the theater. At the stagedoor bored young man waved her on, and she made her way to the stage, where appli- cants for places the chorus of the show were being examined. man sat at table. with boot ore him.