The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-02

felt Fuller's hand finger on her cheeks She re- pressed a shiver of disgust as she remembered the goal before her-and thought of Mona wait ing in the next room, ready to appear at gwen signal.
 lonely before you came! !" she sighed contentedly
 Were you?" asked Fuller, beamlng and ven- turing to stroke her hair again, Suddenly he leaned forward, and before she realized his pur- pose kissed her full on the lips She sat erect with little scream.
 "Oh, you should not have done that! You should not have done that" she cried.
 And why not" demanded Fuller, making as though to repeat the action.
 Because it is wrong for girl to let any man kiss her unless she is engaged to him-and and T."
 Are going to be engaged to mel" said Fuller, recklessly, forgetting himself as he leaned over her, and exhaled the fragrance of her hair You love me-don't you? Say that you do-as I love youl"
 For moment Mary stared up into his forid face-made more forid by the sudden riot of his emotions.
 "Then we are to be married" she breathed "It too good to be true! am really to be
 "You arew said Fuller boldly. May kiss you again?"
 Mary's hand wandered absently to the wall at her side, and her fingers pressed the hidden electric bell. Fuller did not notice the movement He concerned only with the intoxicating vision of the girls loveliness-so tantalizingly him. And in that moment he forgot every thing Mary sprang to her feet, as his arms sought to embrace her.
 "YOu-yOu frlghten me really believe that you do love meW
 Love you?" cried Fuller. If you only knew how much do care! If you only knew"
 Through the flat pealed suddenly the electric bell. Fuller started back with scowl, and Marys hands flashed instinctively to her hair
 q wonder who that can be?" she murmured, as she looked at mirror. The bell continued to ring, and she hurried to the door-to reveal the figure of Mona in the corridor outside. The other girl entered with torrent of superlatve femin- inc adjectives It not until her arms were AT1rxy xyse in tod hlID hat she noticed, or affected to notice the sulky figure of Fuller in the She drew back with a lit tie gasp.
 I thought I would drop in for little chat, but maybe this is a case where two is company, and three is-
 broke in Mary proudly, stepping back. Mr Win ters has just asked me to be his wife"
 Mona whirled, and stood surveying the shrink ing figure of the banker. who recolled before her flashing eyes.
 "So you have tried to deceive the girl, have you, Mir. Winters?" she sneered. T rather guess I was just in time Mary Do you know who this is?"
 'What do you mean?"
 q mean that his is not Winters but Fuller-and he already has wife!'
 "Oh, you can't be telling me the truth? You can't be P walled Mary And then she turned pite- ously toward Fuller: Say this isn't so Say that it is all a lie-a wicked lie! Why don't you say something?"
 Fuller shuffled his feet uneasily, and then. seeing that Mona had turned, he tried to slip be- tween her and the wall, and thus gain the door, But the girl too swift for him. He found him. self staring into the muzzle of a revolver.
 q you that shall shootl' she said grimly. 'You to stay here for the present my friend! am not done with you-not by any meansr
 She picked up the receiver of the telephone and called number into the transmitter. 1t was the signal to Ralph Stokes, and a few moments later that energetic young man stepped into the and stood surveying the group uncertainty
 ,.- se Ar A,,,ac c11rxyo of Eyan nin0 lar said Mona, introducing the caller to Mary. We have rather interesting bit of news for you. my friend!" And she made the other acquainted in few rapid sentences with the story of Full ler's masquerade and his proposal to her chum under the alias of Winters. Fuller withdrew to the background, staring gloomily from the win dow. Suddenly he turned.
 ''This farce has gone far enough !" he grated 'sYou are trying to blackmail me- all of you You must think I Reuben to let you get away with it. Publish anything you please-but al- ways remember that I have reputation for busi- ness integrity behind me- and that I shall de- nounce it all as lie and sue for libel"
 For a moment Mona stared at him silently. She knew that the man spoke the truth-that if 1t cane to question of veracity he had nothing to fear. She turned again to the telephone and spoke into the receiver the number of Fuller's residence. She heard the bankers muttered curse behind her she requested the butler to call Mrs. Fuller and the next moment he raised his voice sullenly.
 Come away from that telephonei You win! Now, how much do you want?"
 "Fifteen thousand '" said Mona coldly, with- out moving. For another moment Fuller hesl- tated, and then drew his check book from his pocket.
 twill a check do?" he asked ironically
 Ut will not!" snapped Mona. Call mes senger from your bank to bring over the cash You fix up the details later"
 'Well-you cool one!"
 "So were you when you robbed poor Minnie Meadows of her dead fathers mopey!"
 Fullers face went ashen. Without another word he stepped to the telephone. and gave the necessary instructions to his bank. Even when the messenger appeared with the packet of crisp bills in a small leather bag and Fuller had duly recepted for them the thoroughly cowed banker did not break the silence He counted out the contents of the packets, and picked up his hat. At the door he made movement as though to speak and then with bitter shrug, passed on into the hall, and slammed the door behind him.
 Mary turned to Mona with little cry of relief
 "Oh, I am so glad it is all over!" she breathed.
 The practical Mona was slowing the bank bills into drawer of their writing desk.
 "Now it is up to to find Minnie Meadows and give back to her part of what was stolen I couldn't touch dollar of this money myself !'
 "Nor r" agreed Mary with little shiver.
 "Well, if that is the case, suppose you both come out and have dinner with me-" invited