The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-07
MARY VICTIM cHEERo

Mary looked significantly at the unconscious Mona as if to him. Then she went into the other room, and Mona, seemingly anxious to keep him at arms length, picked up book and began to read aloud Then Mary came back, and Mona looked up-just in time to see the caressing touch with with which her sister as she passed Harras- fords chair, touched his hair.
 Instantly she sprang up seemingly beside 7f herself with rage.
 You cat-you viper!" she screamed, while Harrasford started up in mortified amazement and Mary shrank covering away "So you would steal him from me'
 T say-!" began Harrasford, protestingly.
 Be still, you!' she cried turning on him furiousy. She advanced threateningly upon Mary. "Go!" she cried. Out of my sight, you treacher- onev'
 Mary turned toward her room.
 "Oh. sayw said Harrasford again. Come you don't mean that! You're not going to send her away for such reason as that
 ''Is it not reason enough?" cried Mona, furi- ously. "she shall go-this night-this minute! Never shall she enter my sight again."
 And Nary with what seemed to Harrasford an astonishing meekness and unnecessary de- gree of terror, prepared to obey. She packed bag, and went to the door. As she passed he whispered to her:
 Telephone to me at the Empire Club to-
 Then Harrasford, after Mary had nodded and gone, turned to Mona. He intended to re- proach her, but he found her sobbing wildly on the couch. And for the first time in his career he puzzled and little afraid.
 T couldn't bear to have her try to take you from meI' sobbed Mona. "It is so she would act-when have known you such little while l"
 But don't want to be taken, you know" said Harrasford- suddenly realizing that he had progressed faster, evidently than he had dared to hope he might. You're the one for, my dear!'
 He took her in his arms, and comforted her. And in little while, to his relief, she bade him leave her.
 T am upset-nervous" she said, with a flashing smile through her tears. "Leave me now tomorrow you shall hear from mel"
 He was glad enough to go. He wasn't sure, after all, he wanted to see hear any of Mona She was little too much of a good thing. he thought He preferred the other and as he thought-the calmer sister of the two. But he didn't know Mary yet!
 Mary returned, of course, when she had seen Harrasford leave the apartment. And she and Mona hugged themselves and another in their delight at the way Harrasford had walked into the trap they had set for him.
 "Still-I've got to go," said Mary. 'I1l get a apart we are, the better, I think. It looks as if I'd put one over on you, Mona-I really think he has the bad taste to prefer me to you"
 You're welcome to him, my dear!' said Mona. And then she laughed. That's cats speech and I'm not usually catty," she said 1t didn't make any difference, really which of he liked"
 s'No-of course not. I'll call him up at noon tomorrow and you'd better telephone a little before, and pretend to be horribly jealous if he don't come to you v
 "What'll do if he will?" asked Mona mak- ing face.
 You'll just have to get out of it some way. But I think he'll be curious enough, at least. to wait to hear from me-don't you?'
 It turned out that Mary was right For when Mona telephoned the next morning Har- rasford was full of apologies and promised to call her later in the day. For the moment, he told her, sorrowfully he was held by an import ant business appointment.
 Mems excuses are so originalr thought Mona, mockingly. T do wish they'd invent