The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-11

future, depend on the way we work this out. This time, it's certain. we're unselish! I know I'd never have consented to this adventure except for her.''
 Nor :" said Mary. "No matter how bad things were, I'd never have driven a mile wTWs Goodwin Clay for my own sake"
 Mary, after maintaining absolute silence and seclusion for couple of days, finally wrote to Clay. And so quickly that she knew he. muss have acted he had read her note, h. called her the telephone.
 You gave fine scare!' he complained. "I thought something had happened to you! Sure you're ali rieht?"
 All righ5-yes,, she laughed "otto vas get ting ready to go away, you see, and he was awfully exactng.
 "Well, he's gone, has he?" said Clay.
 Yes, he's gone The coast is clear !"
 Well, I'm coming to you. All rightfn
 Yes--1H be glad. Soon?'
 Tn half an hour.'
 Mary turned from the telephone and nodded to Mona. To very different Mona. For Mona had transformed herself nightly She wore mans suit Her hair was long, and fell about her ears and loN on her forehead. Her coat was of velvet; sine had. deliberately, preserved much of the fepliniaity of her appearance. She wore a flowing Windsor tie, and low collar, with deep points. And in her hand she had violin case.
 You're perfect, Mona F said Mary. "You're Otto-just I've described him, and again! Now-get that wild look into your eyesw
 Mona practiced before a mirror, and they both laughed at the effect she produced
 Will do?" said Mona, anxiously
 IT you don t--well, I've been very badly fooled !" said Mary. "But I'm not a bit worried. Go out and wait till you see him come"
 So Mona went out, and Mary waited for Clays arrival He was time: And, so much in awe of her did he stand that he deferental, almost timid, in his manner, when she admitted him. This very different from most of his affairs. He did not believe that Mary was really so different from the rest, but he did understand, somehow, that she of finer sort, and that 1t would be easy to frighten her. So he had toned down his usual rough and boisterous way to a considerable degree.
 Its relief to have Otto go away!" said Mary, with sigh. "He keeps constantly at concert pitch, you know! His music makes him so nervous so irritable, that it's almost inn possible to live with him without going mad !"
 "A fellow like that has got no right to get married,' said Clay. sympathetically. Say, why don't you just slip away while he's gone?"
 I'm afraid" said Mary. "He wanted me to go with him at first He threatened with all sorts of things if even spoke to while he gone-said he'd have way of finding out
 Don't you believe itH said Clay, confidently. But it was only his voice that really conf dent; he looked around nervously And suddenly, just as he about to speak again, there loud knock at the door. They stared at one an other; it repeated with increasing violence
 "It's my husbandr' p gasped Mary, going white. "He must have played trick on mel"
 "The door's locked-I tried it,' whispered Clay. Keep still-he may think the place is empty and go away' X
 The door locked-but from the outside. The two girls had manipulated the lock so as
 
 covered fearfully inside, the pounding on the door became more and more violent until at last 1t gave way, seemingly before savage as sault with the fire extinguisher, but really be- cause Mona had turned the key. The next in- stant. Mona, in the guise of Otto, confronted them.
 "Otto-Ottor F walled Mary. Don't be angry MT. Clay is old friend-it's perfectly all right"
 And Clay. just Mary had predicted, showed his yellow streak. He tried to escape from the frot1 1ff, p,,t ffN 101 pistol from the drawer of a table and covered him.
 "sit down" ne cried, in tense, high voice.
 Mary went to him and flung her about his neck, but Otto cast her off furiously.
 q shall go madv he cried. "What shall do, kill you both? No-then they would kill me, :" Suddenly he stared at Clay. T know you, you wretchr P he cried. "Iou notorious for your dealings with women You-why, you perjured yourself to get rid of your unfortunate wifel"
 "No-" stammered Clay
 twill you lie now-whep you face death?" cried Otto, if maddened His eyes lighted IF. "Ah-I have it! !" he cried. "Sit-write confes- sion, and put in the proofs of your perjury At once-or I will kill youw
 In vain Clay stormed and protested. Otto, fourishing the pistol. threatened him until he complied.
 "Gooe!" he said, when Clay had done. If you do not tomorrow make reparation to your wife will use this. And now--what will you do for me-for the woman who was my wife?"
 Mary screamed.
 "You shall provide for her-now that you have driven apart l" said Otto. "I owe her that much. Write her check now!"
 And this much Clay glad to do.
 ''Id have done that, anyhow" he growled. "But you're mad, man! Take her back She's 6 good woman!'
 Otto only sneered And when the check written he drove them both out
 Mary, shaken and hysterical-but from her triumph at the complete success of their plans and not, as Clay supposed, because of Otto's return went with Clay. He drove with her a. once tc tho nearest restaurant
 "Iou need supper-that will brace yoc up," he said. Ut was hard luck having hiru }lay 6 trick like that!'
 "Go in and get tabie--I want to tele- phonel" said Mary, distractedly. And, in the booth, she called Mona. in minute she reione1 him. And it was not long before, to Ciays amazeloent, Mona herself, in her own clothes, slipped into the vacant chair beside Mary. Slowly he recognized in her the mad musician. But be- fore he could denounce them Mary spoke.
 ''Fo- you've been beaten at your o~n game P she said. "You pretend to be good sport prove it by making things right with your wife And, if you don't-remembcr that you've given the evidence that will send you to jail if you make it Good night :"
 They left him, furious but knowing that had 1a%