Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-11
The Social Pirates -

kissed her full on the lips. She sat
erect, with little scream.
"Oh, you should not have done
thatl You should not have done
that!" she cried
And why not?' demanded Fuller,
making as though to repeat the ac-
ton.
Because it is wrong for a girl to
let any man kiss her unless she is
engaged to him-and, and l."
Are going to be engaged to mer'
said Fuller recklessly, forgetting him
self as he leaned over her, and ex-
hailed the fragrance of her hair. "You
love NEEDN'T you' Say that you
d"--as love you"
For a moment Mary stared up into
his horid face--made even more forid
by the sudden riot OF his emotions.
Then we are to be married. she
breathed. 1T seems too good to be
truel am really to be your wife"
"You arev 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 was
concerned only with the Intoxicating
vision OF the girls lovcliness so
tantalizingly near him. And in that
moment he forgot everything. Mary
sprang to her feet, as his arms sought
to embrace her.
"You-you frighten mel really
believe that you do love mel"
Love youf" cried Fuller. IF you
only knew how much do carel II
you only knew"
Through the fat pealed suddenly
the electric bell. Fuller started back
with a seowl, and Mary's hands
flashed instinctively to her hair.
81 wonder who that can bel" she
murmured, as she looked at a mirror.
The bell continued to ring, and she
hurried to the door to reveal the fig
ure Of Mona in the corridor outside.
The other girl entered with a torrent
Of superlative feminine adjeetives. II
was not until her arms were about
Mary's neck in an exaggerated hug
that she noticed, or affected to no.
ticc the sulky figure of Fuller in the
room. She drew back with a little
gasp.
II didn't know that you had COM
pany, dear. | thought I would drop
in for a little chat, but maybe this Is
case where two 10 company, and
three is"
"You can be the 6rst to congratu-
late me-" broke In Mary proudly,
stepping back. "Mr. Winters has Just
asked me to be his wifel"
Mona whirled, and stood surveying
the shrinking figure Of the banker,
who recoiled before her flashing eyes.
$50 you have tried to deceive the
girl, have you, Mr.. Winters" she
sneered. "1 rather guess l was just In
time, Maryl Do you know who this
man is2"
What do you meani"
II mean that his name 10 not Win
tiers, but Fuller-and he already has
one wifep
"Oh, you can't be telling me the
truthl You can't bel" walled Mary.
And then she turned piteously toward
Fuller. Say this isn't sol Say that
1t is all a lie--a wicked liel Why
don't you say somethingl"
Fuller shuffled his feet uneasily, and
then, seeing that Mona had turned, he
tried to slip between her and the wall,
and thus gain the door. But the girl
was too swift for him. He found him
self staring into the muzzle Of a re-
volver.
II warn you that I shall shootl" she
said grimly. "You are to stay here
for the present, my friendl I am not
done with you-not by any meansl"
She picked up the receiver of the
telephone, and called a number into
the transmitter. 1t was the signal to
Ralph Stokes, and a few moments