The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-28

Illness of her tone. And he made an instant effort, too, to brace up; to prevent her from seeing how hopeless he really was.
 Hello, Mary!' he said. "It's good to see you! How's every little thing?"
 3ut the gayety of his voice was forced
 'Fne, Jack" '" said Mary. How is it with you? You look-well?'
 .Oh I'm all rightr' he said live had little hard luck but things are going to break better for me now I've been sick, you see"
 Come into the park and we'll have a talk, for old times sake,' said Mary.
 He went with her willingly, and when they were seated on bench Mary turned on him frankly.
 against it, aren't you? You needn't be ashamed to tell me-Ive been to you for help!"
 He broke down quite suddenly.
 T didn't think I'd ever go crying to woman" he said, bitterly. "But you're right, Mary! Whats the of living? They've got me pretty nearly down and out '
 "Here' said Mary. She slipped him, very quietly, a bill. "Take it!' she said, furiously, when he tried to refuse. What goods friend if you won't let them help? Besides-this isn't a gift. It's advance, I'm going to need your help I want you to go to some place where reach you at any time You're ready for pretty nearly anything, aren't you?"
 For anything at all" he said. God bless you Mary!'
 "Il give you chance to prove it. she said. ''Now go to this little hotel and wait till you hear from It won't be long,"
 Mona, meantime, had thoroughly enjoyed her ride with Gerry. Almost from the first, Gerry had been disposed to be friendly than it is necessary for architect to be with his client, but Mona had had no difficulty in keeping him at arms length. She had adopted the simplest of all womans expedients; she had simply pre- tended not to understand the significance and the real meaning of his advances.
 And so the enslavement of Gerry was begun It went apace. Before long the state of his feelings toward Mona was no longer secret He ready to anything to win her. But Mona pretended blissful unconsciousness. and Gerry Gerry, the heartbreaker. the squire of danes was actually afraid of her! He was afraid to put his fate to the test. Sometimes, it seemed to him, Mona liked him immensely. But there were other times when she was cold and distant and he was never sure which Mona would greet him when he came with the fast-growng portfolio of sketches of the bungalow he was to build for her. He never Mary when he called, as he did, now, nearly every afternoon. If she was In when he she always stayed in her own room; if she out, she looked up at the window when she neared the house. If Gerry was calling, Mona always arranged signal, and Mary, seeing it, would turn and walk for an hour or so, to give Gerry time to leave.
 'It seems shame, almost-he's so easy" said Mary.
 II hate hin-and it may be easy for you, but it isn't for me!' said Mona. Hes always trying to make love to me! And IT wouldn't marry him if he the only man on earth! '!
 You certainly would not, my dear," said Mary. I'd marry him frst"
 "All joking aside, though, said Mona, Il think it's time to put your plan into execution. Jack Deering knows his part thoroughly. And l think Gerry is ripe for plucking now as he ever will be-"
 "I've been thinking that myself, Mona. Sup pose you let him take you to lunch tomorrow. He asked you, didn't he?'
 "Yes-and I said I'd telephone to him in the morning.
 All right. Tell him to make it the San Marco at one o'clock. I'll be there--and you notice me, after you get comfortably settled at ,lo ly,oxu uxvha af to1 1Oc asvo rehearsed it often enough"
 Half past twelve !" said Mona, after mo-