Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-21
The Social Pirates -

ture conquers himl doubt il he
has such a thing left!'
It's nearly time for us to settle
with him, once and for all. isn't it%
asked Mona.
DO you think you're ready ! be-
lieve we could go ahead any time
now if YOU are. Clay is infatuated,
II I'm not very much mistaken"
You needn't wait on my account,
said Mona. II think I'm as nearly
ready as | ever will be, and il | wait
around thinking about ii. III simply
get more and more nervous"
There's always that danger when
one plans thing very carefully" said
Mary, thoughtfully "All right
think Otto will have to 90 out OF
town with his orchestra on concert
tour in the next day or two And
then Mr. Goodwin Clay can come and
call on me in my home--which he has
been very anxious to do for some
time nowW
The sooner the beuerr said
Mona What will you do-write to
him.
YES. / think so." said Mary.
thoughtfully And for the next
couple OF days ! won't sec him at all"
oh that's clcver!" said Mona, with
laugh. You'll make him all the
more anxious, you mean. 50 that he
will be quite certain TO conner"
Nothing about a man Of his sort
is ever quite certain said Mary. But
think I'm as sure OF him as it's
humanity possible to be. He's given
himself away pretty completely Now
I'll see what the effect of worrying
him little u.s."
"Well--weve got big stakes to play
for, this time, Mary His wife's hap
piness, and her whole future, depend
on the way we work this out. This
time, it's certain, we're unselfish !
know I'd never have consented to
this adventure except for her
Nor >" said Mary mo matter
how bad things were, I'd never have
driven mile with Goodwin Clay for
my own sake
Mary, after maintaining absolute ST.
lence and seclusion for couple Of
days, finally wrote 10 Clay And so
quickly that she knew he must have
acted as soon as he had read her note,
he called her on the telephone.
you gave me a fine scare he
complained. y thought something
had happened to you. Sure you're all
riRhti"
IAN right--yes," she laughed
Otto was getting ready to 60 away
you see, and he was awfully exact
ing" .
well, he's gone, has her" said
Clay.
clear"
We'll, I'm coming over TO sec you.
All right"
"Yes-Ill be glad soon1"
I'm half an hour"
Mary turned from the telephone
and nodded to Mona To a very dif-
ferent Mona. For Mona had trans
formed herself nightly. She wore a
mans suit Her hair was long and
fell about her ears and low on her
forehead. Her coat was OF velvet;
she had, deliberately preserved much
Of the fcmininity 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" said Mary.
you're Otto--just as I've described
him, over and over again Now-get
that wild look into your eyes"
Mona practiced before mirror,
and they both laughed at the effect
she produced
will ! dor" said Mona. anxiously.
IF you don't--well, I've been very
badly fooled" said Mary. But I'm
not bit worried. Go out now and
wait till you see him come"
So Mona went out, and Mary wait
ed for Clay's arrival He was on
time. And, so much in awe of her
did he stand that he was deferential,
almost timid. in his manner, when she
admitted him. This was very differ
emit 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 was of
finer sort, and that 1t would be
easy to brighten her So he had
toned down his usual rough and bois-
ferrous way TO a considerable degree,
Its a relief to have Otto go away"
said Mary, with sigh He keeps
one constantly at concert pitch, you
know. His music makes him so ner-
vous, so irritable, that it's almost inn
possible 10 live with him without 60
ing mad"
"A fellow like that has got no right
10 get married" said Clay, sympa-
thetieally SAY, why don't you just
slip away while he's gomez"
"I'm afraid said Mary. He wanted
me 10 go with him at first. He threat
ened me with all sorts of things II I
even spoke 70 a man while he was
gone-said he'd have a way Of finding
out"
Don't you believe H." said Clay
confidently, But it was only his voice /
that was really conilccut. he looked
around neryously And suddenly.