Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-17
CHAPTER V-"THE CRISIS"

The woman Alone. Margaret Warner
CHAPTER V-"THE CRISIS"
In the first daze of awakening Mar
garet was conscious of the luxurious
bed. After the dubious sheets and
grayish blanket of Mrs. Devlin's hall
room, the fresh linen seemed an un-
wonted luxury.
With thrilled appraisement her
glance swept the expensively fur
nished room. The only discordant
note was her own shabby trunk,
which stood with detected humility
against the satin-striped wall.
For so long she had recoiled from
repugnant surroundings that now as
she bathed and dressed she gave her
self up to the almost forgotten joy of
sheer physical comfort.
But beneath her grateful relaxation
was the disquieting thought of her
Indebtedness to Kennedy. In spite
of his insistence that she consider it
only as a loan, Margaret felt keenly
her obligation.
Determining to keep her expenses
as low as possible, instead of having
breakfast in the high-priced restaur-
ant, she went out to moderate lunch
room in the next block.
Passing a news stand, she paused
to luy a copy of "Standford's Maya
zine" Turning to the table Of con-
tents, her own name leaped up at her.
His Wife and the Other Woman,
Margaret Warner"
For several l..oments she stood en-
thralled, while the hurrying crowd ell
bowed by. She had not even known
of the story's acceptance.
She would go at once to the Office
of the magazine. She would see the
editor. Possibly it would mean an
order for another story.
At o'clock that afternoon, with
shrin,.ing self-consciousness, in spite
of the fortifying magazine in her
hand, Margaret gave her card to the
Office boy who guarded the editorial
Sanctum.
She had pictured Frank Norwood,
the editor, as cold and unapproach-
able, but the tall youngish man who
greeted her was graciously cordial.
He seemed much interested in her
story and spoke OF series. Then he
explained that he was just starting to
Riverdale-his car was waiting. If
she would drive out with him they
could talk on the way-and she could
return on the $40
Knowing that most writers would
be overjoyed at such chance for an
Ia hnc,ta-
ton, Margaret consented.
With characteristic energy Nor
wood hurried her down to his car,
and they were soon speeding out
through the city.
Briefly he outlined the series he had
in mind. 1t was to be THE Woman
Alone" struggling for her living in a
. great city. The theme was hackneyed,
but he was convinced she could give
to it new angle.
Her story in the current number
had touched on these lines. The
scene in the cheap boarding house
and the dingy hall room had been re-
markedly vivid. He felt she knew
and could write of this life.
1t was barely 4 when they reached
Riverdale, and Norwood insisted on
her calling with him at friends
houseboal. 1t was not until they were
walking down the graveled bank that
lie mentioned casually, 1T belongs
TO the Kennedys. | believe you've
them, Mrs. Kennedy was much
-sIzffed in your story. Oh, there
She fs On deck!"
Before Margaret could frame her
dismay into a protest, he was lead
ing the way up the gang plank, and
+. she had no choice but to follow.
Mary, having no reason to think
that her husband had seen Miss
Warner since the evenings she
: worked for him, greeted her graci-
ously.
Desperately Margaret strove to
conceal her embarrassment Her
color famed deeper as Kennedy ap-
peared. She saw his start Of sur
prise, then his quick control as he
greeted her formally.
After that one swift glance, she did
not look toward him, but she was
quiveringly conscious of his every
word and movement.
Sinking back to the deep wicker
chair, her dropping hat brim shading
her face, Margaret's silence seemed
only a natural modesty at Norwood's
glowing praise of her work.
"The 5:l0P' repeated Kennedy,
when her return on that train was
mentioned. why that's been taken
off! There nothing now before, the
8:55."
Then you must both dine here
insisted Mary, Hospitality.
Margaret swept an appealing glance
at Kennedy, but before this deepening
l.. !. L l.