The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-24
THE NEGLECTED WIFE"
Chapter VII-'EThe Yelled Menace' 
 By

Flaming resentful Margaret drew back.
 I'm sorrt Margaret But it's hard to see other men pay you attention, men who are free and have everything to give, while 1-I am bound. Whatever our friendship may mean-we must al- ways think of her.
 T know" admitted Margaret gently. And I want to help you shield her. Above everything else our happiness must never mean her unhappiness." Then startled 1t was that?'
 T heal hing" he reassured her. You're nervous dear" Unconvinced, Margaret ran to the door but the hall was empty. Had she looked beyond the turn, where the stairway wound around the elevator she would have seen the cause of her disquietude.
 There, shrinking back against the wall stood Mary Kennedy-her lips colorless and gloved hands clenched. To call on Miss Warner after her heroism of the houseboat fire had seemed to Mary a necessary courtesy. Expecting a cheap boarding house she had been surprised at the pretentiousness of the building. new elevator boy, unused to his duties had taken her up unan- nounced
 At Margaret's door, as in the semi- darkness of the hall she fumbled for the bell, she had heard the murmur of voices. For an age-long second she stood pet rifed. That low deep note-it was Hor- lace?
 Dizzly she groped her way back to the elevator. Everything was clear now. Proof after proof swept pitilessly through her brain How blind-how credulously blind she had been!
 She reached home with but one thought beating clearly through the chaos. They must not know that she lynn hat cti oh Df regaining her husband, it would not be through recrminations. | Not until the next day did Mary's tortured mind finally evolve a plan of action-a desperate plan. The first | step was written invitation to Miss | Warner to a dinner dance a week from l Thursday 1 For Margaret the next few days ] were filled with dread. Kennedy hat | induced her to accept the invitation, insisting that their well-acted indif- l ference a the dinner would help d- vert future suspicion It was with a throbbing excitement
 that amounted almost to fear thai 1 Margaret, the night of the dinner, 1 stepped from the cab as it drew up i before Kennedy s residence. l Cshered upstairs to lay off her
 wraps, she fingered in the dressing
 room as long as she dared. Then, sum-
 moning her courage, with slow re- luctance she descended the broad stair way to the drawing room.
 For a moment she stood awkward { ly in the doorway, then her heart leapt relievingly as she saw Norwood | coming toward her. She was glad of his protecting presence in the ordeal
 of meeting Mary
 Then Kennedy approached. greeting i her with exactly the right shade of
 mpersonal cordiality. Although Mar
 garet had schooled herself for this
 moment, the self-conscious color
 tinged her face.
 Norwood took her into dinner. In
 spite of her nervousness, his uncon
 cealed admiration helped put her at
 ease, Later. when the dancing began,
 he appropriated the first three num-
 bers.
 You dance as I thought you would,
 when finally he led her out to the
 restful dimness of the veranda
 I've danced very little" wistfully.
 There have been very few parties in
 my work day life.'
 'It needn't be a work -a-day life any
 longer" with startling directness 'As
 Mrs. Norwood. there would be no need
 for any work you did not choose to
 do." he finished, dispelling her first
 scorching thought
 | leaves from a flower at her waist
 What could she say to this man who
 had paid her the highest tribute in his power?
 From the library. Mary. seeing Nor, woods engrossment in Margaret. was thrilled with a swift elation. This was part of her plan.
 "Oh, Mrs Kennedy!" Nora, pale ant agitated, had made her way through the guests to her mistress. "Come quick-upstairs."
 Alarmed. Mary followed her through the hall and up the stairs. Leading her to the dressing table, excitediy Nora pointed to the mirror. Across the polished glass was writ ten in sprawling. crudely chalked let ters.
 Your husband ruined my life. IT not let him ruin yours. THE YELLED WOMAN Gro be continued.) Copyright, 1917, by Mabel Herbert Ur, ner.