The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-19
EVENTS ANDFEATURESFOR
Love Affairs of a Lonely Woman
By MARY HALF

A score of eternities seemed to pass be-
 below, and before Holladay at the win
 dow finally breathed a sigh of relief.
 You don't mind if I smoke a cigar
 ette do you?' was the first surprising
 remark from him then.
 "N-no-noi" stammered Jane.
 It was the only answer that she could
 give-the only word her trembling lips
 could utter. As the light of a match
 sprang out of the darkness in the far
 corner of the room by the window, to be held up to the end of a cigarette, Jane could hardly believe her own eyes. The red glow showed an expansive smile on the features of Holladay, and there in the darkness he began to laugh-to laugh-to laugh What a merry and re-
 assuring laugh it was! Surely there could be no latent wickedness in such whole souled mirth.
 Jane Brown was more bewildered than
 ever but her heart slowed up it's few erish throbbing, and slowly the blood seemed to return to her frozen fingers
 and limbs.
 "Ha, ha, hal" roared Dickie Holladay Well, I call that a rip-roaring farce comedy. But it did look as black as this | room for few minutes! Here, I must 1 light up!"
 He struck another light and turned on the gas. Once more the swarthy faces 1 in the ornate frames stared down at her, and this time it seemed to the girl that there was reinsurance in their glance Still, she could not understand it all, for Dick Holladay continued to enjoy his
 mirth until the tears rolled down his face.
 And at this juncture the door opened
 and the portly wearer of the piraticai
 mustache entered the room, bearing tray upon which were two huge cups of steaming black coffee. 1 Looking at Dick Holladay, and then at the bewildered girl he joined in the mirth, chuckling with rhythmic, sym pathetic wobbling of his fat sides as the tears ran down his face
 The two controlled themselves as the swarthy foreigner placed the tray on table near Jane. Then they inter- changed asfew words, as Dick Holladay bowed toward Jane and then the other man.
 My dear Miss Brown" he said, with amused, exaggerated formality, allow me to introduce our kind host, Signor Gull scope Salvatore, proprietor of the least known and absolutely best sphgetti em-
 porium in Greater New York. Giuseppe, this is my esteemed friend, Miss Brown! The man bowed tremendously, his black eyes dancing with mirth.
 T may further explain, Miss Brown, that although my friend Giuseppe pos sesses a Neapoitan complexion. he does not belong to the Black Hand. I'm sure you thought you were being abducted or something, through this mysterious and
 entertaining episode. I'll have to make
 short story of it, and I'm sure 1 can sell
 it the first time I offer it!'
 "Hava some coffee-good Italian cof- fee-da way we make it in Napoli-eet quiet your nerve," suggested Giuseppe But my friend Deeck-he needa noting for his nerve-he alaway have it!' Holladay chuckled as he continued ex- blaming to the surprised girl. ''You see, it's very simple when you know how the trick is done, Miss Brown. found Guiseppes place one night when I was looking for material for slum story. I went to Italy when I finished college and I learned some of the lan-, guage-weli. I've learned the Neapolitan