The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-20
10 YES GAMBLE
 By MAY CHRISTIE

"Ifs been done before. Miss Shirley You be careful?'
 But why should any one want to shoot me?9 Shirley couldn't help in quiring.
 'Jeaiousy.s said Nellie briefly Then she added
 Now that you've gone and got en- gagged to Mir. Burke-that and the ac- cident together have unhinged MT. Dal- tons mind"'
 This remark in no way tended to re- assure poor shirley.
 A fear Of being left alone came over her.
 ~"Come up to my room and brush my hair Nellie, will you? Thatll make me s1eepytand l want to sleep. tonight The maid aequiesced gladly. And the two went off upstairs. Miss Shirley. you remember the lady who once came here to visit you. queer French name-and looked like an actress judging by the powder and the paint.P Nellie applied the brushes vigorously to Shirley's tresses. .sWeII she's here again and you'd best keen weather eye upon her, too-if you'll excuse me saying sol"
 Why. Nellie, what do you mean?"
 Nellie nodded sagely.
 q NSFD HuIs MdQdnOfSeile Wte Wrong Uni" Nellie screwed her face up solemnly, mysteriously. she's after MT, Burke, or I'm nightly. mistaken And the old woman that she lives with thinks so toon
 Shirley frowned Despite it's natural beauties-was a hotbed of gossip. This was ample proof
 He's made arrangements for her to stay down here as long as she likes, " went on the maid, brushing with vigor and the old woman says it's something sickening the way she sets her cap at nm. l stepped in at the cottage on my way home tonight, and the old woman says that Mir Burke was round to see her sitting in the parlor with her, and she was crying, and she was telling him she needed money to give to some on that she called Jim And MT Burke pulled out roll of notes. and said something about there being no need to worry for he would help Iher!'
 Nelhe watched keenly for the effect of this on Shirley.
 But the latters pretty face, reflected Tn the mirror. seemed undismayed
 She doesn't care for MT Burke. in spite of all his money" thought the maid. We'll l don't blame her He's too old for her. She should have a younger man.
 I'm tired now. Nellie. You can go. 5 Shirley rose to her feet.
 Good nights miss. And be sure to lock your doori'
 Shirley nodded, smiling wanly.
 And soon she was in bed, listening to the dismal pattering of the rain upon the roof.
 Dawn found her tossing on her pill low
 "CIear outw
 At 10 o'clock that morning Lucille set forth to meet her husband After last nights storm the countryside looked fresh and smiling. Deep blue campanulas mingled with the glorious. rain washed green. Rock roses shook out crumpled petals to the morning sun. And the litte milkwort-blue and white and pink and purple -gllttered dewily.
 As Lucille entered the deep sunk, chalky lane, whose banks were hung with ferns and mosses, the birds in a nearby thicket broke out into song. as though encouraging her to face what lay before her.
 "oh. I don't want to meet him." she reiterated drearily If he would only go away and leave me to enjoy this peaceful beauty, then '~how happy ] should be-"
 But-would she be happy-still tied legally to him?
 A certain Puritan strain in Lucille $ composition shied at divorce She wanted desperately to be free of her opium -sodden husband She wanted to be left alone to face the world anew.
 And yet-not quite alone" Vague dreams she was afraid to dream kept rising in her consciousness. If she could but go through life with such a man as David Burke beside her.
 He had been so kind last night. She had told him of her interview with her down and -out husband, whom the police were seeking.
 He had cautioned her to silence No one must know of the existence of this man. Not even Shirley must be told. And David Burke had given her twenty pounds to get the fellow out of Sur rey. He was immensely afraid that any one might see him.
 Could 1t be wholly for my sake?' thought Lucille. vague dread formed in her mind that such generosity might not he quite disinterested.
 If Burke loved Shirley, who still loved her former sweetheart, Dalton. was it not possible that Burke wanted Shirley to go on believing that Dalton was already married to Lucille? The most natural thing in the world would be the removal of Lucille's real hus- band so that no clearing up of the riddle would be~possible.
 But MT. Burke is a fine fellow-he
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