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THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JUNE 11, 1916.
The Social Pirates -:-
Plot by George Bronson Howard
Novelization by Hugh C. Weir ::i Copyright Kalem Company
Story No, 10 Unmasking a Rascal
It wis Mom who first noticed A
S"ifl a wisp of a creature with a m?ii
ot dull gold hair, and large, tnghter.ed
eyes which stared out from a face
that was almost child-like in its inno
cence. Just outside the swinging
doors of The Frivolity the newest of
the glittering The Dansants of Broad
way she was standing, her skirts
clutched nervously in one small
gloved hand, and her big, staring eyes
never losing a chance to sweep the
gay scene within, whenever the doors
chanced to swing open. Mona Bur
nett reached across the small table in
the corner of the cafe and, catching
Mary Hartleys arm, directed the
other's attention to the girl outside
the swinging doors, who looked so
strangely out of place. Mary studied
the furtively watching figure for a
moment in silence.
It was obvious that the girl outside
was seeking someone and that (he
was both hopeful and fearful that her
search would be successful.
The gjrl behind the doors had
stepped in a quick, nervous fashion
into the big cafe. For a moment she
stood uncertainly, as though muster
ing all her' resources for the ordeal
ahead of her. Then with a long breath
she crossed the room hurriedly, her
little head held high, her eyes cold
and hard. - Now the watchers could
see that she was dressed with a quiet
elegance, hinting vividly of a comfor
table income and a luxudious home,
and that there wri the air of real
breeding in every feature of her face.
She had seen the object of her
search, and he was a man a stockily
built man of middle age, with a florid
face, and a carefully waxed mous
tache, who was acting as escort to a
young woman, whose every feature,
from her penciled eyebrows to her ex
tremely cut gown, cried out her char
acter. The advancing girl rear the
table and paused, as his companion,
sensing the situation, also looked up.
The three made a tableau, subcharaed
with emotion. It was the man who
spoke first, but strive as they would,
neither Mary nor Mdna was able
to hear the words that fell from his
lips. But they saw the girl's face
go white, and then a dull red spot
glowed in her cheeks, and she caught
the edge of the table, leaning forward
and speaking in a low, vibrant voice.
The next instant, a waiter, beck
oned at a sudden gesture from the
florid-faced man, glided to the scene
and took the girls arm.
"The brute I The big, hulking, red
faced brute I" gasped Mona. "He is or
dering that poor little thing ejected 1"
It was true. The thing was done
discreetly and with dispatch.
Mona tossed a bill on the table and
rose quickly.
"I am going to follow her I Horry,
Maryl We'll be able to catch her
at the street I"
The two girli reached the marble
hall outside just in time to see the
diminutive figure ahead clutch for
an instant at the street door and
then step out onto the crowded walk.
They caught her at the corner.
"You poor dear I" said Mona in a
low, soothing voice, as she took hold
of the other's arm. "We taw what
happened at the cafe, and we followed
you on purpose. Won't you tell us
all about it?"
The three turned into a quiet tea
room on a cross street, where Mary
selected a retired table in the rear.
"Now, if you will tell us your story
or as much of it as you like, perhaps
we can think of something that will
help youl"
"My name Is Meadows Minnie
Meadows," she began. "I am, or
rather was, the ward of Amos Fuller."
"Amos Fuller, the banker?" queried
Mona.
"Yes. That that was Mr. Fuller
whom I spoke to in the cafel"
Mona's glance expresssed amaze
ment, and the other shrugged bitterly.
"I know it is hard to believe hard
to believe that a man like Mr. Fuller
would be found at a tango cafe at this
hour of the day I But It is true I I
am afraid that the call of the white
lights has been more than he could
refuse and they say that when a man
of his age goes astray he falls harder
than anyone else I Until two or three
years ago he was an entirely different
man patient, kind, giving me any
thing I asked. You see, when my
father died I was left quite a lot of
monev. and Mr. Fuller was made my
guardian. I always supposed that I
would have everything I wished, and
would have thought it nothing hut a
nightmare had anyone ever hinted
that I would some day find myself In
the position I am now In. But grad
ual'v thincs hegan to change.
"Mrs. Fuller, who is several years
yountrer than her husband, began to
p-o out mora in society, the kind of
societv that wasn't very cood for her.
At last, she took to rambling, and so
on. and she and Mr. Fuller had many
hitter quarrels. But she was very
Jealous of him in spite of these, and
she took it into her head that her
husband was beginning to fall in love
with me. )f course, that was absurd I
Then one day Mr. Fuller came to me.
and told me that If I made over to
him the estate which father had left,
he could invest It to that it would
bring in double as much Income for
me. I don't know anything at all
about business, and I had alwavs
trusted himt So I did what he told
me to do, and signed a lot of papers
and and "
Mbna patted her hand softly as she
realized what was coming.
Minnie Meadows flashed her a
glance of gratitude.
"I guess the rest of It is the old.
old s"tory of a girl waking uo to find
that everything she had in the world
has been taken from her, and that
she is helnless to save herself. Mrs.
Fuller told me that she didn't like the
attentions her husband was showing
me, and made matters so unpleasant
for me that I had to appeal to Mr.
Fuller and ask him for enough of my
money to take a little flat of my own.
Then he fold me that he was sorry,
but that I didn't have any money any
more that it had been lost in unfor
tunate speculation, or something. All I
rould understand was that I was
thrown out into the world without
monev or home, or friends, and that
f didn't have any way to make a liv
ing for myself. I pawned the rings
wh"'ch I had. and got a little room in
a chean boarding house and answerM
all sorts of newspaper ads for girls,
but there didn't seem any place where
2 could fit Then I grew desperate
and tried to reach Mr. Fuller again,
but whenever I called at his bank,
they told me that he was 'out,' or 'too
busy' to see me. I knew something of
his habits, and decided to wait for
him at the Frivolity. The scene
which you saw was the result He
deliberately laughed in my face and
ordered the waiter to put me out I"
The tears started to the girl's eyes,
and her shoulders quivered. The
proffered help of Mona and Mary was
accepted. And they agreed to get her
a position.
Back in their own apartment the
girls fell to discussing a means of
dealing with Fuller.
"I have it I" said Mona, suddenly,
"You remember that newspaper ar
ticle we were reading the other day,
which told of the methods employed
by the so-called tango cafes to find es
corts for women, and vice versa ? Yqu
remember that the article said most
of those establishments employed pro
fessional 'introducers,' whose business
was to make strangers acquainted,
and so on? Why can't we get just
such positions at the Frivolity?"
"Splendid I" agreed Mary. "But do
you think we could?"
"We can try, certainly! And there
is no reason why we should not try
at once!"
The plan was at once followed, the
manager of the Frivolity agreeing to
the plan which Mary and Mona put
before him.
A week passed. Oh several after.
noons and one evening the banker
had drifted into the. cafe, but only re
mained a snort time on eacn visit, and
at no time had an ortDortunitv offered
for the two girls to make his ac
quaintance. In the meantime Mona
had succeeded in finding for Minnie
Meadows a temporary position as
model in an exclusive cloak house.
during the vacation of one of the staff
of regular girls, and had told their
young protege to hold herself in
patience until she heard from them
again.
"I don't think it will be long before
we shall have something encourag
ing to tell you," she promised the
girl. "In the meantime, if you need
a friend, do not hesitate to call on us."
It was the next day that the girls'
vigil was rewarded. Mona was the
tirst to see the stoclcv figure of Fuller
as the banker, immaculate in frock
coat and pearl gray trousers, entered
the Frivolity a little before 4 in the
afternoon.
Fuller's glance wandered past
Mona, and rested on Mary, who was
seated alone at a table across the
cafe. She made a demure, innocent
picture as she sat idly reading a news
paper, and toying with a cup of tea.
Mona saw Fuller's eyes light as they
appraised the details of her modish
costume and natty figure. Then he
beckoned to the head waiter.
"Who is the girl, Jules?"
"I don't know, sir. But, If you like,
I will see if it can be arranged for
you to meet the voune ladv."
"She doesn't look like that kind of
a girl, Jules I mean the kind you
can meet m a public place without
the proper introduction."
"You are probably right. But we
have recently introduced a new sys
tem here, sir. We have a professional
introducer, whose business it is to
make persons acquainted with one an
other I mean in a perfectly proper
manner, sir 1"
"Oh, I see," continued Fuller curi
ously. "Quite an idea! Well, I don't
mind! If the young lady is willing to
stand my society, I am perfectly will
ing to be introduced I But I am afraid
she is not the kind you think!"
Jules crossed to where Mona was
sitting and explained the situation to
her. Mona rose from her chair, and
sauntered over to Mary's table. For
several moments she talked to her,
and one would judge from the view
of Fuller's chair that Mary was not in
a receptive mood. In the end Mona
walked back to Fuller's table.
"Jules told me, Mr. Winters," she
began, using (he name under which
Fuller selected to be known at the
cafe, "that you wished to meet the
young lady at the opposite table."
"Of course, it is somewhat irregu
lar, and the management insists that
it know personally the persons who
ask such a courtesy, so that it can
vouch for them to the lady patrons.
Jules tells me that you are known
here, and I have explained to Miss
Goodman this fact, and asked if you
cannot be introduced. She hesitated.
I will be frank, but I am quite sure
that she will be delighted to know
you I"
Fuller chuckled, and the next mo
ment was beaming his broadest smile,
and bowing in his most gracious man
ner. Mary received him with just the
right degree of hesitation and cold
ness. When Mary Hartley chose, she
could appear delightfully credulous
and .unsophisticated and could carry
out the deception in a way that in
creased her charm. On this occasion,
she aasumed the part of a young girl,
anxious to see the gayer side of the
city's life, but fearful at the fascina
tion it held for her, and not at all cer
tain aa to wnetner sne ousnt to re
main in the cafe, or go back to her
apartment. She explained that she
was from a small town in the upper
part of the state, and had come to
the city with the idea of studying art
that her folks were wealthy enough
to allow her a generous income, but
worried at the thought of her being in
the great city alone, without a chap
erone. They danced once or twice and then
Mary announced her intention of go
ing home.
When they parted before the apart
ment building, where 'the two girls
had their home-like little flat, Fuller
Erolonged his goodby, and asked if
e could call for her the next after
noon in his automobile, and take her
for a drive through the park. She
demurely agreed.
J. rue to his promise, fuller made
his appearance at the apartment build
ing on the next afternoon with a uni
formed chauffeur. He tucked Mary
into the rear seat, and ordered the
driver to make a leisurely circuit out
through the park and along the river.
It was nearly dusk when they re
turned after tea at a rather "smart"
road house and it was plain that
Fuller was rapidly becoming in
fatuated that Mary's innocence and
apparent indifference to their uncon
ventional relationship were so dif
ferent from the feminine cynicism to
which the man was accustomed from
his acquaintances of the cafes and
cabarets that he was losing his native
caution and shrewdness. Mary evaded
his invitation for the next day, but
hesitatingly promised to let him call
on the following afternoon. Fuller
took his departure, on the whole very
well contented.
Mona had decided to continue her
role of "professional introducer" at
the Frivolity, at least for the present
To begin with, there was nothing
which she could do to aid Mary's
cause, and in the second place, their
funds were beginning again to run
alarmingly low. It was this second
factor which induced her to approach
the manager of the cafe, and ask for
an advance. The man agreed prompt
ly, tor trie gins services had proven
more valuable than he had expected.
"If you don't mind, I will give you
a check," he said. I'll make it out
on the Ajax National, and witness
your endorsement so that you will
have no trouble in cashing it"
"Thanks!" said Mona. The words,
Ajax National, meant nothing to her
then. It was not until the next
morning when she presented the
check at the paying teller's window
that she appreciated the unexpected
good fortune that had been given her
with the conventional pink alio of
paper, me paying teller turned the
check over several times, made i
movement as though to count out tha
bills in payment for tha sum desig
nated, and then, apparently seeing
some real, or fancied defect In the
endorsement, he got down from his
stool, and called an assistant Mona
saw the two whisper together for a
moment, and then caught the words,
"Better see Mr. Fuller, Ed, and avoid
any trouble I"
Mona flushed. Fuller! Could It be
that fate had sent her to the bank of
Amos Fuller the man who they had
marked for poetic retribution? Her
questic;; was answered when a mo
ment liter the paying teller opened
the door of a private office, and asked
her if she would be good enough to
accompany him. The girl followed
without hesitation. She had no idea
what was wrong with the check or
what was wanted of her, but this was
too good an opportunity to lose! If
this were, indeed, the institution pre
sided over by Amos fuller, who
choose to mark his double life under
the alias of "Wintera" Her saccu
lations were cut sffort by the sight of
the stocky, familiar figure ot fuller,
himself, who turned from a mahog
any desk at their entrance.
For a moment he sat staring at her
without recognition. And then a
frown gathered swiftly on his face as
he saw the girl smile, and he snapped
a hasty order to the paying teller to
wait outside. It was not until the door
had closed behind the other that he
turned again to the girl. Mona had
thrown herself into a chair, and was
laughing in unaffected abandon.
"Well this is rich!" she gasped,
holding her handkerchief to her
mouth. "It is a pleasant day, is it
not Mr. Winters?1'
Fuller scowled.
"There isn't any need to laugh!"
he snapped. "Can't a man have any
fun at all these days?"
"Of course, he can, you old dear!"
returned Mona, giving him a playful
nudge under the chin, which made
Fuller scowl again. What if one of
his clerks should come in suddenly?
Or, what if
"I say, what is wrong with my per
fectly good check?" laughed Mona.
"Nothing at all," said Fuller haatily.
"That fool of a paying teller fancied
there was something wrong with the
endorsement. The Frivolity has two
accounts here, and he didn't know just
where to credit the check."
"I see," said Mona without interest,
but without making a motion to rise.
She could see that her presence an
noyed Fuller, and it gave her a sort
of mischievous satisfaction to pro
long his uneasiness.
"I haven't seen you for two or three
days," she said, seeking for some ex
cuse to prolong the conversation.
"I have been busy, very busy,"
evaded fuller, getting to his feet, and
moving to the door. Before he could
reach it, someone turned the handle,
and a clerk entered.
"Mrs. Fuller is outside I Shall I
show her in?"
Fuller barely smothered a curse.
"Tell her I will be free In just a
moment" The door closed behind
the cleric's wondering face, and Ful
ler mopped his face with hia handker
chief. Mona laughed aloud.
"Why not have your wife come In
at once? It seems to me rather dis
courteous to have her wait while you
entertain another lady visitor!"
Fuller glared at her silently, ob
viously revolving a problem in his
mind. vHe stepped quickly to the
door of a small inner ante-room.
"Step in here I" he snapped. "Yon
will have to wait until she goes!"
"I don't like it I" pouted Mona. "I
don't see any reason why I should
hide. I have done nothing wrong!"
"Who says you have?" growled Ful
ler. "But there is no need for you
to make trouble for a friend, is there?
My wife is absurd enough to be jeal
ous you may as tycll know the
truth. It won't be long to wait I'll
cut the interview ihort and I'll ap
preciate it"
Mona rose slowly, shaking her head
doubtfully.
"Since you put it that way, I sup
pose I'll have to agree. But, under
stand, please, if you prolong the con
versation, I shall make myself known
no matter what happens! I have
nothing to conceal, and I am not in
the least concerned with your record,
my friend!"
She suffered Fuller to lead her into
the ante-room, and heard the door
close behind her. She dropped into a
chair, laughing, silently. This was
rich! If she had had the ordering of
events, herself, she could not have
designed a more perfect situation I
Fuller was playing against fate, as
suredly. A jealous wife his own
double life, and alias it would not
be her fault if the cruel injustice done
his innocent ward, Minnie Meadows,
went unpunishedl And then she stole
back to the door, and peered through
the keyhole.
She could see a modlshly gowned
woman in her later thirties, and in
clined to a fleshiness, which even the
arts of the masseur, the corsetlere,
and the dressmaker could not conceal.
She was standing in a rather aggres
sive attitude before which Fuller was
obviously cringing.
"I want $1,000, Amosl" she said
icily.
"But, my dear"
"I said that I wanted $1,0001"
"All right, my dear!" And Fuller
turned to hia desk, and pressed an
electric button.
"Gee, but you're easy!" breathed
Mona. She chuckled, as she heard
Fuller give orders to his secretary to
pay to Mrs. Fuller the amount she
had asked, and charge it against his
personal account. "Evidently wifey
has been overdrawing her allowance,
and needs some pocket money," com
muned the concealed Mona, "and
quite aa evidently hubbie is afraid not
to give it to her! If she only knew
the real facts about him whew I"
She broke off as Fuller ushered his
wife to the door, and stood with his
back against it, again mopping his
face. It was apparent that Amos Ful
ler was not enjoying his morning!
A few minutes later he opened the
door of the ante-room, and let Mona
come forth. The girl laughed into
his face.
"I ought to hold you up for a few
hundred," she said mockingly. "But
I'll let you off this time! Maybe,
you'll buy my dinner the next time
you see me I"
"A dozen!" protested Fuller with
assumed heartiness as he saw her de
part 'The old crookl" thought Mona. "It
is men like that who make a woman
lose her confidence in humanity!"
She received the amount of her
check, and hurried to the street, glad
to be in the open air again. She
walked home so that she could think
the situation out clearly. When she
reached her apartment she had come
to a decision. She recounted to Mary
the events at the bank, and finished
with the gleeful prophecy. "Unless I
am absolutely mistaken, we shall
have Brother Fuller in a corner and
whining for mercy before a week has
passed!
"What is your plan?" ,
Mona laughed. "That would be
telling! And, besides. I haven't all
of the details perfected yet. You re
member Kaiph , stokes, don t you,
Mary?"
"The actor?" And Mary nodded.
"I met him yesterday, and I think
tie win tit into my little denouement
excellently. And Mary. Do you
think that you could lead our worthy
friend of the banking fraternity on
to the point of an actual proposal?"
Mary considered the question reflectively.
"I don't know, dear. I rather think
that I might under the right condi
tions! Is that what I am to do?"
"Exactly. You are to be given the
honor of being asked to be Mrs. Win
ters. That ia the name by which Ful
ler Is known to you, remember. If
you can do that much, I am confident
that I can do the rest!"
"Leave it to me!" promised Mary.
"When I think of that scene at the
cafe when Fuller ordered his ward
ejected from the place, I could do
anything!"
Mona nodded. "The same here I
He deserves all that we can do to
him and always bear in mind that we
are not doing it from a selfish motive,
but only for the purpose of seeing
that a belated justice is meted out to
another one of those richly deserving
of Itl"
When Mona returned to the apart-,
ment that evening she announced that
she; had had an extremely satisfac
tory interview with Ralph Stokes, and
that their friend was prepared to do
anything possible to aid them. "When
you are ready, we will be on hand to
supply the artistic touches'" she con-
ded.
She sat
clu
"Oh, I'll be ready!" promised Mary.
"Fuller has asked me to go drivfng
with him tomorrow afternoon at 3,
and I have consented."
Mona considered swiftly.
"Do you think that you can man
age the proposal then?" she asked
doubtfully.
Mary nodded. Sure of at I
"Then I will get in touch with
Ralph tonight for final instructions."
Mona met 'the young actor after
she had concluded her evening's work
at the Frivolity, and the two repaired
to a quiet, all-night restaurant for a
cup ot chocolate and a sandwich.
Mona studied the other's trim, well
set up figure approvingly, and then
as the waiter vanished, she leaned
across the table, and lowered her
voice.
"I think our tran will be readv to
spring sometime tomorrow after
noon, she said. "Fuller will call for
Mary at 3, and she is to plead a sick
headache, and ask him to visit her
in the apartment. I want you to stay
down in the lobby by the telephone
stand, when l am ready, i ll call you
and you are to come up at once!
Stokes grinned appreciatively. "Let
me see I am to be Amesbury of The
Evening News, and you are to give
me the facts of Mr. Winters' or rather
Mr. Fuller'a engagement to your
friend! I understand. And I am to
be the aggressive newspaper reporter,
who is overjoyed at the prospect of
a sensational story! I think I can
play the part. Leave it to me!"
"I will! smiled Mona, as she sipped
her chocolate.
Fuller was on time the next day.
Punctuality, when it came to engage
ments with members of the fair aex,
waa one of his few virtues. Marv
asked him to come up when his pres
ence was announced over the house
telephone, and when Fuller appeared,
he found her lying back in an easv
chair, her head bound with a hand
kerchief, and a bottle of smelling salts
in her hand.
"What in the world is the matter?"
he demanded, bending over her anx
iously, "A woman's proverbial complaint
headache," smiled Mary, allowing him
to hold her hand, as he drew a chair
up beside her. "I am afraid I shall
have to postpone our drive. But, if
you don't mind, you can stay here
with ipe and later we can have some
tea sent up I"
"Fine I" assented Fuller enthusiasti
cally. His hand wandered to her hair.
and he ventured to stroke back some
stray locks which had fallen down
across one of her cheeks. She looked
very alluring and dainty as she re
clined in the huge chair and she
knew it. She closed her eyes, and
felt Fuller's hand linger on her
cheek. She repressed a shiver of dis-
?:ust as she remembered the goal be
ore her and thought of Mona wait
ing in the next room, ready to appear
at a given signal.
"I was feeling so home sick and
blue and lonely before you camel"
she sighed contentedly,
''w . --i i t7..n i
,v, juut aaAcu I unci, ucaiu-
ing, and venturing to stroke her hair
again, suddenly he leaned forward.
and before she realized his purpose,
kissed her full on the lips,
erect, with a little scream.
"Oh, you should not have done
that! You should not have done
that!" she cried.
"And why not?" demanded Fuller,
making as though to repeat the ac
tion. "Because it is wrong for a girl to
let any man kiss her unless she is
engaged to him and, and I"
"Are going to be engaged to met"
said Fuller recklessly, forgetting him
self as he leaned over her, and ex
haled the fragrance of her hair. "You
love me don't you? Say that you
In at I love you!"
For a moment Mary stared up into
his florid face made even more florid
by the sudden riot of his emotions.
"Then we are to be married!" she
breathed. "It seems too good to be
true! I am really to be your wife!"
"You are!" said Fuller boldly. "May
I kiss you again?"
Mary s hand wandered absently to
the wall at her side, and her fingers
pressed the hidden electric bell. Fuller
did not notice the movement He was
concerned pnly with the intoxicating
vision of the girl's loveliness so
tantalizingly near him. And in that
moment he forgot everything. Mary
sprang to her feet, as his arms sought
to embrace her.
"You you frighten met I really
believe that you do love me!"
"Love your" cried Fuller. "If you
only knew how much I do caret If
you only knew"
Through the flat pealed suddenly
the electric bell. Fuller started back
with a scowl, and Mary's hands
flashed instinctively to her hair.
"I wonder who that can be?" she
murmured, as she looked at a mirror.
The bell continued to ring, and she
hurried to the door to reveal the fig
ure of Mona in the corridor outside.
The other girl entered with a torrent
of superlative feminine adjectives. It
was not until her arms were about
Mary's neck in an exaggerated hug
that she noticed, or affected to no
tice the sulky figure of Fuller in the
room. She drew back with a little
gasp.
"I didn't know that you had com
pany, dear. I thought I would drop
in for a little chat, but maybe this is
a case where two is compsny, and
three is"
"You can be the first to congratu
late me!" broke in Mary , proudly,
stepping back. "Mr. Winters has just
asked me to be his wife!"
Mona whirled, and stood 'surveying
the shrinking figure of the banker,
.who recoiled before her flashing eyes.
"So you have tried to decleve the
girl, have you, Mr. Winters?" she
sneered. "I rather guess I was just in
time, Mary! Do you know who this
man is?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that his name is not Win
ters, but Fuller and he already has
one wife I"
"Oh, you can't be telling me the
truth? You can't bel" wailed Mary.
And then she turned piteously toward
Fuller. "Say this isn't sol ' Say that
it is all a lie a wicked lie! Why
don't you say something?"
Fuller shuffled his feet uneasily, and
then, seeing that Mona had turned, he
tried to slip between her and the wall,
and thus gain the door, But the girl
waa too swift for him. He found him
self .staring into the muzzle of re
volver.
"I warn you that I shall shoot!" she
said grimly. "You are to stay here
for, the present, my friend I I am not
done with you not by any means I"
She picked up the receiver of the
telephone, and called a number into
the transmitter, It was the signal to
Ralph Stokes, and a few moments
later that energetic young man
stepped into the room and stood sur
veyifig the group uncertainly.
"This is Mr. Amesbury of the Even
ing Star." said Mona, introducing the
I caller to Mary. "We have a rather
I interesting bit of news for you, my
friend!" And she made the other ac
I quainted in a few rapid sentences with
j the story of Fuller's masquerade, and
his proposal to her chum under the
I alias of Winters. Fuller withdrew to
the background, staring glumly from
the window. Suddenly he turned.
"This farce has gone far enough I"
he grated. "You are trying to black
mail me, all of youl You must think
I am a Reuben to let you get away
with itl Publish anything you please
but always remember that I have a
reputation for business integrity be
hind me, and that I shall denounce it
all as a lie, and sue for libel." "
For a moment Mona stared at him
silently. She knew that the man spoke
the truth that if it came to a ques
tion of veracity he had nothing to fear.
She turned again to the telephone, and
spoke into the receiver the number of
fuller's residence. She heard the
banker's muttered curse behind her as
she requested the butler to call Mrs.
Fuller, and the next moment he raised
his voice sullenly.
"Come away from that telephone I
You win I Now, how much do you
want?" r
"Fifteen thousand I" said Mona
coldly, without moving. For another
moment Fuller hesitated, and then
drew his check book from his pocket
"Will a check do?" he asked iron
ically. "It will not I" snapped Mona. "Call
a messenger from your bank to bring
over the cash. You can fix up the de
tails later 1"
"Well you are a cool one I"
"So were you when you robbed poor
Minnie Meadows of her dead father's
money I"
Fuller's face went ashen. Without
another word, he stepped to the tele
phone and gave the necessary Instruc
tions to his bank. Even when the
messenger appeared with the packet
of crisp bills in a small leather beg,
and Fuller had duly receipted for
them, the thoroughly cowed banker
did not break the silence. He counted
out the contents of the packet, and
picked up his hat. At the door he
made a movement aa though to speak,
and then with a bitter shrug, paaaed
on into the hall and slammed the door
behind him.
Mary turned to Mona with little
cry of relief.
''Oh, I am so glad it is all overt" she
breathed.
The more practical Mona was stow
ing the bank bills into a drawer of
their writing desk.
"Now it is up to us to find Minnie
Meadows and give back to her part of
what was stolen I I couldn't touch a
dollar of this money myself!"
"Nor II" agreed Mary with a little
shiver.
"Welt, if that is the case, suppose
you both come out and have dinner
with me," invited Stokea. "I know a
little Italian restaurant where we can
eat the whole bill of fare for 60
cents!"
(The End.) t
Jenl.'i War.
The young mu wu la lava, SU bad e
eland hia pearlou to the rnsl lady u
nha bad paeaed him along to father.
Father llatened to hia tela petleatty. .:
"It la all mht eo far aa I am tumoral d,
tha old gentleman laid, "tart I am afraid
that J aula will not many ywa,"
"Oh. don't ear that," taw raw
pleaded. "Hal aha has tha laid Sot"
"No," tald tha old gentleman, "tart from
what I know of Jeale, If tha had wasted
ha would have taken yen without referring
you to ma." Philadelphia Lao. for.
SVnUn'l at la smghtt lam
Harry BaMr. ttoam hero! tinier, wtt
noaaod tha building of a reku'a a oat m km
onclno room whllo tha plant vat la opera
tion In Boat Walnut Hllle, CaactnnatL
"It la remarkable that a nMa fkemld
Wild hor Boot la mob a aolay place," paid
Deputy Oamo Warden Koerta, "bat It OWwe
that people-do not harm Mr aa thay aa4
to, and their am beoomlng petn."
Belay takes eare at the rohtna and foada
thorn dally. Cincinnati amantrar. ,
Like a Boy at 50 Bubbling Over
With Vitality-Taking Iron Did It
Doctor says Nuxated Iron it greatest of all trattfth Iroflderav .
Often increases the strength and endurance of delicate,
nervous folk 200 per cent in two week time. i
admi all tha whoa, SoafcN thetf .stoma
and ardor.t and entirely a rll of all
lymptoms of dripepela.lt.ev and other iron,
hi., m from tan to foartoan aayt time
limply by tekimr Iron m the proper form.
Andthle after they had to acme eeioa boon
New York, N. T. Mot lont are a man
tamo to ma who wet nearly halt a century
old tad eiked ma to live him a preliminary
elimination for Ufa Insurance. I waa aiton
iihed to find him with the blood preaiurt of
a boy ot 20 and aa full of visor, vim and
vitality a yount man: In tact, a young
mm hi really wu notwithstanding hit age.
The eeeret ha laid wai taking iron nuxated
iron had filled him with renewed Ufa. At 10
bo wai In bad health; at 4 careworn and
nearly all In. Now at SO a miracle of vitality
and hit faoa beaming with tha buoyancy of
youth. At I have laid a hundred tlmei
over, Iron It the greit.it of all atrongth
builders. If peopla would only throw away
patent medlclnea and nauieoua eoneoetloni
and take ilmplo nuxated iron, I am eon
vinood that the llvoi of thouianda of por
tont might bo tared, who now dia ovory
year from pneumonia, grippe, ooniumption,
kidney, liver and heart trouble, oto. The
real and true eauaa wbleh itarted their dia
eaeei waa nothing mora nor leaa than a
weakened eondition brought on by lack cf
iron In the blood. Iron la abacrultely neeee
lary to enable your blood to change food
Into living tfaiue. Without it, no matter how
mueh or what you eat, your food merely
paiiat through you without doing you any
good. You don't got the ttrongth out of ft
and aa a eonieouenoe you become weak, palo
and llekly looking juit Ilka a plant trying to
grow in a toil deficient In Iron. If you are
not itrong or well you owe it to yourielf to
make the following teitt Bee how long you
can work or how far you can walk without
becoming tired. Next take two fiva.graln
tableta of ordinary nuxated Iron three tlmel
per day after meell for two weeke. Then toit
your etrength again and ioa for yowraelt
bow mueh you have gained. I hava lien
doiant of ntrvoui, run-down people wba wart
doctoring for month! without obtaining any
benefit.' But don't take the old forma of re
duced Iron, Iron acetate or tlooture of Iron
Imply to lava a few ink. Ton muit take
iron (n a form that tan hi eaiUy ablorbed
and aaatmUatod, Ilk waaatod Iron. If you
want It to do yon any good, otherwtie it
may prove wont than mtalata. Many an
athlito of prlieflshtar baa won the day
timrlr baoautl ha know the Merit of great ,
atrongth and endurance and filled hit blood
wl'.h Iron before ha want Into tha affray.
whUa many another haa gone down to m
gloruut defeat limply fat tha lack of Iron.
E. Saner, M. D.
NOTE Nuuatad Iron, recommended above
by Or. Bauer. Ii not a patent medicine nor
aocret remedy, hut ant which It well known
to druggleta and whole Iron oonaUtuenta are
widely preicrlbed by eminent phyilclana
everywhere. Unlike the older Inorganic Iron
ftroduota, It il eaelly aaalmllated. doai not :
nJuro the tooth, maka them black, nor up
let tha ttomacht on tha contrary. It U a
moot potent romody, In nearly all forma of
Indlgeatlon, at well aa for nerroua, run-down
condition.. The manufacture ri have tuch
great confidence In Nuxatad Iron that they
offer to tort.lt 1100. 00 to any charitable In
etltutlon If they cannot takt any man or
woman under (0 who lacka Iron and IncreaM
their atrangth 100 par oent or over In four ,
weeke' time, provided they hava a aerloui
organic trouble They aim offer to refund
your money If It doet not at lean double
your atrongth and endurance In ten daya'
time. It li dlipmied In thll city by Sher
man 4 MoConnall drag ttorat and all other
druggists.
The Ideal Farm Paper
Has the greatest farm paper circulation in its state. ;.
Reaches a greater per cent of the farm homes in a single state
than any other weekly farm paper.
Has a greater editorial staff than any other weekly farm paper
having less than double its circulation. (
Unexcelled in its activity for the improvement of farming
methods and making farm life more enjoyable and profitable.
Maintains one member on its staff trained to assist automobile
manufacturers in creating greater sales.
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