| Show Plot by by GEOR GEORGE NOI HOWARD B BRONSON RONSON ARD T HE SOCIAL PIRATES HUGH H COPYRIGHT BY KALEM COMPANY IY STORY NO 3 3 THE P PARASITE Mary Burnett watched the pretty hotel hotd maid maid maidas as she finished performing the service for tor which Mona lIar Hartley ey Marys Mary's chum had summoned her her Thank you slid said Mona Here Here lIere Oh than you Miss said the girl Hustling tl flushing g with wish pleasure as she received her tip p The The The- maid mald went out and Mary Iary sits sitting sit sit- s ting back back in the deep chair that was wasso BO so placed that she could look out without moving and see the park with Its ever eve changing panorama laughed Mona ona she said Will you rou tell me why you ou sent for tor that girl to do a lot lotof lotof of ot silky things for you which would have made you indignant had d anyone offered altered to do 40 them for tor you a few weeks a ago o I 1 did lid U It t just jUt because I like to be luxurious said Baid Mona She stretched out ut her arms and took a step or two Mary Mary dont don't dont you love it too Here we are you ou and I Some Somo people would say nay we ought to be hunted fugitives i flying Hying around the country under as assumed assumed as- as names names and and instead were we're living here ri right ht within sight of ot the scene of ot our exploits In tn the most mot expensive ho holdIn hotel ho- ho I tel ld-In ld ln town I a 1 s suppose were we're a pair of ot scamps said But I dont don't feel teel a bit sorry our for t r our two worthy victims They th I was waa rich rich and and easy But itaas it w was aas mighty ty funny tunny the way they shied if I 1 happened to mention casually cas cas- casually u llY that an any girl I knew was marri mar- mar ri fyfo We di did get set their money with our Pl plan said sald Mary l and I may be all arang wrong rong but I haven't any scruples rout about them either It will be all aU right I I to io collect the tho expenses for tor our campaign campaign campaign cam cam- rout if we always take care to present the bill to someone who deserves what r-Ie r gets as richly as those two men Md Id I Speaking of at that said Bald Mona weve got Kot to keep our eyes eres open Mary mine W Were We're re living in the very lap of luxury just now but 1 if we dont don't watch out outWell outwell well we'll slide off on th the floor noor Weve We've gotto gotto got sot sotto to be by b forehanded you and I. I We cant can't wait walt till tm the wolf is at the door door we we wew w n SJ n fo io o tu turn n hIm away before he re reme remembers remembers re- re members me bels bel's to start looking lookin for us Youre right said Mary lary Im keen enough when weve we've once started Mona you'll admit I did my part in the theether theother other ether matters But Its It's a good thing Ive I've Ye got a partner like you or I never would get started Were not started yet you know alli Mona dryly Ive not the slightest slightest slight slight- est st idea of ot what to do next Have you 11 minds mind's empty I just want to stay W V 11 hg here f forever and bask in hr the luxury of ot this pl place I I will turn said Oh jOh up tip r Mary 1 confidently But But I I like the I luxury of all till this just as much as you do lo Mona Still Still Still-I I wish we had some friends Fend Trend mock friends said Mona in alarm We cant can't afford that luxury my and dear dear and and its it's about the only one w we cant we-can't cant can't too Not until weve we've made madea a and a pd saved enough to give us a nice in- in and I think weve we've quite a long road d to travel before that that time comes W yes because es-because s- s because after atter all we havo have got dome scruples scruples' We dont don't break the thel thelam l lam d 1 Well stick sUck to that agreement I ITes It t n well wel Tes well we'll only bend it like the big corporations Its It's silly to break the 1 Jaw pits Its v-It's so ens easy to get around It For Foru u a. a Uye l We have to do is to select our v Vj from among those who are lr nt the law themselves Then r N re 6 By the way way talking talking about consider me and my doings Ives made a well a-well well not a friend but an a acquaintance here In t the c hotel Mona Monn Who fIr feThe ni house oue detective no less said ald i proudly For heavens heaven's sake said Mary with witha a laugh Why Why and and how ph Ph I dont don't know know t It just seemed to tom tome tome m me he might be useful Hes He's an interesting inter Inter- esting person really really and and he likes me ever so much He tells me about all the ilie trouble women make for him here hereth th the the things they lose and all aU sort of ot thing Its It's quite entertaining Come on down Ill down Ill I'll introduce you to him So in Jn a a. few minutes they went down downto t tc- tc the luxurious lobby of the hotel But Mary had to wait for her hel I There J he is said Mona But hes he's busy Mary I Vary I dont don't believe that woman's womans womans womans woman's wom wom- ans an's Just j lost a a. ring or something She looks as s if she were in deadly trouble It was true A woman whose face tace bore boo signs of a storm of emotion was pleading with the man Well have to find out why said eald Mona Mona and Mary 1 had not long to wait watt before the woman greatly dejected l left ft the detective and went to the ele ele- vator vator Her manner made it plain that he ne had not been able to comfort her The detective e seeing Mona 1 brightened a little avid arid came over toward her Miss Burnett Burnett Mr Clyde said ald Mona Vise Miss Iss Burn Burnett tt lives with me Mr Clyde Now Now youre youre you're re going to be nice to us arent aren't you Were We're d dying with curiosity What was the matter with that poor soul you were talking with just now rm Tm sure euro she's in some Bome sort of real trouble I I I should say Bay sh she was ejaculated Clyde angrily Of course Its It's her own fault in a way waY and and yet when I think of at a 8 man who Is scoundrel enough to take take- take advantage of a womans woman's mis- mis ml mistake Youve simply got ot to tell Us more e th tha than that that said Bald Mona determination plain her In her voice and In ln every overy Ver n nF line of her features F I d dI ont dont on t know w said Mid Clyde do doubtfully I I get set lots of ot Information In confidence that Im I'm not at liberty J to pass on on- on Oh please please please-please please said Mary 1 Why what Why what harm harm- could it do Mr 1 I Clyde We dont don't know this woman I an and we would never tell ten on you rou I And And besides 1 It might be a warning I Ito to us said Mona I I 1 think Its It's your duty to tell teU us so 80 that us well we'll never never br by any chance make the same m mistake she din did No fear ear of that said Clyde warm warm- 1 ly If Wen you you'll 11 Promise no noon not to let on en n that you know anything and never ver by any eny chance to breathe to a sou soul that I 1 told Sold you you- Oh Ob We will said sald Mary Honest ly 7 yo i nt n be Its a common enough story said Clyde then And an ugly o one e too The plain truth of ot it is that the poor lady has a husband she doesn't get along any too well with as it Is and is-and and I 1 know enough of the case to bo be sure its it's his fault tault Trust a man to take the womans woman's side said Mona But she didn't say it nastily Mona had a good deal more charity for her sex than some Bomo women who have never had to withstand temptation can muster Well V ell be that as It may Ral said Clyde she was foolish enough a year ear or two ago to have some correspondence with another man It never came carne to anything But there were the letters What fools tools are to keep letters I They get lost lost and and people w wont won't nt believe believe believe be be- lieve they're harmless harmless Oh said Mona quickly She Sire lost the letters hed he'd sent her Lost them them them-or or they were stolen from her It doesn't so much matter which The point is they've is-they've they've turned up In the hands of a man who knows their value value or or thinks he does Shed She'd have paid any reasonable sum sum any any sum she could have managed to get together But she figured on her husbands husband's husbands husband's husbands husband's hus hus- bands band's money not on what she can command herself herselt He wont won't believe she cant can't get it Turn them over over over- some over some ome of ot them them to to her husband husban if it she doesn't make good goodin in the time hes he's given her She's come cometo to me half mad with terror How he could help being sorry for tor her or believing be believing believing be- be lieving she cant can't get the money I dont don't see But Ive I've heard things nearly as bad about him before What a dreadful thing said Mary Is there nothing that can be done to help her Not without the very thing she's most afraid of publicity of-publicity publicity If It I tried to tomake tomake tomake make a move the first thing this man I Reynolds would do would be to expose her Its It's his only weapon weapon but but its it's a I terribly strong one Its It's kept him out of the clutches of ot the law for years The police and half halt the big private detective detective detective de de- de- de agencies in the country have done their best to get something on him him and and he defies them It seems incredible said Mona with shining eyes I True enough enough but but there are the facts Hes He's got more money than he can possibly know w what to do with I believe the things thing's come to be sport for him that him that he takes a vicious depraved sort of ot pleasure in seeing his victims squirm He has a wonderful place out in the suburbs and well and well I dont don't know that this is a thing to repeat before you young ladies but his neighbors do doa doa a good deal of talking about the women who who- are seen there from time timeto to time Ugh said eaid Mona DIona What a a. beast Hes He's an old man main you say He must be about 60 60 said ClydeAs ClydeAs ClydeAs Clyde As repulsive and vile looking an old scoundrel as you'd you'll find in a a. long days day's hunt too You were right said Mona Its an ugly story But Im I'm glad you told it to us us' us Oh I 1 do hope that poor woman finds some someway way to beat him himi I How much time has she He lie said eaid a week week but but h hell he'll 1 give her more than that He wont won't strike until hes hes he's quite certain that theres there's no way I. I of getting the money out of ot her I know his ways Back In their own room Mary dered Im rm not glad he told us us said sheI sheI she I 1 think it was a dreadful story Mona Iona So do I said Mona But Mary cant can't cant can't you see Where could we find finda I a better person to present our next bill against society for settlement Oh Oh ohl oh I 1 didn't think said Mary like that is no But Mona a Mona a man roan Tomlinson Gerry We Ve might very easily burn our fingers if we tried to serve him as we did Gerry Then well we'll serve hire him very differently differently differ differ- said Mona Oh let me think I know theres there's some way of outwitting an old villain like that that and and wouldn't I love to do It just I know one thing too too the the more we know about him the better our chance will be You heard what Clyde said said tho tho private detective agencies must all know about him Well We'll get a report from one Mary it was who attended to this and did it it too without letting the agency suspect that either she or Mona was concerned In the matter In any way And Mary 1 with a sober face studied the report He lends money money money-as as well weH as getting it by blackmail she said Hes er Very rich rich and and oh He keeps a lot of ot money and jewels as well wel at his place hes he's he's hes afraid of ot banks I dont don't wonder I suppose he knows that one of his victims vic vio- vio tims may turn on him at any minute and that he may have to make a break for his hie freedom And here you here you re remember remember remember re- re member what Clyde said about the women He was waa awfully nice nice he he was afraid wed we'd be shocked Yes It Is nice to have haye men considerate considerate considerate con con- again Isn't it Weve We've had hadI enough experience with the other sort But here here It it goes into that in hi detail I here It seems hes he's rather mad about our sex my dear Now I know we can handle him A man like that was bound to have a weakness and that's one we can play on Its risky work Mona l Ill take the risk Im I'm flashier than you are though a man who had any sense wouldn't hesitate a minute to choose you So Ill I'll be the victim of his sixty year sixty year old charms only charms only I 1 wont won't I How are you going to manage it Dont know yet yet yet-I've Ive I've got to see him first One thing Ive I've learned Is that it doesn't do to map out a lot of plans ahead before you know the people youve you've got to deal with They wont won't work and you tend to stick to them I despite yourself Its It's better to approach a thing like this with an open mind if you can manage to do it It seems to tome tome tome me Ive I've got ot a widows widow's outfit somewhere in our trunks if I 1 can find it I think that's Just the thing for tor my call on old Reynolds tomorrow They moved away from th the Grand hotel that da day Much as the two girls liked it it they realized that it was not the best place to use as headquarters during such a campaign a as they now planned to execute And it was from a small furnished apartment In a house houBe and a quarter where no questions were asked that Mona in widows widow's weeds set setout setout out for the suburban home of old Reynolds Rey Rey- Thomas Thomas F F. F Reynolds as the agency had hart disclosed his full tull name to be it all Mona When hen she saw him was could do to force herself to go through with her plan He was fully as re repulsive repulsive re re- as Clydes Clyde's description of him had led her to expect His very fastidiousness fastidiousness fas fas- with regard to his person made him more frightful for he aped the dress and the manner of a young man about town despite his years And what may I have the pleasure of ot doing for you my dear he asked Mona You You lend you lend mone money dont don't you she faltered To people who haven't got good security That depends on the Ule people he cackled For a pretty woman like you I might do things I wouldn't do for tor foran foran toran an old scarecrow Eh Eli As he spoke he be squeezed her arm ann sly slyly and Mona had hard work to re repress repress re re- press ress the shudder that ran through her frame Oh I hope you will Mr l Reynolds she said tearfully I I simply must have money Ive I've none at all all and and no place to stay stay stay- Well Wen well that's that'll too bad he said All the time she realized that he was appraising her weighing her charms in fact tact But Im I'm very ery short just n now w. w my dear very dear very short Business Is bad Still Id I'd like to help you I dont don't know about a loan that loan that would be hard to manage But But But-ah ah I have it Yes she saidI said I I need a housekeeper Ive I've just had to dismiss the one I had had had-a a hussy my dear and that's the truth I could give you the place That would give you a place to stay where yoU'd be comfortable And I could pay you something something- Mona x-ona pretended to hesitate but s she he I was overjoyed He had received her herIn herIn herin In his office and she was already studying his safe And so so dubiously she consented Reynolds Renolds did not give I her a chance to change her mind H He sent for tor his servants at once and amI introduced in introduced in- in tro her as their new mistress Mona shivered red as she saw the way the In-I In maids looked at her They understood Mona as a matter of |
