New-York tribune., 1906-10-28
THE GREEN
EYED MONSTER
Continued from page 10

behind her, and went IN.
All, here something anyhow" said Hatch.
He walked down the alley to the door.
There, staring at him from a plate was the
name, van Stafford" She had merely come
out the front door and gone into the back
Hatch walked around to the front again and
up the steps; Is Mrsvan Stafford in!'' he asked.
d" No, sir, was the reply. She went out a
few minutes ago"
Hatch stared at him coldly for minute and
walked away. And then he took the story to
The Thinking Machine.
That imperturbable man of science listened
to the end, then said OH" three times.
The Thinking Machine started into an ad-
joining room, then turned back. BY the
way, Mr.. Hatch" he asked did you happen
to find out what was the matter with Miss
Blakeslev?"
By George, forgot it," he answered
Never mind; III find out"
AT eleven O'Clock Hatch and The Thinking
Machine called at the Stafford home. Van
Stafford IN person received them.
You don't know OF any other van Stafford
family IN this block" began the scientist.
There's not another family OF my name in
the city" was the reply. Why"
Is your wife IN now"
No; she went out this morning. as usual"
Now, Mr.. van Stafford, I'll tell YOU how
you may bring this matter to end, and
understand It all at once. Go up stairs to
your wife's apartments-they are probably
locked-and call her. She won't answer, but
she'll hear you. Then tell her YOU understand
II all and that you're sorry. She'll hear that,
as that alone IS what she has been waiting to
hear for sometime. When she comes out bring
her down. l should be delighted to meet so
clever a woman"
Van Stafford was looking at him as if he
doubted his sanity. Are you serious?' he
demanded.
Perfectly serious" was the Grabbed re-
Jolnder- She has taught you lesson that
you i remember Tor son2s,Ime. She has been
merely going out the front door every day,
and coming IN the back, Of necessity with the
full knowledge of the cook and her maid"
Van Stafford listened in amazement. Why
did she do it," he asked
That s Tor you to answer. little less OF
your time at the club OF evenings, and a little
less OF selfish amusement 50 that You can pay
attention TO beautiful woman who has, pre-
vIOuS to her marriage at least, been accustomed
to constant attention, would solve this little
problem. \ Ou have spent every evening 1T Your
club for months, and She was here alone prob
ably great part OF that time. In Your own
selhshness YOU had never thought OF her; so
she gave YOU reason to think of her"
Van Stafford turned and ran out of the room.
Ten minutes later Mr.. and Mrs. van Stafford
entered the room. Her pretty face was suf-
fused with color; he was outrageously happy.
1t was perfectly dreadful OF Mr.. van
Stafford to call you gentlemen into this affair"
Mrs. van Stafford apologized charmngly.
Really, feel very much ashamed OF myself"
1t S OF no consequence, madam, The
Thinking Machine assured her. Its the first
opportunity ] ever had OF studying d woman's
mind 1t was not at all logical; but ii was
very-very instructive. | may add that it
was effective, too" He picked up his hat.
But your fee?" suggested van Stafford.
The Thinking Machine squinted at him
sourly. "Oh, yes, my fee he mdsed. 1t
will be Just five thousand dollars"
Five thousand dollarsi" exclaimed van
Stafford. why, man, its absurd to talk"
Mrs. van Stafford laid one white hand on her
husbands arm. Don't you think l m worth
it, VAN" she asked archly.
He wrote the check. The Thinking Machine
inscribed his name across the back in a grabbed
little hand and passed 1t to Hatch
Please hand that to some charitable organi-
zation." he directed.
Professor Van Dusen and Hatch walked
along side by side for two blocks without
speaking. The reporter broke the silence.
Why did YOU want to know what the
matter with Miss BlakeSiev," he asked.
Her name was mentioned, and | wanted to
know if she really had been i'll or was merely
attempting to mislead Stafford" was the
reply. " She had touch OF grippe"
"Those women who laughed-what was the
joke"
The fact that they laughed made me see
that the affair was not a serious one. They