Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-28
THE GREEN
EYED MONSTER
Continued from page 10

behind her, and went in.
"Ah, here's 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. rs Mrs van Stafford in!' he asked.
NO sir" was the reply. 'She went out
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 Obi three times
The Thinking Machine started into an adj
Joining room, then turned back By the
way, Mr. Hatch" he asked, did you happen
to find out what was the matter with Miss
Blakesley?"
BY George, forgot it!'' he answered.
Never mind; I'll find out.
At eleven o'clock Hatch and The Thinking
Machine called at the van 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 an 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
it 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. | should be delighted to meet SO
clever woman.
Van Stafford was looking at him if he
doubted his sanity. Are you serious?' he
demanded.
Perfectly Serious was the Grabbed re-
ioinder She has taught you a lesson that
1hpr for he hapn
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 for you to answer A little less of
your time at the club of evenings, and little
less of selfish amusement 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. You have spent every evening at your
club for months, and she was here alone prob
ably great part of that time. In your own
sefshness 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. 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. Stafford apologized charmingly.
Neatly, Ietl vel HluSI dSidillcu vi Myself
Its of no consequence, madam" The
Thinking Machine assured her. Its the first
opportunity ever had of studying woman's
mind. 1t was not at all logical; but it was
very-very instructive. l 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 mused 1t
will be just five thousand dollars"
Five thousand dollarsl' exclaimed van
Stafford. why, man, it's absurd to talk
Mrs. van Stafford laid one white hand on her
husbands arm. Don't you think Pm 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 it to Hatch.
Please hand that to some charitable organi-
cation" 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 was the
matter with Miss Blakesley?" he asked.
Her name was mentioned, and wanted to
know if she really had been i'll or was merely
attempting to mislead van Stafford" was the
reply. She had touch of grippe"
Those women who laughed-what was the
joke2"
The fact that they laughed made me see
that the affair was not a serious one They
were intimate friends with whom the wife had
evidently discussed doing Just what she did
do All sorts of possibilities were suggested to
b,,t