Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-02
MONK.

hour was only 10, was dark. lie hur-
RED TO Slant-face's apartment: but
slant Face was not there, and his
wife knew nothing OF his where
abouts. Downtown again. Clifford
began tour of Slant-Face's hang
outs; ana at length he found him
standing alone at the end of the
knickefbockeP bar. before him u
glass of buttermilk---a slender,
smartly dressed person. whose immo-
bile, lean face was given a saturnine
cast by the downward slant OF the
left corner Of his mouth.
Il saw Your theater was closed,
Slant Face" said Clifford. What's
the Natter
Bradley"
BRADLEY. How could he have any,
thing to do with closing your the
~Stcr?"
Bradley hasn't forgot my little
part In your stunt that got him out OF
the department. lie just waited--and
laid his plans While films We're bein.:
run Off and the house was dark he
had pockets picked in my place, or
had people say their pockets We're
picked-pulled this three ZINES. What
with my reputation. this was enough
for the commissioners of licenses, and
he closed my joint"
That's pretty rank. Bradley GER
tainly does have a long menlory--and
q long aim!
This is a fiye-rcel picture, and it's
not all been run off yet" half growl-
ed Slant Face through his thin lips.
In the last reel, some one Is going
to get himi" lie slipped his butter
milk, then abruptly: Clifford. be-
cause of what you've done for me.
I've played 1t straight for II year. The
straight game don't pay-not for me.
So I'm through l guess YOU under"
stand what comes next"
See here. Slant Face, don't bc--4-'
'I'm through" There was the
snap of absolute iinality in the low.
quiet voice.
clifford knew that mere words
could not change the decision made
behind that lean, grim visage; so he
turned 10 the matter that had
brought him there.
Have you seen your sister to-
day?"
"llaveu't seen Mary In six months"
you mean you don't know where
she's staying" exclaimed Clifford
Down south in the woods some
where--God knows why--doinS
stretch of self-inposed solitary
The obviously honest answer sharp
ened Cliiford's already poignant un-
casiness. 'Slnnt-Face, ] saw her an
hour ago"
in New York %
AT the Grand Alcazsr," And then
he added: SHE was with Peter Loves
man.
Even the stole Slant Face started
with pcter Loveman.--the lawyer
that beat Rradloy's case FOR him! What
the devil does that mean?"
Just what I'm wondering myself"
you mean YOU didn't ask her any :
thing-ditn't speak to herr ''i
No" ~
SIant-Face looked his bewildcrmcnt:
lie had had his own private guess AT
what had been the situation between
clifford and his sister. But lie did not
ask the why" OF this To him strange
behavior on CliTord's part.
Mary with Peter Loveman!" he ro-
poated. '1iithor Mary is trying to put
something acrossA--in the old way. you
understand. or else she's--well, IL
looks like queer doings to mel"
THAT'S why l looked you up. Some
one should step ill., and stop what's un-
der way. supposed you knew where
she waS,"
I'm goiny 10 begin 10 try 10 lind
out" said Slant Face. And you?"
Same here. by the way. would
your Uncle Joe know anythinKY a
Didn't you know Hes sold out
everything here and bought himself n
fruit farm In California;"
Then there's just one man we're
rcrtnin does know. That's l.ovenan.
aud a.. ~ .ipw after Loyc,NQn I,st