Evening star., 1919-04-20

Naturally"
You understand, can make moth
ing out of this-nothing" Slowly she
tore up the checks. II can be Of no
service to you?-or JACKIE"
None. Except in ways you have re-
fused"
= She turned to Clifford. "Am i needed
here"
Clifford shook his head.
'Then I think I'll be going back to
town." she said quietly.
Morton held out his hand, which she
took. you are the strangest person
ever knew" he said, huskily. Good
bye, Mary-and--and God bless youw
Goodbye" said his daughter-in-
law.
She turned and went out. clifford
watched her as she passed through
the broad. hospital corridor and then
disappeared down the wide stairway.
"Mr. Morton" said Clifford, I'm not
needed either-Lieut. Kelly will re-
ain in charge here. I'll be going
back to the city. too"
Mr.. Morton Eripped Clifford's hand.
Thanks. Clfford-and goodbye"
The habitually hard face softened yet
further and hi, voice lowered. "And,
Clifford-youre lucky man, If it
turns out the WY think 1T will"
1t did. In the deepening dusk of a
month later, froLi an interior and out
of-the-way county seat whose records
were rarely looked over by inquisitive
eyes that had an interest in transmit
ting what they saw to New York
city. Clifford wa' driving small
roadster at an isy pace, one pas
senger beside him. A few minutes be-
fore that passenger had undergone a
change of name. In New York city, If
all went as expected. it would merely
be known that she had changed her
name from Mary Reg IN to Mary Cliff
ford.
The marriage had been the ultimate
achievement in privacy. No one had
journeyed here with them. But one
person, who had insisted on being
taken into their confidence, had ap-
peared discreetly and anonymously at
the brief ceremony in the little court
house-uncle George. And after the
ceremony was over he had kissed
Mary with simplicity, a sincerity. .
tender dignity that sophisticated.
cynical Broadway would have been
amazed to see in its favorite.
"Mary"-his hands on both her
shoulders. his voice quavering bit
I'm glad I've lived long enough to
see the daughter of one old pal, and
the niece Of another old pal. definitely
turn into this road. Yes. I'm mighty
glad. It's the only road that's worth
traveling-and I guess I ought to
know. know you're going to be hap
py. God bless you, my dear"
And now. as the pair moved easily
through the closing twilight. all bars
at last were down between these two
all barriers of pride. of reserve.
Of reticence, of opposing wills, all
the long masking of hearts. Their
souls were very close together
They had been riding for several
miles in silence, both still awed by
what had just taken place in the lit
tie town behind them-when Mary
spoke softly:
You promised to tell me when
when this was over, what you and
Commissioner Thorne were talking
about this morning. Aren't you going
to tell me what 1t VASE"
Commissioner Thorne again Offer
ed me the position of chief OF the
detective bureau
'And you?"
II turned it down."
"It was wonderful chance" she
exclaimed. You refused because OF
me?"
mo. But I thought you might think
so: that's why / didn't want to tell
you until everything was settled be-
tween you and me. I had thought it
all out before. 1t was a big job he
offered me. yes--but primarily it was
an ONCE job, a routine, administra-
tive job. ! wanted tojbe out where
would be in contact with people. and
their problems: where instead OF
touching life only through the re-
ports of subordinates. I would touch
life at first hand. i felt that in my
case l could be Of more service in
such a way. You understand"
Yes" she said. And I think. per-