Evening star., 1919-04-06
The Strange Adventures

know to be your questions" Loveman
said rapidly That's one reason l
wanted to hunt you up tonight with
Mr.. Bradley. because I've just learned
some things.
"Ioveman" snapped Clifford, swiftly
drawing his automatic and aiming it
over Mary's shoulder. The little law
Yer turned. and all the color left the
face ruddied by high living. Love
man, Miss Gilmore and Mr.. Morton
have the fioor"'
Loveman, dropping Morton's arm,
stepped from between the two. Mary
had not seen what argument had
brought about the LAWYERS suhsi-
dencc; her eyes, which had shifted to
Mr. Morton. had remained steadily
upon him. waiting.
"Mrr Morton, you have the floor"
Clifford prompted him..
Mr.. Morton seemed to swallow
omethine-something so largo that
1t would hardly go down. Then he
spoke.
to save Jack--but I've failed. The
Broadway life seems to have got him
at last. Here is what he seems to
curtains of the little dressing room,
revealing the huddled form of Jack.
and then let the curtains swing to-
gether. "As Mr.. Clifford has said,
see that there is only one chance left.
and that you are the only chance.
Will you be willing to undertake what
you offered to do that night down in
front Of this cafe?"
The moment of Mary's great test
her great opportunity. If she saw it
ed her-waiting--his whole being
tnut. Her face had become a mask;
she looked with cold, direct eyes upon
the man on the adroit winning Of
whose favor she had for months
striven to build her great worldly
II suppose you mean undertake it
on the conditions that were then
mentioned" she said qufetly'-"that
It Is to be what you once termed the
we are to be Mr.. and Mrs Grayson?"
''Of course, III make 1t worth your
while"
mo. thank YOU" she said quietly.
But will give you any present
allowance you may DESIRE" he urged,
tlement upon you that Is in reason"
II do not care to run--
But, Mary-Miss Gilmore" gently
interrupted I.oveman. This affair was
taking an amazingly different turn
from what he had expected. After all,
bewildering as 1t was, matters were
falling out in a way to make his orig
1nal plan seem once more possible.
''Mr Morton's offer is fair. Take it,
Mary did not heed him, but spoke
to undertake to conduct a sanitarium
for one person for pay-and then
have the patient removed as soon as
q cure is effected"
But If you were willing to do II
before, why not now? I don't UNDER
stand"
ut is no concern Of mine If you
do not understand"
She spoke calmly, coldly. Clifford's
eyes were fixed upon her. trying to
pierce her brain and heart. Morton
stared at her discounted, despera-
tion growing in his face. There was
another moment of silence against
the background of the dance music
which twanged stridently without.
Mary spoke again. IF that COM
pletes ~what you wish to say to me,
Mr.. Morton, then good night"
She turned to leave. Her hand was
on the knob, when Morton spoke up,
his voice now husky.
sns ANOTHER Minute ahat Miss Miss Gimors
you are my last chance-and Jacks
last chance" He spoke more rapidly.
I've simply got to have you-you
understand. You must have had
some real kind of attachment for
you did. And certainly Jack likes
you or you'd never have had the in
fluence over him that you've proved
you possess. Listen-;ets consider 1t
all from another angle. Miss Gill
more, when you were at the Gram
than as Mrs. Gardner YOU told me
you had hus ba and-but excuse me.
do not believe it. Miss Gilmore"-he
halted, there was q snper-gu!p then
he went on--"Niss Gilmore, If you
are free,~I want you to marry Jack"
Clifford, Loveman ard Bradley,
equally astounded. razcd at Mary.
She seemed to be able only to stare
at Mr.. Morton.
"Whatever 7 may have said or
thought against you. I'll say this in
your favor Mr. Morton continued,
rapidly rs before--"that you We're SO
discreet in your affair with Jack, YOU
kept it all so secret. that I'm sure
thorc will be no scandal. Well not
have that to face. So ask YOU, as
a favor to marry him
Clif ord. still dazed by the swift
manner in which his plan had lcaped
beyond itself breathlcssly held his
gaze on Mary. Her dark eyes We're
wild, her lips Loosely parted--the fig
ure OF one heWiidercd beyond reali-
cation of what had happened. Then
size caught SHARP breath and high
excitement came iato her face. At
that same instant clifford saw the
magnitude of what had suddenly been
opeued to her--and he saw tEat she
WAS seeing It, too IT l'st, b.
strange twist of circumstance" and Of
CiirfnrI'e nttcie,-t IN ppi,ln "a