Evening star., 1919-03-23

mans telephone wires had already
been tapped by the police department.
Clifford now took the vacant apart
ment above Loveman's and secretly
installed a dictagraph in the big
studio which served Loveman as Ii
brary. Always there were ears at
these wires; and with the help of four
of Commissioner Thorne's hest plain
clothes men, Clifford tried to keep
every movement of the suspects COW
cred. Also he enlisted the aid of
Uncle George, in whose ears the secret
doings of Broadway were somehow
mysteriously published. Loveman
came and went about his business and
pleasures. apparently as usual: Hilton
was not seen again; Nina Cordova was
seen only two other times; and once,
for few minutes In the Claridge res
taurant. Clifford saw another woman
with Loveman-one Nan Burdette,
who had had meteoric career in New
York's pleasure life and about whom
Clifford had heard a thing or two
not at all to that young woman's
credit: And though she never knew
1t. Clifford personally kept a watch
sure. Mary was involved in this.
Also as part Of this plan Of studying
all possibly related circumstances,
Clifford scrutinized every available
Item Of the pas's of Hilton and Nan
But for all his own efforts and the
efforts of those helping him. Cliff
ford still had little more than sus-
picion to explain the disappearance of
Jack Morton. Jack could not have
vanished more clearly had gravitation
become suddenly invalidated and had
he been shot into space in the night.
Clifford kept doggedly at his method.
1t was all slow work. painstaking work,
and tedious. firing. undramatic work.
as all good police work is and neces-
sarily must be, except for now and
then a turn OF luck, moment Of In
spiration. But after the fifth day fol-
lowing Jacks disappearance a change
sources of information which Clifford
had set to work, little details began to
be accumulated-bits of action that
had been seen. fragments of talk over
heard by the patient listeners on the
wires. His accumulation Of tiny facts
increased rapidly. and, fitting the frag-
ments together he began to perceive
the outlines of plan, though as yet
he had no proof-a plan which, If he
was conjecturing truly, was a typical
through and behind the brilliant ac-
tivtties of Big Pleasure--of how such
powers may subtly twist persons to
their own ends, the person never
guessing what has really happened.
On the seventh day there came to
him another fragment which made him
see his conjecture s an even stronger
possibility; which made him feel that
this hidden plan was drawing toward
It's climax. and which caused him
to Mary:
''If you wish me to help you, then
you must take no action without first
referring 1t to me. And if any person
asks you to do any particular thing,
I want you to learn all the details Of
any proposed plan and then tell me
before you give your answer. You
can invent plausible excuses for any
delay"
The next day proved how correct
had been the reasoning that had
prompted the sending of this note, for
in the afternoon he had message
that Mary wished to see him at once.
He hurried to her apartment. quick
ened with suspense.
Mr.. LoVeman has found that am
staying here" she began.
Il knew that. He was bound to find
anything?"
HE has invited me out for the
You are to go with him alone?"
$50 he said"
''You learned definitely where he
was going to take your"
Yes: To dinner at the Ritz-to a
play at the Empire Theater-to sup
per at Delmonicos-then dancing at
that new cafe, lie Minuit. Shall ac-
cept"
Clifford thought rapidly. Certain
ly."
What do you think Is in his .nind?"
Merely to entertain you"--though
Clifford did not believe his own words
to try to re-cstablisb himself in
good standing with you"
Then how should l behave?"
Just have as good Il time as you
Clifford was cool enough until he
was out Of her presence; then fever
lshly he considered what she had told
him. Whatever this subterranean af-
fair might be. If this invitation had
any part in 1t he reasoned that moth
ing would happen at such discreet
places of entertainment as the Ritz
carlton, the Empire Theater or Del
monico's. 1nstinctively he knew that
the design would unfold itself, If it
We're to be unfolded that evening, at
LIE Minuit, an establishment which
had just then caught the errant fancy
or some OF the smarter social set, and
naturally, therefore. of members OF
the smarter set Of the demi- world and
underworld.
His business, therefore, was to be at
LIE Minuit.
CHAPTER XVI,