Evening star., 1919-02-16
tcoNTrNuEp FROM LAST sunday

n -
honestly" This she had decided
must be made the final Interview be-
tween them. II toldysp. when you were
here two hours a<o. that l had discov
cred that I am not at all the woman you
believed lay undeveloped in me. You
may cali me worldly--selfsh--am
tious. And you win be tremendously
right"
He looked at her hard, ard was ST.
lent moment. But that isn't answer
Ing my first question and all II i'm
I plied--why didn't you write me be-
fore you returned to New York? Why
didn't you frankly tell me of your
intended MARRIAGE"
4 She lifted her shoulders ever so
slightly. 1T must have been because
never thought of It,"
He flushed, but she met his look with
unabashed composure. She had lied,
but she had lied easily. for the lie had
been carefully premeditated. When,
+ during her absence her minds deci-
sion had gone against Clifford, she
had consIdeled what would be the most
effective method OF giving unbeatable
conclusion TO the affair; and had de-
cided upon this course that she had
followed. No need for letters--no
chance for sentimental pleading to
alter her mind: II would be all over.
End ended, before he knew thing
Further. since the break had come.
1t appealed to her pride to seem su-
perior and Indifferent
Ciinord was angry but he contain
ed himself To go on: was your
meeting with MIR. Morton in that out
Lodge, pure coincidence as he said?
-;-or did cunning brains bring it
about?"
You mean, my cunning brains?"
Two spots Of conscious color ap-
peAred In her cheeks.
II do not mean you. Did some one
else. perhaps without your knowl-
edge at the time. plan that you should
meet me?"
sWhat are you driving at?'
she demanded sharply.
II don't know myself yet--exactly"
Who could have planned our meet
Ing? Az you know, I went to Pine.
Mountain Lodge to be alone. Mr.. Nor
nm, not knowing OF my presence
therc or even Of my existence, came
to Pine Mountain to rest up. We
couldn't help meeting, since the lodge
ss the only place at which one can
stay. That's all there is to this amaz-
ing mystery"
Undoubtedly all you see. But the
coincidence explanation doesn't ex-
klain everything. Some one may have
Been behind Jack Morton's going"
who? In what way? And for what
raason?'
Those are things to be found out"
in looked at her steadily for mo-
-Yent. II asked you this before, but
am going to ask II again: why are
on here in hiding?"
After ALL / guess don't mind tell
ng you in the least" she returned
solly. with sudden perverse gratifi-
ton In revealing what she knew he
euld not like in her. Also she felt
rat here was another detail by which
,e could make Clifford feel the
ter Gnality of the break be-
reen them. Jack and | came to
ew York intending to be married
TIE next day. But the very evening
x the day we arrived, Jacks father
Unexpectedly came to town and ap-
cared at the Biltmore where Jack
Is staying"
Was that before or after the even
isig | saw you at the Grand Alcazar
With Mr.. Loyeman?"
You saw me there the evening of
tue day of my return. Jack was to
have had dinner with me that night"
she added. land had reserved the
taDie ana naO aSkeu H's iTieHu' MT.
LOvcman. and then he got tangled
IN with friend and could not come.
II was that same evening that his
father arrived in town believe this
is simple and clear"
"As far as II goes. But why dld
you 20 into hiding?"
"Isn't that rather obvious?" she re-
turned with her cool frankness. JACK
and were going to keep our mar
rage secret--perhaps for long time.
The appearance of his father, with
the announcement that he was going
to stay with Jack. naturally de-
layed our marriage. insisted that IL
be postponed until his father was
away and there was no danger OF I'M
mediate discovery"
"And Jack?"
ee Jack was reckless. He was all for
getting married right away. But l
refused to take the risk. Also, under
the circumstances, 1t didn't seem par
ticularly wise to give the father
chance to fnd out about me by our
appearing openly together"
f'"nut you yourself could have gone
out openly alone or with friends"
"Ol,, Of course" she said. dryly-
sard have run the risk of Jack and
his father seeing me in public and
learning all about me. No, thank you
the only way for me has been to
Clifford had felt great start. but
no had suppressed 1t, and he managed
TO say, quite casually "Of course
Jack Morton doesn't know who you
realty areY"
'.,of course not. oh. don't mind so
much what he might learn about me-
ake added. d biz defiantly You po-