Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-09
CHAPTER Nv.
AS Mary Sees Herself.

AS Clifford went out 1t seemed to
him, for the moment, that his efforts
thus far had resulted only In bringing
him into contact with affairs far re-
moved from his main business. But the
next moment experience reminded him
that nothing in life was irrelevant.
Might not these seemingly unrelated
fragments be revealed as closely articu-
lated parts of great drama of life
whose working out lay in the unvisoned
future?
Anyhow, he had new questions to put
to himself What was behind Love-
mans suave statement that he knew
nothing of Mary Regain And what be-
hind Bradley's offer of partnership?
They meant something; and the more
Clifford thought, the more was he con-
WINGED that JoVeman was in whatever
business might be brewing; and since
Loveman was in it, it was safely and
adrotly based upon the weakness, van
ity or ambition of our common human
nature.
The sense, though he had little definite
basis for it, that Mary was vitality con-
cerned in this impenetrable business,
that she was perhaps the chief victim OF
its hidden workings and of its dangers,
grew in Clifford with every moment.
re SIMPLY ndu To llIlu Hef'
Hoping against hope Clifford daily
expected note from Mary Regain
for he could not wholly discount her
promise--but no note came. And
though Uncle George. Slant-Face and
Lieut. Jimmie Kelly. in their divers
manners, were all looking for Mary,
none during the next four days re-
ported trace of her. Nor did Com
missioner Thorne. with his larger re-
seemed to have vanished utterly.
All these days Clifford himself kept
doggedly to the tedious routine of
centering his personal endeaVors
upon Peter LoVeman--followin that
dapper gentleman from home to Of
fice, to courtrooms. to restaurants on
Broadway or the avenue for his sub
stitute for afternoon tea. to his home
again TO dress. then to the long even
ing's schedule of MISUNDERSTANDING
rest only during the periods when
Loveman was held in court, or during
the five hours between 3 and am
that Loveman allowed himself for
sleep.
On the seventh afternoon, while
Leveman was tied up in court, and
while Clifford was spending an hour
at home, note was delivered him
by messenger. 1t read:
htduUudTJGIS
earliest convenience. TIORNE.
Clifford considered Then he sent
back the message. "Will try to come
at b." IT was now 8 o'clock: Love-
man would be out of court at half
past or 4. He had decided that the
best procedure was to follow Love
man from court to club or restaurant.
and then If the lawyer seemed set
tied, as usually was the case, he could
safeiy slip down to police headquar-
ters.
AT o'clock Clifford saw Loveman
leave the criminal courts building and
step into the closed car he had seen
Loveman and Mary Regain enter sew
en- nights earlier in front of the
Grand AlcaZar. Clifford at dis
erect distance, followed in a taxi The
big car. after twisting about through
the region of clubs and restaurants,
deposited Loveman before great
hotel on 5th avenue the Grantham.
Clifford. followi ing him in saw Love-
man address the perfect young blond
who sat at switchboard within a
grflled inclousre, wait while the
blond announced his name through
the telephone. then saw him make for
the elevators.
clifford waited several minutes.
then himself approached the deity of
tiiC 5W u. i want TO get IN
touch with Mr.. Loveman at once, and
j believe he's calling here"
Yes, on Mrs Gardner---twelfth
floor apartment NJ. Shall 1 phone up
you're here?" -
Il guess I'll not interrupt him. I'll
catch him when he comes down" The
blond, Clifford had at once OWNED
was the sort not averse to talk. II
wonder if this is the Mrs. Gardner /
know" he said easily. Whats she
like?"
Never really seen hae." returned
the blond
Has all her meals in her suite. Goes
out only at night--about 8, when
everything's dead here---just for an
hours motor ride. She's always in
black, and yelled. Guess she's a
widow"
A little more chat and Clifford drift
ed into the hotel bar from which he
could watch the elevators. He sipped
his vichy with casual, lounging air
that required his best acting. Could
that Mrs. Gardner be Mary Regain /?
And If she was Mary Regain, was she
also truly Mrs. Gardner?
Half an hour passed; then Loveman