Evening star., 1919-03-16
TON, d. c., MARCH is. 1919.


her door to him. Silently she led the
way across the dingy, chintz- furnished
sittlnE room, and with a rather stiff
formality the pair seated themselves.
You sent for me-" Clifford began.
quietly enough.
Yes. I want you to help me-"
would you mind explaining?"
Already she had taken on that cool.
dehant. challenging manner which
seemed instructive with her In all her
dealings with him. You helped get me
into my marriage with Jack Morton.
You said that experience was the only
thing which could make me overland
that tn marriage might prove to be
the pest possible experience by which
Life could change me. Remember
that?"
II did say something to thai ef-
feet, he replied quietly, Watching her
and still wondering.
changed: have told YOU that. But
] have accepted your challenge, and
I'll play the thing through to the
finish. But you are partly respon-
sible for my position. That's why
have the right to ask you to help
me-"
He stared. Only one so essentially
defiant in spirit so audaciously self
confident, could be saying such things
so quietly.
. You want me 70 lose out" she
y
help me II you promise to do so. I'll
admit that there Is no other person |
can call on who can really help
me-"
Help you? How
with Jack"
He was accustomed to her calm
audacity. But none the less he was
for the moment taken aback by her
request-that he. a rejected suitor,
should be so coolly called in to assist
Nr-tt htpo hopN
He recovered his speech. Before
answer that, perhaps you will tell
me something"
"What?"
Something that has a bearing
upon your plan with Jack. Excuse my
curiosity-but perhaps you will tell
me just what was the outcome of
your affair with Maisie Jones?'
She was no less curious than he in
regard to one point in that expert
ence-why he had refrained from ac-
ton at the Grantham. She had been
wondering about this. over and over,
all these days.
"You know about that?" Her words
We're as much an affirmation as
question.
"a have had to know about it," he
said. ~ knew of Jacks engagement
and it's pressing character, ana when
you went to the Grantham and took
the suite next to Miss Jones. | sur.
miSeu, Will lUe utip Oh h lew idCtS,
the general nature OF your purpose
there"
Then if you knew. why didn't you
interfere?"
when | surmised what your plan
was , felt il was no affair of mine.
| was close at hand. but kept my
self in the background. l felt that 1t
was your game. for you to play out
alone"
She<drew a deep breath. So that
was his reason.-he had given her
her leash. he was letting her run
free Though watching her, he was,
as he had said before. leaving ii I"
experience to make of her what II
would.
She recalled his initial inquiry
"rhe affair ended" she said briefly.
"by. my being forced to tell Maisie
Jones. in confidence. that was
secretly married to Jack.
And Maisis Jones? | know she
loved Jack"
she promised not to tell. or inter-
fere.
. rs that all? And II so. why?"
she seemed to think---I did not try
to deceive her: she deceived herself
she seemed to think l would make Jack
Il better wife than she would. And
she said that, SO Jack wouldn't get into
trouble with his father about the en-
gagement. she would have letter
written to Mr. Morton breaking the
engagement off. because she did not
love Jack"
rs that all?'
She met his gaze with composure.
showing nothing Of the strange and
persisting emotion Maisie Jones had
awakened in her. THAT is all"
Thank you" He did not pursue his
inquiry. though his eyes regarded her
keenly ITO come back to your re-
quest that help you with Jack.
Whether | help you depends upon
what you intend doing. First. how do
YOU happen to be here?"
Her answer was prompt and direct.
After all that has happened. It seemed
safest and wisest for me to disappear.
Too many persons were becoming
mixed up In my affairs--l wanted to
be free from them"
"How about Jack? Is he also in the
dark az to where you are?'
Jack knows. But do not dare see
him"
And these are the only reasons
you disa ppeared SO suddenly from the
Grantham?"
The only reasons she returned
steadily. But. consciously or uncon-
scously, Mary here withheld part OF
the, truth. There was something else!
the unidentified influence which the ac-
ton OF Maisie Jones had upon her.
Next. II am to help you. con-
tinued Clifford, what are your gem
eral plans for the future? You don't
mind telling"
= is,A Rnlut tsnA h