Evening star., 1919-02-23
CONTINUED FROM LAST SUNDAY


ton came to New York and began TO get
himself tangled up through having too
much money. the father put II up 10 you
TO extricate his son. Good profit in
handling such affairs, I.oveman nice
fee 2or legal services rendered: a private
split OF the sums for which the matters
were settled; and an unobstrusive ar
iangemen, Whereby the son could be
drawn into further profitable predca-
ments. A big paying business, Love
man"
go on" said the little lawyer pleas
antly.
Three or four months ago the fa-
ther descended upon New York in a
fury. lie declared he was through
settling for Jacks troubles He was
going TO send Jack somewhere far
away from New Iorh---aud Jack had
TO take brace, OF the father would
drop him Also there was :. marriage
with rich girl that he father want
ed to put acrosS--and thcre'd be not h
ing doing unless Jack straightened
mp. So Jack simply had 10 be braced
, up. Right there, i.oveman. was where
you saw yourself losing n biz piece OF
your income. But you did soHe quick
sh'"p'bS, "bb yoh Ifll III WIN iDt
fathers idea that Jack should bp sent
INTO retirement 10 reform. j.. fact,
you knew the Vc9y place, Pine Noun
TAIN Lodge. And on your suggestion
Jack was sent there"
And III did mention Pine Mountain
Lodge. what OF that ?' LoA emau mildly
Inquired
F: You knew Mary Regan was there.
and knew she was the only attractive
woman staying Al The hotel, And you
Knew that Jack Morton fell fo? about
every pretty woman thaf he met.
Thrown together IN that isolation you
hadn't doubt OF what he would do
II was only a chance---.but il was lOur
only chance: and if ii worked out the
way you thought 1t might. here
SITUATION for you-WithoUt your
seeming TO have been mixed in the
affair. Well, IL worked out just as
you thought il lnight--and the posi-
biilties lie ready to your hand"
IN case I'm overlooking anything
good. Loveman remark ed III the same
gentle voice ''would YOU mind telling
me just what these possibilities are?"
VI course. the marriage had to be
secret; othsrE ise the possibilities
wound have been cut down by two
thirds. First item, after the mar
riage had taken place. there Was The
possibility OF get,in.. bush money out
or Mary RegaFI b.. threatening to
expose her. You would never have
appeared in his: Bradley would have
attended TO this detail perhaps
through one of his men. second after
YOU had exhausted the possibilities
Of blackmail, the acNt step would
nave been to inform the father that
you suspected something was wrong
with Jack. The father would order
the matter looked INTO; YOU would en-
gage Bradley for The jon and after a
lengthy examination, Bradley would
report secret mafriaee---;, big bill
Tor detective services Third, YOU
would Then be retained TO annul the
marriage and big Zee there. Wen.
l.oveman, Bradley" he ended erimly.
~ believe that's just about the out
Rame,"
Bradley was glarirg al him. mis-
square jaws clamped Upon his cigar.
Little Lovenian SIN with his arshle
look, was twirling the tasseled end
OF his sirdIe around a chubby fore
finger.
You're very ingenious. very
imaginative, Clifford. But granting
Ior the moment that yon are correct,
what next?'
Clifford leaned sharply forward
fou are not going through with II,
IN going to stop YOU"
Ciinord gazed tensely at the two
men: A slight auiverina ran through
. apSt ms cigar 1eIl. bitten
.nrongh; ms small. brilliant eyes were
points OF vicious flame i.ovemau
stlIi tWirled the end Of his eirdle but
now bil more slowly. And thus the
ehfee sat for several moments
Then suddenly, without warning of
WORD, seemingly without any preIim-
mary motion 'Bradley's powerful body
Iaunched itself from q sitting posture
straight at Clifford Clifford started
10 rise, and instinctively threw up his
arms; but to no avail for Bradiey's
pig hands broke past his weak
usIehse and sripped his throat. His
enair went topping over, The table
WIN It's cargo of liquors went crash
ins TO the i1oor, and Clifford was car
rIeu resist lessly backward by the
!orce OF Bradiey's lunge. until he
.a.1e . up against the great library
taoie over this he tonnlai
MS spine against the tables edge
auu bradley drove his head down
upon The wood with a terrific 1lump
foulI stop nothing" grated Rrad
icy. You've butted into nv affairs
Tor the last time"
CIiHord tried to struggle free but
ne was caught at TOO hopeless "a dis.
adVaniaEe-his spine upon the edge
OF The table, Bradley's weight crush
ing upon him and that pair of hands
clutcnlng his throat. He could move
only ms arms. and those to no pur-
pose; he could not cry out: he could
not breathe. As his chest besved for
lack OF air, he read his doom in the
deadly fury or Bradley face And
he realized. even could he caJ ro,.
heip. the utility OF such An outcry in
iaI. or