Evening star., 1919-04-06

smoked for half an hour-Clltford
wondering how this pale grim man
was going to bear himself, and now
and as what. Mary would emerge
from tho double situation toward
which she was hurrying.
Presently there was knock. "Thats
our party" said Clifford. and crossed
and opened the door.
But instead of Mary there entered
Bradley and behind him little Peter
Loveman. Both halted in seeming
surprise. Instnctively Clifford hnsw
that Hilton had sent quick warning
to the pair.
"Bcen on the track of your son, Mr..
Norton" explained Bradley; "and we
1ust trailed him here. Was going to
shoot you word we'd located him"
"You're right on the job" Morton
said, curtly. But since I have him IN
hand, I guess I won't need you gen.
tlemen. Good night"
Loveman stepped quickly forward;
Clifford could guess the nervous 1eet
that prompted the -witted llttls
man to want to be at hand in what no
sensed as a moment Of peril to nm
Self and the delicately balanced edinos
6f his schemes. ,,
firmly. in voice Of sympathetlc con-
Germ. but I'm sure we might % OF
some service. and should remain: aI:nn.1
"I'm giving orders here" snapped
Mr.; Morton; a "aooa,nisMht1t ,o0ssn, Norton. cold
~rny Tsey eyes s.S90 eom%and,ngsy e mns,, hzea %
them, thon they backed toward ths
1oor. Ciifiord thought rapidly: Thses
two, leaving here, might stumble
across Mary ReSan. so long searcnso 60
for by them. and. pr prepares pa sct on m the he
instant t Of discovery. they might
Somehow manage to put their aarins
han. Whatever 1t might be, into m
etant execution That risk must Do
.1SIir watt Clifford called sharply to
them remain" ,,o,
like" ..+ Z.
granted" said clifford. ,su,+u dash.
ed upon clifford. Since Hilton haa
Communicated with Loveman ana
Rradley. what more likely than thas
thoy should still he able TO communI
cate? which would mean thaI ri!..o"
was close at hand on the lookou..
And If that were truo, what moee
likely than that when Mary drove
Before this thought had complet.d
itself Clifford had started out. Buy
even as he laid hand upon the k"oo
there was q knock.
He swung open the door and Mary,
light summer cloak thrown loosely
about her shoulders, stepped into the
room.
"rm here-~hat is it?" she said as
she entered.
'Miss Gilmore" exclaimed Mr.. Nor,
ton, using the name-ey when he hao
best known her.
She glanced swiftly and keenly
from one to the other of the three
unexpected men. Then she wheeled
upon Clifford.
whats this you've led me into?'
she demanded-"a plant?'
BRADLEY and Loveman are uninvn-
cd, and were not here Wheh l .eie
phoned," he explained. Then ne Went
On in quiet. dominating. driving
voice. II didn't tell you whom you
were really to meet. ] didn't tel
Mr.. Morton who was coming.
might each refuse to see the
other Pardon my subterfuge. But
I sent for you. Miss Gilmore, because
Mr.. Morton wished to talk to you
about Jack" -,
Mr.. Morton flushed wrathfully. II
letter I've had from her"
you'll forget that letter" Clifford
said sharply. You put this affair in
my hands--and your chief concern IS
Jack"
He turned to Marry, and looked at
her squarely. meaningly.
you've had your dreams-big
dreams / don't need to remind you
what they are. And you've worked
to have those dreams come true
lie turned back to Morton, and
smoke in the same dominating voice.
"And you, Mr.. Morton--l told you
little while ago that there was Just
one thing that might save Jack. MISS
Gilmore here is the only person who
has in recent years had any influence
on Jack For time she had him
working and behaving. You recall
her offer that night to take jack
back to that Riverside drive apart
ment and make man of him. You
turned her offer down-you said you
could manage your son-and you We
seen the result" He spoke moro
Gominantly, more drivingly. "That
was your big chance. No matter
what you may think of Miss Gt!-
more, she is still your big chance.
ard your only chance"
CIinorl paused and waited. Mary,
yely pale, gazed at him, her lips
np2rt. Morton. his proud. maaterfnl
face also pale. stared iiXcdly at Mary.
but said nothing
) well" Clinora prompted him
.h,r,Iy chores Won" last chance