Evening star., 1919-03-23

that. I'm talking about what comes
before that--your plan to make man
out of Jack. You never can do that.
why not?"
Several reasons. Chiefly because
Jack can't be made man off,
II can do it.:'
Mary, let's quit kidding ourselves"
Loveman returned gravely, quietly.
"Unless you're with Jack constantly
you can't influence him. And II you've
seen Jack during the last ten days
you've done mere than any one else
has"
Mary tried to speak calmly. Jack
recently left New York on a hunting
trip"
Loveman shook his head. shooting
would never take Jack away from
New York; certainly not for ten days.
He's just-I think you understand
He. regarded Mary keenly. You know
Jacks old reputation; he used to show
more speed than any man who ever
entered the Broadway free-for-all
He never cared much for song-but he
was all for the other two members of
the old trio. The last bottle was
Jacks quitting place. and daybreak
was his bedtime.
"Well?" demanded Mary.
Loveman answered slowly. There's
a rumor about that Jacks his old self
once more; that secretly he's been in
New York all the while, and that
Broadway's got him again"
low voice.
"And 1 do" Loveman said solemnly
Though / have no proof"
Clifford could see that Mary, gazing
across at the little lawyer, had turned
very white. For all her confident ex-
terror, he guessed she now feared that
Jack had done just what L4oveman had
said
"Well?" she challenged.
"1f Jack has-and I'm sure he has
never make a responsible man of him?
And If you can't make a man of him,
it's perfectly plain that you can never
put your plan across
"Well?" repeated Mary.
Loveman leaned farther over the ta-
BILE and spoke in a low voice-though
Clifford got his every word. Drop the
game, Mary. It's a dead one. There's
not one penny for you. or any one else,
in trying to play in further. Drop it.
and come in on the basis l spoke Of a
week or so ago."
Marys face gave no sign of what she
might be thinking. Just what was
that-.if that, Jt you don't mind outlining it
First item: don't need to remind
you that I'm retained by Mr.. Morton to
look after Jack; say in week l bring
In report that Jack has contracted
for ten thousand for detective serv-
ices which I'll split with you. Second
item He'll want a divorce; I'll handle
the case and get big fee-that's
where l come in You'll not fight if he'll
pay high enough; that's where you
clean up between a hundred thou-
sand and half n million, and, being
on the inside. I'll be In n position
to tell you the top figure that Nor
ton will pay. third item-freed
Morton as your legal name, there's
no end to the big propositions l
could put across for and with YOU
YOU with your looks and brains. and
York domestic life. Big stuff-big,
l tell you! 1 could land you close
to the top!"
His enthusiasm, which had mount
tone Of solid, unanswerable argu-
ment. That's why I say to you to
drop your present impossible game,
and come into these new proposi-
She did not answer at once, so
that he was led to prompt her:
That's plain enough, isn't it, Mary
that the thing to do is to stop think
Ing about Jack and come in on these
other lines?"
Perhaps" she answered steadily.
But first I've got to find out about
Jack. don't believe what you be-
well. I'm Observation-Disclosures
PSihaps ooi oiaiho Sou. Iout lno
proposition stands open.'
With the philosophic sigh of the
man to whom the world has taught
patience. he fell upon the remainder ..
Of his half of the guinea-hen. Cliff
ford saw him rub his napkin twice
across his mouth place it upon his
knees. from where 1t slipped to the
floor-which may or may not have
been signal But, at any rate, the
next moment waiter, who had been
standing close at hand, opened the
door Of the nearest cabinet particu-
lier. Did you ring?" he said, and,
stepping inside, left@the door open.
Mary's gaze, wandering from her
table-mate. went through the door
way, and she saw, what Clifford also
saw from his retreat--Jack Morton,
his features soddenly loose, leaning
In stupor against the shoulder Of
a woman.
She stared fixedly at this picture
so unexpectedly enframed by the
doorway; then involuntarily there
burst from her lips:
Good God-lookw
Loveman raised his eyes from his
guinea-hen. and followed her gaze.
"Well--of all things"
The waiter, coming out, closed the
door, aud the brief picture was gone.
Then Loveman turned on Mary, his
big eyes wide with amazement:
THAT certainly is some jolt! Not
that I'm surprised at the fact-Only
surprised at our coming on it like