Evening star., 1919-04-13

found out myself. Her name is Mary
Regan, all right but she comes of
q crook family, and she herself has
been confidence woman and all
around adventures. She married you
Ask her to deny it"
IT'S true, Jack But"
understand now why she wanted
to keep your marriage secret?" Love-
man cut in. plain enough; she knew
you had married her, you would
quickly learn the truth about her and
that would finish her game. And
that self.sacrifice business in letting
your mistress all In order to protect
you--can't you see that she. was
really doing 1t to protect herself, and
protect her own little scheme for
playing you along as sucker? Want
to 60 along with her now. do yo%:
Jack, steadying himself with hands
on the table, was staring across at
Mary. "'S tha' so?" he demanded
thickly.
"Ill not listen That's enough!"
he burst out. He had irked at the re-
straints she had put upon him; and
since for him she represented the
routine life. he had unconsciously be-
while no had been sneaklngiy
ASHAMED that he had accepted this
supposed sacrifice from her. "Ill not
go home!" he shouted across at her.
,1aa "Un'ersta1d? III never, never 3., 60 home;
Un'erstand? You crook, you-you
liI. dam, sneakin' crook"
Mary stared at the inf1amed, wine
flushed face thrust toward her. Then
tense and quivering. Then heavy
voice sounded behind her.
Guess you've got the right dope
at last. Morton, on this Regan dame"
AS Mary turned quickly, Clifford'ss
door way. Just inside it stood the
broad, powerful figure of Bradley.
So engressed had Clifford been in the
scene between Jack and Mary that
he had not heard Bradley's entrance
one of LIE Bain's many duplicate keys.
Clifford gasped within himself.
The AFFAIR was even bigger than
he had thought a few minutes gone.
And in flash he guessed the expla-
nation of Bradley's prompt appear
ance upon the scene: that while in
the telephone closet Loveman had
sent two messages-that after get
ting Mary's promise to come. he had
notified Bradley.
Mary looked back at Loveman, ig-
noring Jack. Clifford could see that
her face was very pale; but sho was
straight and her gaze was unafraid.
ITS no use trying to make Jack see
the truth, Peter Loveman." she said
in slow, determined voice. There's
no denying that you've beaten me.
You have removed all my motives for
keeping silent about you. I know
enough about you and can produce
enough evidence to secure your con-
viction on half dozen counts-and,
believe me- Peter Ioveman. I'm going
to give all that evidence to Mr.. Cliff
ford"
She turned to Bradley: and her
crook when you were in the police
department-and you've been a crook,
playing every sort of crooked. dou-
decreasing game since you became
a private detective-and 1 have the
evidence on you. too, that will send
you away-and believe me, Mr.. Brad
ley. I'm going to use it!'
Loveman started toward her. but
Bradley checked him with gesture
of big hand.
'Oh. you are. are you" he said to
Mary, and advanced until he stood
squarely before her. An ugly look
hal come into his face; her last words
had fired his animal anger. "Oh. I
guess you're not. sister" he said with
crunching grimness. I've had to hold
Off on you too long, but at last I've
got you WHere 1 want you. 1Ou am
going to expose me, and you amt
going to expose anybody else, and
you amt ever goin' to hurt anybody!
DO you get me, sister,
He was glowering with malignant
purpose. Clifford was wildly a-pulse
with the desire to leap out and hurl
himself on Bradley. But the time had
not come: he had to wait and see the
full purpose of this nights design.
And. let me tell you. Mary Regain"
the heavy voice gritted on, that I've
come here myself because 1 want the
personal satisfaction of attending to
you--and because l didn't want any
slip-up on the job. And I'm going to
tell you in advance just exactly
what's going to happen to you. why?
Because your knowing that Is going
to make you suffer all the more--and
damn you. you're going to suffer the
limit! / amt afraid to talk out, be-
cause we're all In this together!"
He paused a minute; then demand
ed: Want to know what's coming to
you?"
She stood silent eyeing him stead
lily. Breathlessly Clifford waited
Without being aware of 1T, he had
drawn his automatic.
II amt going to croak you. That
would be too soft for you-it would
be over too soon"
Help" she called, with all her
voice.
go to it. kid-do it again." encour-
,s.~txA ItsSxb