Evening star., 1919-03-02

could not make 1t the ten thou-
sand / asked for. However l sup
pose"--iu high good humor--"you' d
like a receipt for this. 1t might help
YOU in court II YOU ever decided to
bring action against me-
Your jocularity is not greatly ap-
preciated Now that YOU have the
money, l suggest that YOU GO
LAS pleasea you Drawing back the
lapel of his slender afternoon coat
1T had been Il warm afternoon. and
he had worn no outer coat---~he slipped
the banknotes into the top pocket of
his vest. "ln leaving you, Mrs,--ah-~
Grayson, let me wish your little en-
terprise the most complete success.
Good afternoon"
Clifford was on the point of spring
ing into the room, when, to his amaze
ment, from the door which opened
into the library, there emerged the
plump figure of Peter Loveman. On
the face of the shrewd little lawyer
was q bewildered almost sickly look.
the like of which Clifford had never
beheld on that usually aniiabie and
ruddy countenance.
Just a minute" said Loveman
Hilton whirled about. "oh. it's
LoVemanl Hello, Loveman."
l!oveman crossed toward the other.
wv hat are you doing here?" he de-
manded.
Just making little afternoon call.
VIII you return the courtesy and tell
me how you come to be here?"
Il was here when you came, and
was waiting until You had gone to
finish my talk with Mrs. Grayson."
Ciitford could see that the control
which had slipped away from Love
man was regained for the little man
was benign again-therefore dan
Gerous. Are you sure, Hilton" he
said softly, that your purpose here
was only to call?"
Merely social Loveman," the other
replied, smiling.
II think, Hilton" continued Love-
man in his soft. pleasant tone, that
anything you got here you'd better
return to Mrs. Grapson"
II have nothing to return"
II think youIl find ii wiser and
more profitable in the end to return
1t, went on LoNemans pleasant voice.
II have nothing to return" repeated
the other dra wing on his gloves.
The two men eazed at each other
steadily. Clifford could see that be-
meath Hilton's smiling politeness
there was defiance, that beneath
'Lovemans soft manner there was
menace. He was puzzled by this
hostility. for he had figured that the
pair, with Bradley. were working to-
eether But he instantly perceived
why this hostility should be masked;
the two spoke thus indirectly be-
cause neither. or, at least, not Love-
man, wished Mary to understand what
lay between them. And Mary did
not understand; the bewildered look
she gave the pair told Clifford that.
Hilton ended the brief tableau by
picking UP his hat and stick, which
he had carried into the room with
him. Good afternoon, Mrs. Grsyson:
this has been most pleasant occa-
sion. So-long, i.oveman."
He was turning away when Clif-
ford sprang through the doorway and
upon him. Clifford seized his right
wrist and swung the arm upward
and backward with a vicious twist
an old police trick--and thrust
hand through the iarlng front of the
eXquisitely tailored coat and pos
sessed himself of the banknotes Hill
tons stick and hat went flying; he
let out n cry of surprise and pain;
but before he knew what had hap
pened to him there had snapped
about his wrists Il pair of handcuffs.
Clifford ierked him forward, so that
their faces were within a foot of
each other. We'll. Hilton, this time
I've got you with the goods on" he
snapped. This will be the last won :
an you'll squeeze money out of for
about Ave years.
See here, I've done nothing"