Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-09

was there something Dehlnu lhlS
evasion? You remember her If you
remember getting Bradley off. She
was In that case
''Oh, yes, l remember; slender--dark
s-handsome. But i haven't seen her
since the trial"
II don't mean to call you anything,
Loveman-but l was told you were
recently seen with her in public"
"Where?"
Eat the Grand Alcazar-for dinner.
three nights ago"
Loyeman smiled. you've caught
me. own up. But my fib was gem
tleman's lie."
How so7'
"she didn't want it known that she
was In New York"
"Why not?"
search me. Perhaps just girls
within"
"Do you know where I can find
Haven't the slightest idea. / was
with her more or less by accident. L
was taking care of her merely for
couple of MISUNDERSTANDING for a
friend of hers"
clifford felt sure the little man was
lying; but he also felt sure he could
get out of Loveman nothing Loveman
preferred not to tell. All the brains
.0f the bar association had not been
able to do this when Loveman had
been before that body on charges of
unprofessional conduct.
\ by the by. Clifford, what's your in
terest In the young LADY,
Her family heard she was back,
and engaged me to locate her"
lzon IL tra.r 1y... 11tv Il
did not betray whether or not he
recognized this as prevarication. Cliff
ford stood up.
well as you were my only clue.
might as well give the matter up.
Sorry to have bothered you. Good
morning"
"oh. you'll find her--you have the
reputation OF doing whatever you
start out to do. Don't hurry away.
I've got some new first editions
-svant to show you. But pardon me for
Just moment" He scratched "a line
handed the folded sheet to the Japa-
nese butler. who silently withdrew.
Now" he cried briskly. and began to
talk enthusiastically over half
dozen stained and musty volumes.
Half an hour later the noiseless but
Ter appeared, bearing a card. Love-
man begged clifford to excuse him.
and withdrew-to re-enter in five
minutes.
Something rather curious has just
happened, Clifford. A gentleman with
whomtIve had some dealing just call
ed had an Inspiration ] made
sugg estion, and Wen. let him speak
for himself, Come right in"
At this. through the door Loveman
had left open. stepped the square,
solid figure of Bradley.
II believe you two are acquainted
with each other" remarked Loveman
with his amable briskness.
The two men nodded. and for a mo-
ment stood silent. Clifford tried to read
Bradley's purpose, but Bradley's power
fuI face, with it's small brilliant eyes,
was as controlled and reticent as in the
days, now over Il year gone, when Brad
ley used to give him orders at police
headquarters.
'H'are YOU Clifford" The voice was
the same even, heavy bass.
''First class, Bradley"
''Chairs. gentlemen" put in Loveman,
and when they were seated: Shall | say
ii, Bradley, or will you?"
"I'll say it, Without preface, or ref
erence to the past, Bradley was in the
midst of things. I'm building up a
big business, Clifford. Another year or
so. and itll be the biggest private de-
tective agency in the country. It's al
ready getting too big for one man to
manage; besides, there are certain
handle better than ! can. I've been
looking over the field for the right man.
Clifford. I've decided you're this right
man. and ! want to ask you If you'd be
willing to go into partnership"
Don't speak yet--think 1t over for a
minute" put in Loyeman. you two
have had your little differences, but 1t
ought to be plain to both of you that
there's more in 1t for you two working
together than fighting each other"
ChrOrd managed to maintain a COM
posed exterior, but within he was be-
wilderment. Certainly Bradley was IL
most amazing man.
Clifford thought swiftly. il somewhat
dazedly. Was this a trap? 1t might be
probably was. In view of what had
previously passed between them.
But then again-it might not be a
trap. Bradley's offer, OH the face of 1t,
was good business proposition, ad-
vantageous to both parties. 1T was a
commonplace OF business and politics
and police affairs, that competitors and
even deadly enemies may scratch the
past off the books and combine in a
common effort when they vision profit
sufficiently, large in such procedure.
And profit there certainly would be in
Bradlcy's proposition--bg profit. First,
would be the original profit of the large
fees which clients would pay to have
Information secured for them. And sec
ond-if the agency were to be run as
most other private detective agencies,
and on this Bradley would doubtless in
Eist-there would be the usual large
profits secured through the pleasant and
easy device OF Matchmaking clients by
threatening to reveal to the public the