Evening star., 1919-03-16

ed. "oh. you---"
"Maisie. breathed Jack. star
s-oh. YOU sneaks-you liars--you
Asasts--both Of you"
"AAisie--you don't understand
Ustsn--"
EDon't come near me" She backed
through the door. Don't come near
b."
He followed her In CONSERVATION.
Harry behind.
Elm, until all three were In the sit
1ng room. Listen. Maisie, for Gods
Ake. he cried. "You don't under
= "oh, yes, I DO understand" the furi-
nus sirl famed at him. AFTER what
heard J couldn't help understand
yhsi You're simply a low, vicious. ly-
in6 beast Of q man. Jack M9rton~-you
NTH Your pretsnse of having stead,
Ia down ahd become a worker! And
Dr.. women yoyS'vs been living with
u He had seized her wrist. "Maisie.
He said, "say what you like about me,
kut don't say 4 word against Mary
&or Mary"
H HeJack. stop," Mary cried. sharply,
Nnrusting herself between the pair.
ehe was dismayed by this .t,,,s;. 1nexpectea cdn
tructed triangle-hut II she could end
This Scene quietly tho situation might
eon,ehow be saved, stop. jack! sne
adsd. warninEly' "whAt she says
turned her fury and scorn full upon
Mary. You adveuturess. You COM
{non street woman! You cheap seller
ff youraelfl YOU you--
Jaok &Asped At her enraked words.
hen broke through Mary's interven-
,"You shall not say such things about
Nary" he cried In an almost equal
tage. MARY is my wifel"
"Your wifew repeated Maisie.
rYss. my Wife,"
"Jack, be still." cried Mary. Miss
fones, he's lying to protect me. don't
like the words you used about me; but
III substance they're the truth
They're not the truth. Ma1sie.'
Jack. for that moment. had passed be-
Ahd nobody can say such things about
her! She's my wife, and | can prove
IT." Swiftly he took wallet from an
Inside pocket OF his vest. drew IL slip
pf paper from It, and thrust It into
Naisie's hands. "There--look at that.
I There was neither time nor chance
Tor Mary TO interfere. Maisie glanced
ht the slip of paper. | Her volcanic
wrath suddenly subsidized; her face
blanched. Then mechanically her Ups
fepeated the script In the printed
Form she held: John Harrison Morton
and Mary Russell Regain"
She looked up: she was In IL daZe.
VYour marriage certificate. Jack, she
eaid, in her mechanical tone. ana
Then. questioningly: "But Mary Re
Aan" ,o 4,st
borrowed the name Of Mrs. Gardner
Jack explained You see, we were
married secretly because Mary thought
because--don't take this In II wrong
way, Maisie--because Of what father
wanted you and me to do"
II see said the heavy lips; 1s,, shg
lust overheard? And your pretending
hot TO be Jacks wife,
\ Mary's plan had gone so far
from it's calculated course. and so
kwiftly, that upon the instant she saw
no better way than to tell the truth
even II she should not tell 1t all.
Miss Jones, planned for you to
Syerhear, and believe. what passed be-
Tween Jack and me-though Jack had
10 knowledge Of what J was doing.
thought that II you discovered that
Jack was in love with another woman
3~Anu ndO Decu iINIHB WIN HS' so"'
1nsulted pride would cause you to
Break with Jack and give no reason
"Yes-go on" breathed the girl.
"You see. Jack was in the worst sort
Of predicament. He was married to
NE; he was dependent as to his future
Tpon his father. and his father was
frying to press him into an imme-
Hiatt marriage with you. 1t was
matter Of days. Had he told the truth
SY lad he for no explained reason
Broken with you--either would have
knde him with his father. There was
6nly one way out OF the situation that
Would not ruin Jack. aud that was for
You to be the one to break it off To
bfay upon you 80 that you would do
That, that's what I've been trying to
No."
TtI see" The girl. ,grayish pale. re-
Karded Mary In dazed wonderment
fBut why did you. just moment ago,
Try to make me believe that you were
6acks--his---his mistress?''
ITO keep Jacks father from learn
ing the truth. Don't you see 1t? III
k6u should tell his father that you had
learned that Jack had a mistress. it
$eould not injure Jacks prospects
hearty so much as IL you told him
fhat Jack had a wife"
! "And. Maisie.' Jack cut In. Elf have
eteadied down. it's because Mary made
me. ] want you to know THAR
~ The blue-eyed girl, standing very
Dtill, nd breathing very tensely made
h6 response, but kept her eaze fasten-
Id upon Mary. Mary tried to guess
What was passing in the mind OF this