Evening star., 1919-03-30

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doesn't have to tell me ANYTHING for
me to know what he's going to do. We
talked base ball; I was willing to put
Two bits on the Giants to win the
pehhant next season-fvom which I
learned that Mr.. Morton was going to
beat 1T far from the night blooming
anemone of Broadway and the tender
!olk-aongs Of the cabarets-and that
ne was going to give his only off
spring the advantage of his direct,
tention."
Clifford nodded. This fitted in with
MI Morton's determination announced
the night before in front of lie Minuit
when he had refused Mary's offer
ms cool decision that he was now GO
ing to handle Jack. Well. he was a
master at directing men. at bending
them to his will; now that he had set
himself to the task, perhaps he might
also really manage Jack
Though Mr.. Morton was out of the
city, clifford privately kept watch on
Mary, half expecting her pride and
her temperish self-confdence would
get the better of her caution and i'm
pei her into that vaguely hinted ac-
tlon against Jacks father. He tried
to think out what course might be
brewing in her mind. He remembered
that Mr. Morton, ignorant of her true
relationship to Jack, had tried to
make love to her-the passing love of
worldly man, and he knew that
Mary was capable of playing any part.
She might, in her desire to even mat
ters with Mr.. Morton, and reckless Of
on always eluding him, until--wel.
there was no guessing what Mary.
bitter and reckless, might attempt.
But whatever she might try, she
would carry through.
Also-with the help of Lieut. Jimmy
oil Il tio1 nj nf
Commissioner Thorne-he privately
watched Bradley and Loveman, alert
for signs of attempt to carry out their
self-protecting scheme against Mary.
But Mary's hiding was a temporary
check alike to herself and the two
men, and the next development in this
complicated human drama was to
have it's inception in aHother quarter
Uneventful weeks passed; spring
grew into summer; and then one
evening Clifford was surprised with a
message from Mr.. Morton asking him
to CAN at once at the Biltmore. Cliff
ford went to the Biltmore. wondering
what lay behind this unexpected
summons. Mr.. Morton admitted him
to his sitting room and asked him to
be seated.
There was a litter Of mail upon the
table-evidently an accumulation of
correspondence that had not been for
warded. AS Clifford sat down his eyes
were caught and sharply arrested by
an open letter. He recognized the
before he knew what he was doing
he had read this fragment:
II have been thinking your sugges-
tion all overland possibly. possibly,
If 1t were repeated
Mr.. Morton. who had followed Cliff
ford's eyes, reached sharply forward,
and snatched up the letter.
Pardon my seeing 1T couldn't
help it," said Clifford. And then: II
remember you offered to take the
writer Of that letter on a very private
cruise: I suppose she has now con-
sented"
That's none of your business
snapped Mr.. Morton. pocketing the
letter. 49,
SO. then. Mary did have some plan
under way!
"Mr. clifford" Mr. Morton said alb
ceived that the usually composed and
masterful flnancier was in state of
nerves which he was trying his ut
most to control. "Mr Clifford. some
time ago I asked you to help me with
my son. have sent for you to ask
you that again."
Help you" Clifford wanted a bit of
information on certain point. so he
pretended q greater ignorance than
was actually his. why. I supposed
you mad taken Jack on, braced him
up and brought about the marriage
you once told me was your chief de-
sire for Jack--to Miss Maisie Jones.
I supposed Jack and she were on
their honeymoon"
THAT affair Is all off," the father
said briefly.
What! Definitely?"
Her aunt wrote saying that Maisie
no longer cared for Jack wrote to
Maisie, and she confirmed it. She was
Interchangeable"
So, then. Maisie Jones had fulfilled
her promise to Mary(
ITO repeat" Mr. Morton went on,
II have sent for you to ask you again
to help me with Jack"
My answer now must be the same
as when you asked help of me before:
/ can't say until l know the Situa-
tion. And even then I must reserve
the privilege to act as l think best"
"All right. Have 1T your own way"
"First, tell me what has happened
since you took charge of Jack that
night at lie Minute?
"I took him to n mountain hotel in
Maine. hoping that away from all his
old associates l could manage him
more easily. But he kept me awake
always eluding me and finding road
houses where the prohibition law
didn't exist. Yesterday he got away
altogether. 1 know he's some where in
New York. / want you to help me
find him."
II thought you had Mr.. Bradley re-