Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-10-28

eNpla;nable, but there was always
another element present that mysti-
| fled Jack. This consisted of various
!, young people of both sexes, always
| good-looking, perfectly dressed and
| at least specifically well-bred; often
vivacious and charming-but invar-
| iably with hard. wars eyes.
These self-possessed youngsters
turned up mysteriously, and were as
| mysteriously lost sight of again.
They made a convenience of Mrs.
Cleaver's house almost as IL 1t had
| been a hotel Mrs. Cleaver intro
| duced them effusively at her parties
| like dear friends, but at other times
she ignored them--and they as
frankly returned the compliment.
| Sometimes they made good indie
pendently OF her and enjoyed a more
nr less brief career in society. Some
| times they disappeared and were
seen no more.
| Mrs. Cleaver was not by any
means prudent, wary woman, and
was not difficult for Jack TO learn
where she banked. She often took
him about with her. She had four
bank accounts. Thru the good offices
| of Mr., Delamare Jack next learned
/ from the books of the banks con-
| cerned, that she had been in the hab-
1t of depositing a thousand dollars
! weekly. In other words every Fri
| day afternoon she took a thousand
| dollars downtown and added it to
one Of her four accounts.
Having learned so much, the next
time Friday came around Jnck took
care to be on hand early at the
Cleaver house. He kept his eyes
open for all that took place that
| morning. Just before lunch a mes
senEer boy delivered small packet
for Mrs. Cleaver. Jack by q casual
question or two OF servant learned
that this was q regular happening
on Friday mornings. and that the
packet was always carried direct to
Mrs Cleaver by her orders.
Jack, who had already learned
from Anderson of the large par,
played by the messenger service in
Mr.. BIS operations, guessed that this
packet came direct from him. 1t was
good enough working theory any
way. Fifty thousand year was nc
mean price! For that Jack figured
Mrs Cleaver lent her name and So
cial position to the biackmailers, and
allowed them to use her house as a
base of operations. 1t was likely he
! thought that she did not know what
their game was, and with that hand
some sum coming in so regularly
did not care to inquire.
Jack conceived the bold idea of en-
tightening Mrs. Cleaver, trusting to
her better qualities to turn her
against her present employer, and al
~ her with himself.
His opportunity TO talk to he,
alone came that night, when Miriam
| and Bobo failed to return for din
ner. Jack and Clara dined alone.
At the end of the meal she said
listlessly: Where shall we go to-
| night ~
Lets not go anywhere for a
change" said Jack. Lets have fire
1 N.
That struck her as pleasant,
novel idea. AL right. I'm sick of the
game Tonight. And you're a restfu1
person"
Jack smiled a little grimly, think
ing that what he had to say to the
lady would not exactly be restful.
1 When they We're comfortably es.
tablished before the fire, he began tx
lead UP to it gradually
"This society game is a funny one
isn't it?'
How do you mean?"
well, here you are spending you,
| life rushing around like q mad won.
| ain to teas and dinners and dances
theaters, operas, fashionable shows
1 of every kind. What do you get out
of it, really?"
/ "God knows!" she said YEARLY.
when you're not tearing around
| to other peoples shows you're having
one of your own. Lord! what CAB.
bling mob! To hear them, you'e
think they loved each other to death
and positively worshiped you. Ant
as matter of fact nobody gives {
single damnl"
1 That's true"
/ '"rhen why do you do it? 1t mus
cost heap Of money!
II don't know" she said slowly
Habit, / suppose. In the beginning
/ it seemed like the only thing oper
| to a woman like me, the only way tt
get on; to build up a social position
| No f,,Y
have it, I find there's nothing in it,
'"Then why don't you give it up
She looked at him in a scared way
'How could I? I'm in the thick of tn.
game. I've got to play it out. Wha
else could I do? Where could go?'
/ You have real friends, suppose
II had once. But after the scram.
BILE of the last three years. dom
known-!'
| The words three years" strucl
Jack with meaning. That CORE.
/ sponded exactly with the period O.
mir, BIS" activities.
ANY one could begin a new life il
they really wished" he said
/ She looked at him queerly. you're
| not leading UP to a proposal of mar.
riage, are your"
| mo" said Jack smiling.
1T sounded like it," she said, set.
ting back. 81 like you ever SO much
but of course it wouldn't do"
II have wondered why you never
married again. he said. $50 many
| men-!"
"Oh. they don't mean anything. It's
just the fashion to pay me attention
They look on me more as an insti