Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-12

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never done and / was near crazed with
tho thought of It. OF course, would
have been dismissed or maybe arrested,
too, IL they had known that lisa and I
were man and wife. but we had meant
from the start to keep it a secret until
spring and then leave and get a little
place In the country. I've got quite bit
put by, and we were going to open a
sort Of little tea place for motorists
His voice broke, and for minute
he seemed on the point of breaking
down, but McCarty waited without
speaking, and finally he gathered him
self together and went on:
'I knew, even before Rollins told me
Of the words he had had with Mr..
Waverly, that Mr.. Creveling had what
you might call another affair on; I
haven't been with him all these years
without learning his moods, and I took
1t that he wasn't receiving any too
much encouragement. He was ugly for
weeks past, and there was no pleasing
him. but all at once he changed and
began TO act as IL he owned the earth.
Whoever the-the lady was, he must
have. had reason to think she'd begun
to like him.
Then you don't know who it was?"
McCarty asked bluntly.
This is no time for US to be quib-
bling about names, Hill he didn't stol
Mt blnckening your wife's. You didn't
find out?"
Hill shook his head.
Then what makes you sure that il
was IA real Lady, McCarty chose
his words now with evident care.
Because he was SO extra cautious
and ccrctive. You'd think after all
the years I've been with him he would
have trusted me little or made some
break that would have given me a line
on him, but not he! That's why knew
it must be some one with position,
some one in his own set. maybe. II
was news to ne that Mr.. Waverly was
what Rollins overheard. I'm quite
sure that Mrs. Waverly was not the
lady alluded to in that quarrel
How did your wife come TO jump
her bail, HillT McCarty asked with
seeming irrclevance.
well. we talked It over. sir, and it
didn't seem that there was chance
for her il she went to trial, so there
wasn't anything else to be done. We
both hated the thought Of il. for 1t
looked like confession of guilt, but
we couldn't either of US foce the worse
thought Of her going 20 prison. It's no
harm to tell you now, for she's safe out
Of the country, but there was one that
was in our confidence and helped US
plan the whole thing, even to furnishing
that was Mrs. Jarvie. the Crevelings
housekeeper, sir. Shed engaged lisa in
the beginning, you know. and she
thought the world of her and never be-
lieved for a minute that she took those
jewels, bless her
''Ilsa'S trial was set for about a
month ago, and when she couldn't BE-
found Mrs. Crevcling shut up the
house except for Rollins, and Sarah
and me, and went off to Long Island.
thought that with her out Of the way
Mr.. Crevciing would maybe show his
hand and | stuck to him closer than
ever, but he didn't, and / was begin :
ming to get desperate! 1t wasn't till
last Thursday morning that l found
something out about him, something that
wasn't at all what ! thought it would
be, but it was enough to bring him tc
terms, for all that. FIe was working
the same sort If thing on somebody else
that / was trying to do to him.
What do you mean?" McCarty
stared.
'Biackmail, if you choose to coll il
that; anyway, ne was holding some
thing over somebody else's head. He
came TO the house about 10 in the
morning from his club and after chang
ing his clothes he went to the tclc
phone and called up Mazzarni, the ca
tercr, and ordered supper for two
sent there that night. I was going
Tough his suit before hanging 1t up
when found note in one Of the
pockets, and | read 1t, sir. The top
in 10 nd, ri
it began without any name, so / couldn I
tell who it was for. but the meaning
wns plain enough. 1t was a command
for some one to come there that night
and talk things over, and although II
was worded politely enough, there was
n threat between every line if you had
eyes 10 see it, He had signed it with
just one initial-'C. and the person
who got it had written seven words un :
dcrncath and sent it back to him"
What were those seven words?" dc
manded McCarty.
II accept. Expect me half. past
12,' Hill quoted slowly. 81 didn't
; know the writing and there wasn't ever
an initial signed to the answer, but
stuck Il in my pocket quick. I'd heard
| him tell Rollins and Sarah that they
could clear out until next day and
| thought that meant that l was to serve
the sumner, and my time had come al
| last lie said he expected Il gentleman
, guest for supper and ordered me &c
2 wait at the house and arrange the tablC
3 and tnkr the stuff from the caterer
| men, aud then bring freshly pressGC
Tuxedo to the club at II o'clock.
, did, thinking, Of course. thnt I was tC
| return, and could have cursed him tc
E his face when he told me needn't show
3 up until the next day.
~ went HON" 10 the little fat where
, lisa was hiding and we talked II over.
5 "Thc note that I'd kept was enough
if il was handled right to make hin
e clear Ilsa's name by blufing his wifi
d; some way and giving out that th'
! jewels were found even II he couldn
Q produce them, but If I knew who thu
y man was that was coming I'd hav'
CreVcling SO he couldn't even sQuirm
He had put through more than on'
shady business transaction at thos
) little midnight suppers Of his before, ant
j knew this must be nearer blackmai
: than the others, il he wouldn't hav
=. one of US there even 10 serve the supper
= 1t meant I'd bc discharged IL he caugh
me in the house when he'd told me 4
stay away, but | made up my mind a
4, last TO 60 back and risk it, II was al
= most O'Clock, but usually those con
n ferences were all-night affairs and
!, hoped to get just one look at his CUES
y without being seen.
4 "The house was all lighted up, but
:, didn't think anything OF that, and le
a myself in with my own key at tn
= tradesmcn's entrance. kept rs quie
a as ] could for fear Mr.. Creveling shoul