Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-18
AND HEHE IT CONTINUES

II SI.ON III DOWN, hDSOrDeu IN
IL deep thought. 1t was a queer story
It might be even more queer than it
seemed.
Gregory had been frightened rather
than startled. The man had even gone
pale.
Motive, motive. that was the word.
What motive lay behind action. Con-
scious and unconscious. every volitional
act was the result Of motive.
He wondered what she had done when
Gregory had told her
As n matter of fact. Beverly Car
lysle had shown less anxiety than her
brother. Still pale and shocked. he
had gone directly to her dressing room
when the curtain was rung down. had
tapped and gone in. She was sitting
wearily in a chair. a cigarette between
her fingers. Around was the usual litter
Of a stage dressing room after the play.
the long shelf beneath the mirror
crowded with powders. rouge and PEN
ellis. n bunch of roses in the corner
washstand basin. a wardrobe trunk,
and n maid covering with cheesccloth
bags the evenings costumes.
ut went all right. think. Fred.
Yes" he said abscntly. $50 on
out. Alice. III let YOU come back in
a few minutes.
He waited until the door aosed
whats the natter: she asked
rather indifferently. IF it's more
want to hear it, I'm tired Then she
took full look at him, and sat up.
Erred What is it,
He gave her the truth, brutally and
at once.
II think Judson Clark was in the
house tonight"
81 don't believe it
"Neither would I, If somebody told
me-" he agreed sullenly. Il saw him.
Don't you suppose | know him! And
II you don't believe me. call Saunders.
I got him out front. He knows
"You called Saunders -
"Why not? l tell you. Bev. I was
nearly crazy. I'm nearly crazy now"
what did Saunders say?"
''If he didn't know Clark was dead.
he'd say it was Clark.
She was worried by that time, but
far more collected than he was. She
sat, absently tapping the shelf with
q nailfile. and rejecting.
"All right" she said. Suppose he
was? What then? He has been in
hiding for ten years. Why shouldn't
he continue TO hide? What would bring
him out now? Unless he needed money.
Was he shabby? ....
"No.'' he said sulkily. He was
with girl. He was dressed all right"
You didn't say anything, except to
Saunders"
"No, I'm not crazy"
I'D better see Joe, she reflected.
go and get him. Fred. And tell Alice
she needn't watt
She got up and moved about the
room. putting things away and finding
relief in movement. a still heautiful
woman. with rather accumulated foa-
lures and an easy carriage. Without
her makeup the stage illusion Of her
youth was gone, and she showed past
suffering and present strain. Just then
she was uneasy and rescntful, startled.
but not particularly alarmed. Her
reason told her that Judson Clark.
even if he still lived and had been
there that night. meant to leave the
dead past TO care for itself. and wished
no more than she to revive it. She
was surprised to find as she moved
about, that she was trembling
Her brother came back. and she
turned to meet him. To her surprise
he was standing inside the door. white
to the. lips and staring at her with wild
eyes.
Saunders he said chokinrly.
Saunders, the damned fool He's
given IL away.
He staggered to a chair. and ran n
handkerchief across his shaking lips.
He told Rassett, of the Times Re-
publican he managed TO say. DO
you--do you know what that means?
And Bassett got CIark's automobile
number. He said So
He looked mp at her. his face twitch-
Ing. They re hound dogs on scent.
Bey. They'll get the story and blow it
"iou know I'm prepared for that.
have been for ten Years. "
u know He was suddenly emo
tional. He reached ont and took her
hand. Poor old Bcv," he said.
After the way you've come back, too.
It's damned shame"
She was Calmer than he was. less
convinced for one thing, and better
balanced always She let him stroke
her hand standing near him with her
eyes absent and little hard
I'D better make sure that was JUL
first" he offered, after a time. and
then warn him.
"Why?'
''Bassett will he after him"
mo J" she commanded sharply. mo.
Fred. You let the thing alone. You We
Quilt up an imaginary situation, anl
you're not thinking straight. Plenty Of
has happened is that this Bassett is at
bome and in bed"
She sent him. out for a taxi soon
after, and they went back to the hotel
But alone later in her suite in the
Ardmore she did not Immediately go to
bed. She put on a dressing gown and
stood for long time by her window
looking out. Instead Of the city lights,
however, she saw range of snow
capped mountains. and sheltered at
their foot the Clark ranch house. built
by the old millionaire ns a place of
occasional refuge from tho pressure of
his life. There he had raised his fine
horses, and trained them for the track
There, when late in life he married. he
had taken hin wife for their honeymoon
and two years later, for the birth of
their son. And there. when she died
he had returned with the child. him
self broken and prematurely aged, to be
killed by one of his own stations when
the boy was fifteen.
Six years his own master. Judson had
been twenty one to her twenty wher
she first met him. Going the usual
pace, too. and throwing money right
and left. He had financed her as a star
ransacking Europe for her stage prop
critics. and then he fell in love with her
She shivcred as she remembered it. II