Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-06
he Ceremony.

, a tiny knob below the bottom hinge
Of the right window. Find 1t and
press it."
CLIFFORD fumbled beneath the
there was a knob. This he pressed
with his thumb. Noiselessiy the win
dows swung open.
Let's hurry back to the others,
said Mary.
There were approaching footsteps.
"We got back Just in time,
breathed Mary. And then Rradle,
strolled into the room. He regarded
Clifford with the same sardonic smile
"So--you're renewing acquaintance
with Miss Regain. see."
II was asking her." Clifford sait
stiffiy, what she was doing in your
house. knowing the sort you are"
And her answer
"She has made none"
Then I have another surprise fol
you. Clifford-remember, / told you
might have several? She's here as. 8
guest. of course, but also-but also
-" Bradley's smile now held the
CLINT of triumph, for these two had
long been rivals for Mary-"but also
she has a little business connection
with me. She Is the best woman op
erative have. Don't mind your
knowing this, Clifford, but regard It
as confidential"
Clifford stared at Mary. "1s thi.
so?"
She nodded.
Other things were said, but Cliff
ford's dazed brain did not register
them. In few moments all three
were back with the dancers.
Mary in alliance with Bradley! The
thing seemed incredible.
He was to have another start that
evening. 1t came from a, thing that
In itself was very slight-inerely Mary
talking to Mrs. Fownes. But 1t
brought a possibility to his mind
Mary Regain was one of the agents
Bradley was using in matchmaking
Mrs. Fownes! And in his other
schemes!
Clifford went sick. Mary Regain had
reverted to the cynicism and practices
Of her people. The romance to which
he had chung. even in his bitterness
now went out Of his life.
Mary's admitted alliance with Brad
ley, Clifford decided. absolved him
from his promise not to follow her
Watching her might in some way yield
information that would be conclusive
proof that Bradley was behind the
Fownes case; might indeed be the best
way of gaining that proof. He would
follow Mary as he had never yet fol.
lowed a suspect!
* X X X
TN the days that ensued, less than
ever did Clifford think Of the
case In terms of freeing a foolish
woman from the consequences Of her
folly. More and more the case became
to him a possible means of getting
Bradley.
Night and day, with the help OF two
of his most trusted men, Clifford
Swallowed Mary Regain, studied her.
Mary had recently come to live at
that great, new hotel. the Stanwood,
and the manager of the Stanwood and
its house detective were friends who
valued Clifford.
Mary was known at the Stanwood
as rich young woman from the
South, who had relatives In the city.
but who preferred the freedom OF life
in a hotel. Clifford, watching her
from cover, saw her much in the COM
pany Of semi smart people who live
on the bortierland of society, and also
in the company Of people of the stage.
Two or three times she and Mrs.
Fownes were together. Often Mary
received some of her guests in the
sitting room of her suite.
One matter. arranged with the man
ager was that Clifford should occupy,
when he desired, suite on the oppo-
site side Of Mary's corridor, two or
three doors away. Another was the
possession Of duplicate keys to all of
Mary's doors. He had wished that he
could have installed a dictaphone In
her suite. but so clever a person as
Mary would discover it quickly and be
put upon her guard.
Two days after the meeting at Brad.
ley's, Clifford saw Mary having tea
with a. well dressed, we'll hammered
man of middle age.
Clifford knew him at once-James
Fletcher, one of the cleverest burglars
out If iail Clifford's mind saw a. pos