Evening star., 1927-05-15


that summary which had grown
IL into an unconscious habit. II
the girl--~Niss Marjorie Graham
said her card--his heart went in
Etantly. She was perhaps Il, sien
der beauty with wide brown eyes iron
which gazed a loyal. sincere soul The
young man--Robert Jones, said his
eard-was perhaps 23. obviously haC
breeding and wealth. In his sensitive
face Clifford read suppressed agony: II
the girls, Il panied beWl1derment.
1t was the girl who spoke first.
Perhaps Id better explain what
brought me to you. 1t was this letter.
Each of us received letter this morn
ing. They are Identical"
Clifford glanced the typewriter let
ter through. 1t was urgent in adyis'
ing the recipient TO place his case In
Clifford's hands. But the anonymity
of the letter was what most incited
Clifford's interest. In the last few
months half dozen big cases-most
of which had involved him in battles
with his old enemy. Bradley-had come
to him because Of just such prompt.
ing.
Robert and I are engaged" con-
tinued the girl. we have been en-
gagged for over a year-secretly. One
of our difficulties has been Robert &
lnOtnGF. W HSi1 1GE UuSpdnG ujtU. ON II
10 years ago, he left his steel interest
we're all Pittsburgh people-and
everything else to her. trusting her to
provide for Robert. Robert has been
absolutely dependent upon his mother.
] think she's pretty much of a snob.
Robert wanted TO work as his father
had worked. in steel. and he wanted TO
make some studies along the lines of
the newest processes. He'd already
done laboratory work. but Mrs. Jones,
who always had been proud Of her own
family and always believed she had
married beneath her. wanted him TO
be a gentleman in the continental
sense of the word.
I'VE had decided to keep our en-
gagement 10 ourselves until Robert
had won his mother over to such an
arrangement. If he did not. he was
going to break with her and so to
work at anything he could get. But
about two months ago he came into a
legacy, not a large one, but sufficient
for his plans. We decided to see his
mother together and tell her Of our
intention to be married shortly. When
we did SO, there was a terrible scene.
Mrs. Jones called me a nobody,
scheming adventures; she called me
everything.
We SOlilS anu SOIIlS temper.
My temper l lost altogether. | told
her I wouldn't mary her son until
she begged me to: gave Robert back
his ring ! wouldn't see him again.
lie came to New York. After q few
weeks, | began to cool down. l came
TO New York to visit an aunt, and /
told Robert I was willing to marry
him, despite his mother. I then found
he was in trouble; l do not know
what ii is. / have not asked him.
That is all / have to say. Mr..
Clifford; Robert has promised to tell
YOU the rest. I hope you will be
able to help him. Good-by."
After the girl had left, Clifford
turned TO the young man. You are
to be congratulated in your fiancee,
MIR. Jones'" The thin, sensitive face
was now aduiver with misery. That's
the trounle-she's not my fiancee."
What cried Clifford. She's not
your fiancee?"
II love her more than ever.
But--Im married. I've been married
ten days. Marjorie doesn't know
anything about 1t. Only my mother
and a few others know of it-her
lawyers and Il detective mother has
put on the case. q Mr.. Bradley"
''Bradley"' Clifford exclaimed in
voluntarily.
YOU'D better give me all the de-
tails of this affair"
Jones' story confirmed that Of
Marjorie Graham. After his scene
with his mother and his break with
Marjorie he had tried to forget his
unhappiness in the gayety of Broad
way. He had had real money of his
own, and he was made welcome in all
the smart night clubs. At one of
these. the Pipes o. Pan, he had met
Airline Carlisle, a girl with few lines
In a popular musical production.
She had confided that her gayety was
only a necessary professional attitude;
in reality she hated it all, and was
supporting her mother and three
younger sisters. He told her about
himself, his mother, his blasted ro-
nance, all his affairs at home. She
had promptly become the chief
figure of his Broadway existence.
Ten days before, during a lunch at
which too much drink had melted
him to reckless sentiment, he had
proposed to her. She had accepted
him, and they had been married. She
had insisted that their marriage be
kept a secret, for a time, because of
her theatrical contract. They had
motored into another state and had
been married by Il clergyman in d
small village, having gained the
clerks promise to conceal, for a time,
the issuance of the license, and the
cIergyman's to withhold the marriage
record. They had returned to New
York, and he had not seen Airline
again that night.
y y y y
LIE had awakened at noon the fol-
- lowing day, alone in his hotel
suite. With the black coffee he
ordered. came a letter. 1t was from
Marjorie, the first since their break.
Then he realized his folly, his terrible
mistake He cared for Airline only
as a spirited playmate; his love was
all for Marjorie.
He decided to put the matter before
Airline. No other course would be fair
to her. She would understand. Be
sides. those half-tipsy minutes before
the license clerk and the clergyman
comprised the whole of their relation
ship as husband and wife.
Airline had taken his confession very
we'll She was ready to abide by their
marriage, but she did not wish to try
to hold any man against his wish. But
their act could only be undone by law,
and she suggested that he discuss the
matter with her lawyer. after she had
first seen him. Robert had seen Ar
lines lawyer. who said he was stating
Arline's proposition, but was not act
ing further for her.
The lawyer had said that an annul'
ment could be arranged, Fortunately.
the marriage had been secret one;
fortunately. the name Of Robert Jones
was a common one.
Naturally, there would have TO be a
settlement. There must be an in1medl-
ate cash payment upon coming TO an
agreement. then s250.000 as 3 guar
anty of good faith. plus $4,000 more
for legal expenses and $3.50. 900 more to
be placed i'll escrow and automatically