Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-19
~MARCIA!" HE GASpED. RlS NC.
THERE SHE Is! SEE!"

cause of me. it's up to me to help
you out. | was pretty much of a
failure all those months / was trying
TO work for you behind a smoke
screen. Now I'm going to work
against Bradley in the open, at your
sice.'
While they argued Clifford was col
leotlng the documents of a case that
was to start him to Chicago in a
few hours. but his eyes were ever
going across his desk to the dark
beauty Of Mary. Their reunion, after
year of separation following their
strange marriage, was still in the ma
ture OF a miracle.
Even now. as they continued to
argue. he was going over the chief
elements Of the past years experience:
he. mysterious disappearance the
very day of their secret marriage
her temperance as the ally of his
greatest enemy. Bradley, in vast Grim
inal enterprises-her undertaking cold
ress to him-his bitterness toward
her--his many attempts to balk her
from participation in Bradleys
schemes. his constant endeavor to
save her from falling under the COM
rlete sway of Bradiey's undeniably
magnetic. but criminal, personality.
And then, only two weeks before,
when Bradley had seemingly been
trapped in one of his intricate crimes,
had come the astonishing explana-
ton.
All the while Mary had been acting
q part. deceiving him and Bradley,
alikei She had learned that Bradley
had vengeful determination to elm
mate Clifford. and, to protect Clifford,
OF whose danger she deemed herself
81 hnA OIL 10
With Bradley and for a year had been
sending Clifford anonymous and indi-
rect warnings which had saved him
snd thwarted Bradley's designs. Cliff.
ford could hardly believe it all, so
strange had been the whole affair.
AT any rate" declared the per-
sistent Mary, I'm going to take care
OF your Office routine while you're
ava w
Clifford smiled with resignation.
And. If anything comes up about
M. Bradley. I'm going to lool. out for
both US"
Il guess I can't prevent you" Cliff
ford knew when he was beaten.
4; + y X
was just then that Cliffords sec
rotary entered with a card. Cliff
ford whistled softly SHOW him in"
he ordered. and there entered o tall
man OF bearing which gave the in
slant suggestion that he was accus-
toned to Difference; which, indeed, was
the case, for he was Lorrimer Drag
ton, head Of Draytoh & Co., that
splendid jewelry establishment on
Fifth avenue, nationally regarded as
me smar-est. most distinctive and
tn h1sy 20 y.1a val
and ones gems.
Clifford spoke before his caller could
summon words. Il presume, Mr..
Drayton. that you have come in the
matter Of your daughter"
You are entirely correct, Mr.. Cliff
ford" Mr.. Drayton's distinguished
face was twitching with an agitation
ne could not suppress. THE police do
no. seem able TO do thing"
I'm afraid ] cannot give you much
Of nay time during the next few days,
Mr. Drayton. But Mrs. Clifford in az.
sisting me" Here Clifford intro.
duced Mary. and to her Mr. Drayton
made the bow Of the finished man If
the world that he was~-"and while
I'm away perhaps she'd help You out"
I'D be only too happy" exclaimed
III ~.
For an instant the great iaweler
OIL iliuI%ed NIFTY WIN startled eyes
that We're sharp and thoughtful de-
spite their obvious distress. Il shall
be grateful TO Mrs. Clifford. A woma
TO solve w0man's case--that seems
almost an ideal arrangement"
MIR Drayton then proceeded TO out.
line his situation Every so often
New York reads in it's papers the
story Of the mysterious disappear
ance OF a beautiful heiress," and Of all
such stories, the mystery of the dis
appearance of Marcia Drayton, five
days before, had been the most SEN
saiional in many years. There was
reason for this sensation: she was
rich, she was beautiful and she was
socially important.
The facts given TO the press had
been meager. Marcia Drayton had
gone out one evening for bit OF
walk and had never come back; none
Of her belongings was missing: no
word b" come from her or about her
. To Clifford and Mary Mr.. Drayton
now conf1ded facts not given to the
police and press which constituted Il
fnost distressing skeleton in his closet.
His motherless daughter had deye-
oped from a pert fiapper into an eX-
IRENE specimen Of those daring, willful,
self-cOnident young women so char.
Bcterlstic Of these present days She
had many friends Of whom he did NOT
approve; she had often slipped out of
nights TO join these comrades of her
wildnesS in some gay dlncing resort.
Finally he had delivered his ultimatum
20 her, and she had deiied him. That
quarrel was the reason for her disaD-
pearance. She had gone with plenty
o. clothes ana she had her own bank