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

frenzied Mrs. Fownes; bored,
~ despite the fact that she was
young, rich, a beauty, a figure
In the younger social set of Long
Island. with jealous husband of
proud family. For the story she told
him was as old as woman's folly--a
wife's letters of mad affection to a
man not her husband, the theft of the
letters, the demand of money under
threat of exposure for their return to
the writer
Clifford had taken in this latest ver-
nan of the ancient tale until Mrs.
Fewnes had said:
II went first with my trouble to
Mr.. Bradley, he being neighbor. But
he hasn't been able to help me yet.
and l hust have help. So I've come
to you, for friends have told me what
a wonderful detective you are.
Though, of course, I'll not tell Mr..
Bradley about you. That might make
him lose interest"
Cliffords faculties had become cleo.
trically alive. Bradley. That name
had changed this commonplace case
to a case of first importance. No
longer was it primarily the case of
this pretty, featherbrained philan.
derer. To Clifford it had become the
case of Bradley.
NuAOku httSW SOtilCIklIlS "a
ley's doings and suspected more. but
after the year that he had spent in
the capitals Of Europe running down
that Stanthorp affair he was unin.
formed upon many matters. There
fore. this August afternoon as he rode
out to Green Manors. where Bradley
had bought a house and where Mrs.
Fownes also lived. Clifford started in
to quiz Jerry Nordstrom, whose week
end guest he was to be. But Jerry
left his first question unanswered.
THAT means you're getting ready
for another go at Bradley, l suppose, >"
Jerry declared. looking at the lean
face of his friend-lined, though he
was still in his early 30s-whom
he and others had considered quixotic
for giving up the chance of brilliant
legal career to start life in the police
department as an ordinary patrolman.
TELL me, old son. what was really
behind all the fighting between you
and Bradley"
"It was because Bradley was the
smoothest Of all police crooks and
wanted me to string along with him.
I refused and started in to show him
up. That's the entire reason"
Clifford knew he was not telling the
whole truth-there was. Mary Ryan.
He got back to the question Jerry had
left unanswered.
'.Just how does Green Manors take
to a former chief Of detectives, Jerry,
who. barely escaped jail?"
you've got to give Bradley q bou-
Quet, Bob. He's handled things with
a wise head. Everybody is curious
about him. Some are even wondering
II we shouldn't take him in as one Of
ourselves
"For Bradley to set himself up as a
country gentleman, that was some
stunt. How did he manage it?"
"He bought his house through a
dummy. so there was no chance for
US to block his coming here. We ex-
pected that he'd try to butt into So
ciety. That's exactly what Bradley
didn't do. He ignored Green Manors
Then he helped the Randolphs out of
a mess their SON got into. The Ran.
dolphs tried to pay Bradley. He was
insulted at the offer of payment for a.
neighbof,ly act Then they thought
they d pay him by inviting him to one
of their second-rate dinners. He re-
fused. Since then there have been
other invitations. Bradley's refused
them all. And now every one looks
up to him. "a. 4, ~
We couldn't have pursued q more
clever policy Clifford commented.
do the people take that? Has he ex-
planned that away" ~
'tHe hasn't tried. He merely let
fall a. remark that there never has
been a good police official who has not
had enemies and been subject to at
tack. even arrest"
but he escaped on a technicality."
This ranked with Clifford, for he had
worked upe~the evidence that had
brought the powerful ex-chief OF de-
tectives into court.
Yes, but that was a year or two
ago, and most people soon forget, and
many more never even knew. What
ever the facts may have been, Green
Manors regards Bradley as an uncon-
planning victim of persecution.
$50 YOU people fall for that! ex-
claimed clifford. "But where does
Green Manors think his money comes
from?"
s:He has speculated successfully on
tips given by Wall street friends. So
he's said. His chief business interest
: Ia. stock speculation. OF course, ne
still has his detective agency, but peo'
ple consider this to be only q side
Issue"
gsVOU say Bradley never goes out
socially. Doesn't he have any
social life at Green Manors?"
Plenty, but all at his own place.
He always has a week end party, and
sometimes party during the week.
What sort are his guests?
Pretty high class, considerfng-big
actors and actresses and men and
women pretty high up in society. OF
course, he asks no one from Green
Manors. except a few unmarried men.
And his parties are mighty proper,
too; none Of the jazz stun"
This fitted in with other facts Clif-
ford had gathered.
Speaking Of parties" said Jerry
apolegtically, "I hope you'll excuse
me. Bob. I'd accepted an invitation
to a dance at Bradley's tomorrow
night, before knew you were COM
ing. I'll merely make my appearance
for my promises sake. and then duck
right back" =,
right" .X,.,.
ing of his enemy who had so often es.
capped him. And this thinking OF
Bradley caused his thoughts TO SWING
inevitably to Mary Regan. She was
q hitter memory. Mary Regan, cause
Of many of those lines OF suftering IN
his face. &c.
The train slowed down at Green
Manora AS Clifford stepped down
upon the platform, the first person MS
eyes settled upon was Bradley. Brad
lev was welcoming some smartiy
dressed men and women and showing
them to two touring cars. CLIFFORD
had 70 admit that Bradley was doing
IL well.
Az Jerry's car swung to the plat
form, Bradley saw Clifford. Without
q moments hesitation, he walked to
ward him. Clifford scrutinized the
we'll known figure, the broad shout