Evening star., 1927-05-01

cleaned out the landlord and his lady.
Then one of the bandits had suddenly
let out a gruff. ironic laugh.
Look, Bill. If the dame amt Mrs.
: Arlington. Out for a private little
| spree with a gent which amt her
| husband, See the drinks and the
eats. Bill Now. what would the lady s
hubby think, if he could see what
we're seein' in A place that has the
reputation this place has?"
They had backed out. and. Is min.
| utes after that she had been in her
| own home.
A quiet investigation had assured
| her that the bandit had been quite
! right about the reputation of the
roadhouse. The place was notorious.
Her situation, innocent in intent,
| could hardly have 2 more compromis.
! ing appearance. She simply had to
| get back that ruby pendant! There
fore. she had inserted that advertise
ment Then had come Bradley's re-
| ply. After that had come the un-
signed note advising her to see Cliff
! ford.
CLIFFORD was silent for a space.
~ Then he said
| when you saw Mr.. Bradley, did
he say anything about what the ban
| dts would do in case YOU failed to
make the required payment?'
Eyes. He apologized, and said he
was not speaking for himself, but was
merely conveying to me the instruc-
tions given him. In case / didn't pay
the bandits would write my husband
anonymously and refer him to the
proprietor Of the roadhouse and his
wife as witnesses -
II see-keeping themselves safely
out of it," commented Clifford. How
| does Mr.. Frazer take their demand?"
He blames himself for the whole
affair, feels as wretched as / do. He
| wants to help pay, if l decide to pay,
though l doubt if he has a great deal
of money: and he wants to explain
to my husband, if I decide to try to
explain"
by the way. did you meet any
other new people at the Pipes o.
PAM"
mo except a very interesting and
fine.looking young woman of about
my age. L could not make her out.
She was a Miss Regan-Mary, be-
lieve her first name was"
Clifford had to summon his greatest
| powers of self-Control at the mention
of the name of this wife of his who
was not his wife. so far as the world
knew, and who had deserted him and
Joined forces with his enemy.
Did YOU become acquainted with
Miss Regan?" he managed to ask.
Yes. But she was very reserved
and didn't say much. 1t so happened
that / met her this morning on the
street, and she walked with me to this
building. We bought some news
papers, and she helped me look
through them for my advertisement,
which is still running neglected to
cancel it. She was very kind"
SO Mary was still shadowing per-
sons Bradley wanted watched.
did you tell her where you were
coming-or why?"
"No. / haven't mentioned my trou-.
bles to her"
Don't you>think your wisest course
would be to tell your husband the
TRUTH"
''If you knew Paul, you'd never sug-
gest such thing" she cried wildly.
He'd not believe me"
Very well. Mrs. Arlington. 7 will
take your case, if you still desire-but
only upon my own terms"
Certainly, Mr.. Clifford" she said
eagerly. Il will pay"
I'm not referring to financial terms
| The terms / mean are these: You are
to do everything l request. without
asking my reasons. and I am to han.
die the case exactly as my judgment
may decide"
She regarded him doubtfully.
This is all so terribly important to
me-" Mr.. Clifford-and l don't see
why you should want me to trust you
| that far"
| Just because / know I can't trust
YOU" Mrs. Arlington" Clifford re-
! turned. II know that sounds brutal.
don't doubt your innocence, but you
/ have been extremely indiscreet. / can
not run the risk of your indiscretion
| further complicating the case. There
| fore, l must have absolute and un-
| questioned authority"
IAN right. / agree"
Then here are my first directions
| You are not to see me again, unless /
| send for you. And. any time you see
| Mr.. Bradley and Mr.. Frazer you are
! to behave exactly as before. This also
| applies TO Miss Regan. At midnight
! tonight l shall be at the Pipes O. Pan.
| You also are TO be there with Mr..
! Frazer. Your being with him will be
my means of identifying him. You are
/
! troduced | am to be a stranger YOU
are meeting for the first time"
To these instructions Mrs. Arlington
agreed.
After she had gone Clifford sat in
grim thought. So it was on again, his
old war with Bradley. And his strug.
gle to save from her own perversity
that enigmatic wife of his, Mary
Regan!
A T midnight Clifford was in the
Pipes o Pan. making a study of
the place where Mrs. Arlington's pre-.
dicament had had its beginning. Cliff.
ford knew one fact concerning the
Pipes o Pan that he had not con.
sidered necessary or wise to ihlpart to
Mrs. Arlington. Bradley privately
owned the place. or else controlled it
by subsidy to the nominal owner Or
by some hold upon that person.
Presently Clifford noted that Mrs.
Arlington was among the dancers
Her partner was that Mr. Frazer.
Without seeming to heed the pair,
Clifford studied Frazer intently. His
bearing was that of gentleman And
certainly he was remarkable dancer,
which was also true of Mrs. Arlington
Clifford's study of the couple proved
one thing upon which part of his plan
was based. Mrs. Arlington had not
lied 10 him about the real character
of her affair with Frazer; she obvious.
ly liked him, but her liking was
warmed by no slightest feeling OF
romance.
The music ended. and the two took
their places at a table arranged for
four. Then something boiled up in
Clifford. Crossing toward their table
he saw Bradley with Mary Regan. To
Clifford, Bradley's laughter was mere
ly an annoyance. But the manner he
assumed toward Mary made the blood
boil in the detectives veins. Theh he
resolutely turned his head away.
l. The music started again. and the