Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-05

to a table. But it was not Bradley
presence that brought Clifford out OF
his mediation it was the fact that the
handsome young woman with bfaoiS9
was Mary Regain. -.
clifford rega rded them with the biz
farness which came upon him When
.ter ne thought of them, or OIL the
fights he had waged against them:
Bradley and Mary Regain. she had
chosen Bradley over himself. what
fool she had made of him, with tutlie
farce-tragedy of his lie.
Z few minutes later Clitfords renee
tons took a new turn. A rather tan
AMI elderly man with grayish Nandyhe
beard and n presence which suggested
long ambassadorial service in the capt.
tails OF Europe, paused at Bradley
table. This finished gentleman was
J. Russell, former confidence man 81
international renown, now running
prosperous chicken farm in New Jer'
sew. He was Mary's uncle-thereiOfe.
Clif'ords uncle by Inarriage-and mad
been her tutor in the more genteel and
nrotitab bile varieties of roguery, un:ll
clifford had checked the adventurer
career and set him in the Ways ot
honesty. For several months Cllnord
had not seen him.
Russell sighted Clifford, excused
himself at Bradley's table, crossed to
his detective nephew and, after greet
ings, invited himself to join CilHord
AT dinner. Clifford looked suspictously
at the whimsically smiling face.
Uncle Joe" he demanded abruptly,
"have you gone back TO your old ways;
and are you again mixed up IN any
of Bradleys games?"
I'm off Bradley for keeps" re-
sponded Russell. 'Of course, in the
OIL DAYS, when | was in business and
Bradley was chief OF detectives, l had
TO split everything with him. But the
only game I'm in now is eggs and
broilers.' Clifford made no comment.
His frowning gaze shifted back 10
Mary and Bradley.
Nov that you've third degreed me,
Bob" drawled Uncle Joe. kindly an
swer a question of mine: Prithee. why
so sad. Young gentleman" Uncle Joe
was one &C the very few who knew
that Clifford and Mary had secretly
married and then separated.
Mary" Clifford explained briefly.
"Her leaving me the day we were |
married. And, on top OF that, her |
working with Bradley-the man she !
knew l was fighting"
at does seem strange. Hasn't |
Mary given you an explanation
Nothing beyond very brief let
ter" Clifford hesitated. then drew !
folded paper from his wallet. las /
YOU recall, we were quietly married
I'm State. After the ceremony we |
r,1otored back TO New York. On our |
arrival I found a. message which |
called me away for an hour on
my return Mary was gone, and had
left this note:
rNCLE JOE took the paper Clifford |
~ extended TO him and read:
being alone has given me chance |
IN think things over. / am con-
WINGED that, with out different angles |
OF looking at life, our marriage was |
an impetuous mistake; therefore / am |
leaving. i ask two great favors. and |
l hope that you will grant them. |
First, do not try to find me and do |
rot try to have my movements |
watched. Second, keep our marriage |
secret, il that is possible"
''And you've done as she asked, |
not told a soul?" Queried Uncle Joe, |
as he returned the letter.
Not q SOUL Since then, when I've |
met her, she's been cold and distant.
But I've been forced to watch her
Bradley's most important agent In his
great game of trieking rich fools out
OF their money
Thus far Clifford had spoken with
restraint: now his bitterness burst
out. But, besides using Mary in
his schemes. Bradley is in love with
her. and he thinks he is winning
her love. II Mary didn't want me.
why didn't she get rid Of me long
ego? The thing is beyond any I'M
dersta ndingr'
"All women are mysteries" soothed |
Uncle Joe. There was a silence; then |
he changed the subject. IL under |
stand. Bob, that you and Bradley |
have, been having some more runins."
eyes, it's a fight to the finish"
Clifford said grimly. "I'm out to get |
Bradley, and Bradley's out to get me. |
I've been queering too many OF his |
big plans. He's all but had me half |
a dozen times, and only last week !
he would have had me cold, except |
for a last-minute break of luck in |
my favor"
"Gunman? Or did he do the shoot
ing HIMSELF"
"He doesn't want to put me in a |
CONN: he'd rather put me in the peni- |
Tertiary. He's relied on the good old
frame.up, and you know he's mas
ter of that. Every day I'm in danger
of losing everything life can possibly
mean--success, happiness. freedom,
my good name"
Uncle Joe nodded. 81 see Be a
wise boy, Bob, and keep your eyes
peeled"
THAT'S what I'm doing" There
was another silence. Then Uncle Joe
asked: Working on any new mys-
terry. Bob" That is, besides the mys"
terry Of Nary"
I'm on a case that came in this
afternoon. 1t Will seem old stuff to
you"
IF you don't mind. Bob. try out
the plot on me and see what l think
Of your show"
Clifford had often found it Of value
30 get the ideas of this veteran.
Here's the thing. in brief, Uncle
Joe My client is a Mr.. Foster. prom.
inent socially, not a great deal OF
money of his own. but partner
In a growing brokerage business.
"His wife is rich, but he takes no
money from her: his business ambl'
ton has been to make himself the
financial equal Of his wife. His wife
is tremendously jealous. and he Is
afraid Of her.
Last May his wife went to Europe.
Mr.. Foster remained in New York.
Incidentally, his wife left in his hands
an emerald necklace she wished to
have reset. In themselves the ener-
aids are not so valuable. Just as
stones they are worth perhaps hlleeh
thousand. But they are unique; any
substitution Of other emeralds for
them would be detected by the owner.
There you have the situation: jealous
wife, away from home-husband afraid
OF his wife and scandal-unique jew
els.
1.-The usual affair developed between
the Summer widower and a pretty
Broadway lady--a Mrs. Grover, an
alleged widow. They frequently dined
together at one of the smart restau'
rants. On one such occasion, he men.
toned the emeralds to the lady, and
she expressed a desire to see them.
One night he brought them to her: