New Britain herald., 1915-10-14
Katie's Story of Her Mysterious De-
 parture.

Katie's Story of Her Mysterious De- parture. 1 Still very nervous but calmer than she had been Katie remained quiet l when I raised my voice to reach Dicky waiting in the adjoining room. "Oh, Dicky,' I called, you may come now.
 Dicky drew a low chair in front of the couch where we sat.
 'Tell me first, Katie," he said kind ly, "why do you think I want to put you in prison? Because of the money? Never mind that I want to talk to you of something else" l But Katie was hysterically tugging at the neck of her gown. From inside her bodice she took a tiny chamois skin bag, and ripping it open took out a carefully folded bill and handed it to Dicky.
 l "I never spend that money" she l said. II never mean to steal it. But I had to go away queeck from your 1 fiat, and I never, never dare come back, give you the money. After two month, send my cousin to the flat, but he say you move, no know where. 1 Then I think maybe sometime I find l out where you live and write a letter to you, send the money.
 Dicky took the bill and unfolded it l curiously. A brown stain ran 1r- regularly across one-half of it. l Well, I'll be eternally blessed" he | calculated, eff it isn't the identical bill gave her! Ten dollar bills were not so plentiful three years ago, and 1 I remember this one distinctly be- cause of the stain. The boys used to say I must have murdered somebody , to get 1t, and that it was stained with blood.' &
 He turned to Katie again. l "The money is nothing, Katie. 1 Why did you run away that day? never have been able to finish that picture since"
 Katie's eyes dropped. Her cheeks l flushed.
 T shamed to tell" she murmured. Dicky muttered an oath beneath his breath. II thought so," he said ] slowly, then he spoke sternly: Never mind being ashamed to tell, Katie. I want the truth. I worked at your portrait that morning, and l then I had to go to the studio. When I came back you had gone, bag and baggage, and with the money I gave you to pay the tailor. I never could | finish that picture, and it would have | brought me nice little sum-" l What Can It Mean? ! My brain was whirling by this time. Dicky in a flat with this ignorant Polish girl paying his tailor bills, and l posing for portraits, what did it all mean?
 Where did you go? Dicky persist | ed.
 | Katie lifted her head and looked at him proudly.
 You know when you left that | morning, MT. Lestaire, he was paint I ing, too? We'll, Mr. Graham, I always | good girl in old country and here. I 1 go to confession. I always keep good. MT. Lestaire, he kiss me, say bad 7 things to me. He scare me. I afraid ! if I stay I no be good girl. So I run l queeck away. I never dare come ! back. That MT. Lestaire had one bad man, one devil" ! Dicky whistled softly
 50 that was 1t" he said. Well 1 that was just about what that pup | would do. That was one reason I got out of our housekeeping arrange ments. He sat too swift a pace for me, and that was going some in those days"
 ! He turned to Katie, smiling.
 You see you don't have to be l afraid any more. I'm a respectable married man now, and it's perfectly | safe for you to work here. Mrs. Graham will take care of you Run along about your work now, that's a good girl.'
 Katie giggled appreciatively. Her mercurial temperament had already sent her from the depths to the
 heights.
 The dinner all spoiled while I cry
 like a fool" she said. You ready
 pretty soon, I serve.'
 ! She hastened to the kitchen, and
 turnd to Dicky inquiringly.
 Dicky Explains It All l 'I suppose you think you have
 gotten into a lunatic asylum, Madge. Of all the queer things that Katie
 should apply for a job here and that
 you should take her.
 "I didn't know you had ever kept 1 house In a flat before, Dicky."
 Tt was very short experience" ,"
 he returned, "only three months.
 Four of us, Lester, Atwood, Bates and
 myself pooled our rather scanty funds
 and rented a small apartment We
 advertised for general houseworker,
 and, Katie answered the advertise l cent. She had been over from