New Britain herald., 1915-11-22

 in an emergency. I discovered this fact when Katie, my maid of all work, uttered a frightened little cry at the sight of MT. Lester coming ! through the door, and then stood, like a statute of fear, gazing at him. Lillian was standing at my side when the Lcsters came in. With a l quick, unobserved whisper to me, l Get Mrs. Lester in your room | quickly she moved swiftly to Ka- 1 ties side. Dicky said afterward that 1 the muttered Flush! Come with me-" with which LII propelled Katie to the kitchen, was regular hird-act-to-the- rescue stuff I could not see what she was doing, however, for I was too busy trying to obey her whispered in l junction.
 It was hard task, however. Of course, I had to wait until Dicl1y had introduced me to both MT. and Mrs. Lester. AS I murmured the conven- tional things and started to escort my guest to my room, Harry Underwood barred the way.
 May, nay, my child, you do not pass me this way without a word or look that may cherish" he said grandil- oquently to my guest.
 Mrs. Lester dimpled and giggled. You awful man. I'm not going to talk to you at all tonight. Frank says you are bad man for little girls to know"
 Please unsay them croo-el words," he burlesqued, and then turned to me, as he saw me trying to draw Mrs. Lester toward my room. ho not like to hear me make pretty speeches to another. I shall humble your pride yet.'
 He bowed mockingly, and I reached my own room with Mrs. Lester. As I crossed the threshold I drew a deep breath of relief. The danger of an unpleasant scene was over. Katie was safe in the kitchen, where, if I guaged Mrs. Underwood's powers cor rectly, she would soon be reduced to sanity, while my guest all unsuspect- ing. as I hoped, was removing her wraps
 Of course, had grasped the sig nificance of Katie's frightened cry remembered the night she first came to work for me, her terror at sight of Dicky, and her sudden flight. We | had brought her back, and Dicky had learned that the reason was in such fear of him was on account of the money he had given her with which to pay a bill, when she was maid of all | work in the bachelor apartment which l D1cky and three other artists shared l She had disappeared with the money, l and he had never seen her again until 1 ne met her in our apartment. | The memory of her broken words of explanation of her flight came back to me.
 l "You know when you left that | morning, Meester Lestaire, he was l painting, too? Well, Meester Gra- 1 ham, always good girl in old coun- try and here. I go to confession. 1 always keep good. Meester Lestaire, he kiss me, say bad tings to me. He frighten me. I afraid if stay, I no
 be good girl. So I run queeck away
 never dare come, back. Dot Mees' ter Lestaire, he one bad man, one
 devil"
 Of course, "Lestaire" was Lester
 had thought nothing of the coin
 cidence of names until Katie's cry
 had thrown a flashlight upon the
 situation.
 I looked at Mrs. Lester, who, for.
 tunately, had heard and seen nothing
 She was a pretty creature, birdlike ! in her smallness and daintiness, ant
 a certain chirpy brightness. I judged
 that her mentality about equaled thu
 caliber of @ sparrow, but l admitted
 also that the fact did not detrac
 from her attractiveness. She was the sort of woman to bt
 protected, to be cherished. She wa loving, innocent, helpless. And he
 husband had amused himself b,
 prosecuting an ignorant, alien serv
 ant! I felt a rush of sympathy fo
 her. I remembered Dicky's common upon Katie's revelation. "So that was it! Well, that wa , just about what that pup would dc
 That was one reason I got out of ou
 housekeeping arrangements He SC . too swift pace for me. and Una
 was going some in those days"
 Poor little Mrs. Lester! Life cer . l tainly could not hold much for her il the future. And then she. turne ! from the mirror with an appealin little smile.
 I'm afraid I shall be very dull to r night. I am so worried about leavin
 the baby. She's only six months ole
 you know, and have had my mothe
 with me ever since she was born un til two weeks ago, so have neve
 left her with a maid before. This gir
 we have appears very competent, say ', she is used to babies, but just can l help being as nervous as cat"
 "Are you still worrying about tha
 baby?" Mrs. Underwood's loud voic
 sounded behind us. Now, look here
 
 You have had that maid over a year
 bas baar with vo11r TnOther an