New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-03-02
Why Dicky's Mother Said-'I
Wouldn't Trust Dicky's Judgment.


over the phone from the studio.
Even as I answered [ wondered
va guely if he was piqued because L
had called up the studio in his alb
sence and discovered that Grace
Draper, his beautiful protege and
model, was there.
I put the thought from me as I'M
worthy. I would not believe that
Dicky had intended to deceive me.
His annoyance, of course, was due to
his fear that something might have
happened since he left the house.
Nothing is the matter" 7 said
quickly. But you have your mothers
trunk checks, and she is anxious
about Them
by Jove!" Dicky's voice was full
Of consterna ton. II forgot every
thing about those trunk checks until
this minute. 1 should have at
tended to them yesterday, but"-he
Decentralization finished lamely-"I
didn't have time
[ felt my face flush as though
Dicky could see me. The reason why
he did not have time TO see to his
mothers trunks on the day Of her ar
rival, touched a subject any allusion
to which would always bring a flush
to my face.
Yesterday had sent a melodramatic
whirlwind of happenings and
emotions into my life. [ had fled
from Dicky's angry insults, had bid
den a final farewell to my brother
cousin, Jack Beckett, and had been
restored to Dicky's arms through that
brother cousins intervention.
l was still too shaken with the
otio hcI inno cd
the day before to bear we'll any re-
ference to them, no matter how
casual.
Fortunately, Dicky was too much
taken up with his own remissness to
notice my silence.
"I'll go this minute and attend to
Them" he said. Try to keep the
Matters mind diverted from them if
you can. Better get her away on
your sightseeing trip as soon as
possible.''
''She says she doesn't wish to go
until her trunks arrive" I was con-
sciOus Of my moth er-in-la laws tall,
stately figure standing near me as T
spoke. Whatever else she may be she
is not q fussy, impatient woman. At
any rate, she made no attempt to in
terrupt the conversation, simply stood
still and listened.
81 Knew He'd Forgotten.'
What rot Dicky calculated in
elegantly. "She'H do no sightseeing
today if she waits for those trunks
unless I can find some expressman
who will move faster than any of his
breed ever moved before. [ suppose
she's in an awful wag about them,
isn't she?"
"Of course she is anxious about
them,' I returned. realizing the diff
Guilty of conducting a conversation
with Dicky concerning his mother in
her presence.
ON! yes she is anxious mimicked
Dicky. Il can see her. 1t is little
old me that will be anxious if I can't
get an eXpressman started with them
Put make her understand one thing.
There is no possibility of their get
! ting there much before noon, and it
| will be probably or o'clock in the
| afternoon when they arrive. Katie
cen attend to them perfectly we'll
| Tell her so; get her out on her trip,
! and keep her mind off the trunks for
/ heavens sake
Having thus shifted his RESPONSE
biities to my shoulders, Dicky
bli1,1ly hung up the receiver I
| turned to his mother.
WELL" she demanded.
HE is going out now to attend to
| the trunks I said.
There. I knew he had forgotten
| them,'' she exclaimed with a little
malicious feminine triumph running
through her tones. when will they
be here?''
Not before noon at the earliest -
! repeated Dicky's words in as mat
ter Oft fact way as possible. ''Prob-
ably not until or 8 o'clock in the af-
| ternoon. We might as we'll start on
our trip. Katie is perfectly capable
Of attending to them
My mother-in-law frowned. L
j could see that she was hesitating be-
/ tween the desire to get out into the
city and the wish to see that her be-
| longings had not been hurt in any
way.
Are you sure that your maid is
Perfectly honest?" she demanded at
| last. I gave a quick, involuntary
| glance toward the kitchen door
| knew that Katie. was not above lis
| tening to conversations. I certainly
| did not wish her to hear this one.
Sure of Katie's Honesty.
| Mrs. Graham followed my look
| 1.-The door is closed,' she said quietly
'I was sure of that before I spoke"
| I could not resist a little mental
| tribute to my mother-in-laWs sang
froid.
You have not answered my ques-
ton" she persisted. Are you sure
she is honest -
The incident of the lavalliere
| flashed into my brain. Upon my I'M
| expectant return to the apartment one
day I discovered that Katie had been
| rummaging in my trunk evidently
with the intention of finding and ex-
tmining q beautiful black pearl set