New Britain herald., 1916-06-28
Why Dicl>y Asked Madge to Invite Miss Draper to Call and See
 His Room

Miss Draper to Call and See
 His Room.
 Now, remember, no stealing of
 keys and peering into Bluebeard's
 closet" said Dicky, gayly as he closed and locked the door of his room. You fatter yourself. sir.'' I swept
 him low blow. "I really haven't
 the slightest curiosity about your old roOm."
 "Sour grapes" he mocked, and then impressive1y: And no matter what packages or furniture come
 here for mo they are not to be un- porch or in the library until I come home"
 T wouldn't touch one of them with a pair of tongs," I assured him.
 "see that you don't" he returned,
 hanging the key up, and hastily
 kissing me. "Now I've got to run
 for it.
 He hurried down the stairs and out of the front door. I stood looking
 after him with a smile of tender amusement. He was really too ridl-
 culous about his room in the old Brennan house which we had leased at Marvin.
 When his mother and I were plan ming the furnishing of the place Dicky had resolutely refused to let us touch his room. With his customary dis regard for the comfort or con- venience of others he had chosen at first sight the largest bed chamber of all, one with four large windows. Since moving to the house he had shared my room while his had been the scene of much activity on the part
 Of paperhangers, painters and car penters, activity which he had screened from his mother and from me with ludicrous care. He had royalty tipped Katie to clear Up the litter the workmen had left, and I had heard him charge her to let neither Mother Graham nor myself come into the room. Katie, much distressed, had come to me about the injunction, but I had as- sured her that it was only a little joke of MT. Graham's, and she had gone contentedly back to work
 Mother Graham's Ultimatum.
 From his remark about the pack
 ages inferred that Dicky's purchases
 for the room were complete. AS the day wore on and furniture and rackages, all carefully hidden in
 wrappings, were delivered, began to wonder how in the world he was go- ing to get everything he had bought into one room.
 His mother voiced another fear of mine as she saw the pile of things on the veranda.
 T wonder what he's spending on all this?" she said anxiously "Rich- ard hasn't any atom of common sense when 1t comes to money" T haven't any idea how much it will cost him." I answered truthfully M onths before, confessing that he never had any idea of his financial status, and that he could not save money. Dicky had asked me to take charge of his earnings, bank them and pay everything with my personal checks. But I had long suspected that Dicky did not turn over to me all the generous payments which came to him for his drawings The appearance of all these purchases, of the payment for which knew nothing, confirmed my suspicious But l decided to say nothing to him concerning the purchases, no matter how extravagant they ap- peared to my eyes. I had a shrewd idea that his mother would do all the talking that was needfuI and a little more when she saw them The day after his purchases arrived Dicky rose early
 No studio for me today" he an- nounced Gan you get hold of that ] man who helped you clean up here? I want an able-bodied man for several hours today"
 'T think so,' l returned quietly, and going to the telephone, soon re- turned with the assurance that Will liam of-the- wide-grin would shortly be at the house.
 That's fine" commented Dic<v. And now I want you and mother to get out of the way after breakfast. GO for a walk OF a. drive OF annt