Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-26
MY MARRIED LIFE
Katie's Story of Her Mysterious Departure
BY ADELE GARRISON

CTIIL very nervous. but calner than she
~ had been. Katie remained quiet when I
raised my voice to reach Dlcky waiting in
the adjoining room.
"oh. Diclty." ! called. you may come
now"
Dcky drew low chair In front Of the
couch where We sat
Tell me first Katie" he said kindly,
why do you think I want to put you in
prison? Because Of the money? Never
mind that ! want to talk TO you OF some.
thing else"
But Katie was hysterically tugglng at the
neck Of her gown. From inside her bodice
she took n tiny chamois-skin bag. and rip
ping II open took out carefully folded bill
and handed II 10 Dicky.
II never spend that money" she said II
never mean TO steal it But | had to go
away queeck from your fat and | never
never dare come back, give you the money.
After two month. send my cousin to the
nat but he saw you move no know where.
There l always keep the money here.
think maybe some time find out where you
live and write letter to you. send the
money"
Dcky took the bill and unfolded II Gu
riously. brown stain ran irregularly
across one-haf OF it
We'll I'll be eternally blessed" he
calculated. IF II isn't the Identical bill
three years ago, and ! remember this one
distinctly because Of the stain. The boys
used TO say | must have murdered some
body TO get IL, and that it was stained
with blood.
He turned to Katie again.
THE money Is nothing, Katie. why did
you run away that day7 I never have been
able TO finish that picture since"
Katie's eyes dropped. Her cheeks flush.
''I 'shamed to tell" she murmured.
Dicky muttered an oath beneath his
breath. 81 thought So" he said slowly,
then he spoke sternly:
Never mind being ashamed to tell,
Katie. | want the truth. worked at
your portrait that morning, and then had
to go to the studio when ! came back
you had gone, bag and baggage, and with
the money ] gave you to pay the tailor.
never could finish that picture, and II
would have brought me a nice little sum"
WHAT CAN IT MEAN
My brain was whirlng by this time.
Dicky In fat with this ignorant Polish
girl paying his tailor bills. and posing for
portraits, what did II all mean?
Where did you go?" Dicky persisted.
Katie lifted her head and looked at him
proudly.
you know when you left that morning.
Mr.. Lestaire. he was painting, too? Well
Mr.. Graham | always good girl In old
country ana mere. ! 80 TO confession. l
always keep good. Mr.. Lestaire. he kiss
me, say bad tings TO me- He scare me.
l afraid II ! stay ] no be good girl. SO
| run queek away. | never dare come back.
That Mr. Lestaire he one bad man, one
devil"
Dcky whistled softly.
80 that was it?" he said. well. that
was just about what that pup would do.
That was one reason l got out of our
housekeeping arrangements. He set too
swift pace for me. and that going
some in those days"
He turned to Katie, smiling.
You see, you don't have to be afraid
any more. I'm respectable married man
now. and it's perfectly safe fer you to
work here. Mrs. Graham will take care
Of you. Run along about your work now,
that's n good girl"
Katie glggled appreciatively. Her mer-
curial 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,
| serve"
She hastened to the kitchen, and turned
To Dicky inquiringly.
DICKY EXPLAINS 1T ALL
'T 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"
II didn't know you had ever kept house
in a fat before Dicky."
1T was a very short experience" he re-
turned only three months Four of us.
Lester, Atwood. Bates and myself, pooled
our rather scanty funds and rented a small
apartment. We advertised for n general
houseworker, and Katie answered the ad-
vertsement She had been over from
Poland only a year, and was greener than
grass She lived at a cousins somewhere
on the East Side and she used to annoy us
awfully, getting to the fiat early in the
morning and cleaning our living room while
we were trying to sleep. But she was a
crackerjack worker, we put up with her
superfuous energy in cleaning. Then one
day l discovered her standing with a letter
in her hand, looking off into space with