New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-12-20
Madgc Matches Wits With Cousin
Agatha.

the next morning after my return with
Dicky from Lillian Underwood's. We
had come home to Marvin upon the
last train, and had fairly crept into
the house so as to disturb no one.
But Cousin Agatha's first words
showed that our infinite pains had
been useless so far as she was con-
cerned.
You made shorter stay than you
intended when you left yesterday
morning, didn't you, my dear?" she
queried in honeyed tones. II heard
You and Richard come in toward
morning, and wondered if he were
the cause of your change Of PLAN
IT don't understand you," 1 replied
coldly II don't remember saying
anything about staying any longer
than the evening when I left
''Oh! you didn't say anything!" she
returned with slight emphasis on
the verb, but you left SO hurriedly
that was afraid you would find your
room rather disordered when you
came back so 1 arranged things and
busted hit. And 1 couldn't help
noticing that you had taken some Of
your toilet articles and one of your
crepe nightdresses with you.''
She had been spying upon me. I
gave a little mental tribute to the
cleverness of the woman, even
through the cold anger that con-
sumed me. Ever since she had come
to our home she had been most off,
cious in Offering her help in every
imaginable branch of the domestic
routine. I had suspected, and now
was sure, that this role of NEEDLE
some Matty' was only q blind enabling
her to exercise her malicious espion-
age upon any Of us whenever she
chose to do so.
There was fear mixed with my an
ger for realized that Cousin Agatha,
old and poor as she was, could ham
per me greatly in the secret work with
which Lillian had entrusted me. Even
as I faced her I was conscious of
carrying upon my person a secret that
I must guard at any cost to myself.
And she was one Of the last persons
in the world I would wish to have
suspect me of being in the service.
It wasn't her, loyalty to her country
that I doubted, but her discretion
I might as we'll publish 1t in the local
weekly newspaper. She had been I'M
able to refrain even from letting me
know that she had been spying upon
me, and her watchful eyes. like those
malicious gloating.
"Aren't You Clever!"
Her look goaded my somewhat slug
gish brain to action. told myself
scornfully that IL couldn't match
wits with Cousin Agatha might as
well give up all idea Of ever helping
Lillian in the secret work.
Aren't you clever, Cousin Agatha ?"
la nn~11ry 80 k4n-
some Of my things with me, thinking
that II Mrs Underwood had come
back I would stay the night with her
and have an old-fashioned visit, for
haven't seen her for long time. But
she invited Dlcky and some friends for
dinner and the evening, and I, of
course, couldn't let him come home
without me. didn't say anything
about It because was afraid Mother
Graham might not like It. But there's
no use trying to keep anything from
you. is there7 You must have the
proverbial eyes in the back Of your
head
fiatter myself that my wuace held
Just the right note Of confused exas-
peEation at having my plan dascov-
cred! AT any rate, either that or my
apparent chagrined, admiring recog-
milton Of her perspicactty touched and
gratiaed her vanity.
I've been told that from child
hood" she said grimly. "And the
girls In the institution where I was
matron never thought it worth while
to try to fool me-"
couldn't repress an inward pity
ing shiver at the thought Of the hap
less girls committed to the tender
~ Aenn
voice and face showed nothing Of my
real feeling.
Madge Asks std
II wish you would do me a favor,
Cousin Agatha" I said humbfy, the
while my brain revolved a scheme
which had just come to me for dis
arming her meddlesome curiosity.
'You remember those queer looking
envelopes I. received In the mail yes
terday and the day before?''
IT should say dor All the eager.
suspicious curiosity Of the woman
showed in her eager eyes as she re-
piled.
well, they were from q woman to
whom I was once kind when she was
worthy Of kindness, but who became
very angry at me when I stopped
helping her after I found out what
kind Of woman she was. She evil
IDENTIFY is trying to Tighten me, for
the contents Of the letter are simply
silly, vile threats against me. I am
not particularly afraid Of her, but I
naturally don't wish to be annoyed
by her, and do not know how to
stop her writing these letters. You
see, she doesn't sign any name to
them. but am pretty sure Of her
handwriting. And you are 30 cleverl
T thought perhaps II any moro came
you would not mind looking at them
and giving me your advice about the
best way to deal with her."
Let me zee the ones you already