New Britain herald., 1917-07-23
Who is the Person Who Frightened
 Baby Marion?

The screams of little Marion Nor ton, Lillian's child, held us all terror stricken, motionless for an instant. That is, all but Lillian. With a moth CTS instinct she had turned at the first shriel1 and had dashed swiftly up the stairs We were not far behind her, however, and as we reached the top of the stairs we saw the child rush into her mothers arms.
 What is it, my precious?" Lillian asked soothingly, sitting down in a chair and gathering the child to her while I snatched a blanket from the bed and covered the little thing warm ly. What frightened your"
 Marion was too frightened to ans wer for moment or two. She simply sobbed convulsively, but finally man. aged to get out the choking words.
 Somebody looked in at that win dow at me-
 The window at which she pointed looked out upon a small upper bal cOny, from which steps led to the low CT story. It would have been an easy matter, however, for anyone with even slight acrobatic skill to climb the posts supporting the little veranda. But we all looked at each other incredulous- ly-the thing seemed too preposter- ous.
 The men rushed to the window, however, and opening it stepped out upon the balcony. There was no snow upon the roof, so it was impos- sible for any trace of footsteps to prove or to disprove the chllds as- sertion. But the child screamed again as she saw them outside.
 Don't let her come in! Don't let her get mel"
 "Her!" The word struck home to Robert Savarin, Dicky and me, al- though it meant nothing to Lillian and the Durkees.
 What Robert Savar.in Said.
 Only the day before Robert Savarin had arrived at our door almost in state of collapse because he had seen the face of the woman known as Mrs. Allis looking out of a car window after he and Dicky had alighted at Marvin. I had trembled for the keep ing of his newly found sanity, for the sight of the woman whom he had once called wife and who had ruined his life, had affected him terribly. I had also done a little private trem- bling on my own account, for l had reason to dread Mrs. Allis I could still hear her vindictive voice threat ening to ''get even with me, because I had spoiled her plot to steal thes val uable collection of Savarin paintings at the farmhouse of his sister, Mrs. Cosgrove.
 It was almost too melodramatic to think of Mrs. Alis prying about our lonely house at night. Besides, a wom- an could never have climbed that bal cony.
 As if Robert Savarin read my thoughts he said in a low tone while the rest were occupied in looking for traces of the intruder:
 "She was once a circus acrobat
 I looked at him startled.
 You think it was she, then?" l asked, tremb bling,
 I'm afraid so,," he answered. But there is no need to alarm the others, especially Mrs. Underwood. Better let them think it is all the childs imagi- nation. But I shall keep watch to- night"
 The information in his voice as he spoke Lillian's name told me some thing that knew the man himself did not guess as yet. But knew that the old feeling for Lillian which l was sure he had had in the old days was being revived, and had conquered his fear of Mrs. Alls.
 Lillian is Not Deceived.
 He went directly to Dicky after leav- ing me, and l knew he was repeating his advice to give out the impression r1 fricr result of imagination. Dicky rose to the occasion at once.
 i've found out what it was," he said, and I knew by the expression of his eyes that his imagination was be- ginning to work. "There's a piece of white cloth caught in a bough of the tree that overhangs this balcony. The wind swept the bough along the win dow and Marion saw the white cloth and thought it was a woman's face.'
 1T didn't either." Marion, who had been soothed to quiet in her mothers arms, raised her head and gazed hy sterically and defiantly at Dicky. Ut was a woman's face, I tell you, and she had such black eyes and such black hair, and she wasn't as tall as mother Or Auntie Madge, and she wasn't as short as Mrs Durkee. I'd know her anywhere. She wasn't any old cloth, she was a bad bad woman.'
 The child's words trailed off into another burst of frightened sobb1ng, and her mother warned us with her eyes to say no more.
 Mrs. Durkee," I said softly, wont you take these men downstairs and entertain them? I will stay With Lillian till Marion is quieter."
 Little Mrs. Durkee nodded efficient ly and in another moment Lillian and I were left alone with the child.
 Until Marion was finally asleep and
 Ansam,. A. PINKUS,
 Eyesdght Specialist