New Britain herald., 1917-07-17
Why Does Robert Savarin's Letter
Cause Lillian to Exclaim "What all
Omen!"?

Omen!"?
At Lillian's request I repeated my
story of Mr.. Drake, the mysterious
| dinner guest whom Dicky had
| brought home. and who later had
questioned me so closely as to my ia
| theirs whereabouts. She listened at
! tentively and two or three times in
| terrupted me by a question as to the
| visitors appearance and manner OIL
| speech.
81 am glad you told. me this she
said when | had finished, for two
reasons. 1 think I shall be able to
help you, and-it gives me some
thing to think about, to work on.
when I need it most"
do you really think my father Is
in danger?" I asked.
81 don't know" she answered
frankly. But this much I can tell.
am very sure this man Drake is an
agent of some government, perhaps
this, perhaps one on the other side
of the water I don't know him
under the name of Drake, but his ap-
pearance as you describe him coin
cides with that of a man I know
under another name, and who is
under deep obligations to me.
why he's seeking your father, of
course, I cannot imagine. But I know
that rumor has connected your ia
theirs name with mysterious enter
prises under the South American
governments, and you know there is
always intrigue, even danger, about
that sort of thing. But 1 believe 7
can find out what is at the bottom of
it all if I can have time enough, and
you say this Drake promised he
wouldn't annoy you about it again."
mot unless it should become alb
solutely necessary. Those were his
words" I returned.
Then I shall have plenty of time
to work." she said in relieved tone.
'In the mean time. don't you think
it would be a good idea for you to re-
main in ignorance of your fathers ad-
dress if he should write to you again
You are such a transparent creature,
you know
She was smiling family now, and I
rejoiced in the knowledge that her in
terest in my worry over my father
had drawn her thoughts from her
own troubles.
You really are a mind reader" I
returned. II was just going to ask
you to open and read my letters from
my father addressed to me that come
to your home. and then to relay to
me only such items as are most nee
essarN to know. Then 7 can truthfully
say that I do not know where he is"
Just what l was about to suggest"
she answered. and now suppose we
drop all painful discussion and have
cup of tea
She put out her hand to the bell
which connected the library with Bet
tvs quarters in the kitchen, and gave
it three sharp, little rings.
Three rings mean tea" she ex-
planned. 1T saves Betty a trip to
find out what 1 want, and keeps her
in good humor. We have quite
code Of signals, she and t.
I absently acquiesced. for as I open
ed in my handbag to take out fresh
I looked down upon Robert
Savarin's letter to Dicky, which I had
brought with me in response to
Dickys request
The Strange Contrast.
The sight of the letter startled me.
Dicky had wished me to ask Lillian
to help entertain the famous artist
when he should make us his long
promised visit. I demurred, remem-
boring Lillian's confidence concerning
her romantic girlhood alteration for
Robert Savarin, and feeling that in
Justice to her husband she should not
meet the man she had not seen for so
many years.
Was it an omen that these two let
ters should come into Lillian's life at
one time? The one from her hus-
band cruelty, mockingly severing all
relations between them, the other a
virtual message from the first mali
who had caught her fancy.
What have you concealed in your
she queried lightly. IAN
Internal machine?"
81 Will Help You"
mo, only most innocuous let
ter" I returned trying to keep my
voice at the same careless pitch
"Dicky received it last night from
Robert Savarin and asked me to bring
it along to YOU"
From Robert Savarin," she echoed
slowly, and I saw her lips whiten.
Let me see it,"
She held the sheet of notepaper in
her hands for a long minute before
opening it. Then she read it's contents
twice before she looked up.
$50 he is coming here" she said at
last in a low controlled voice. why
did Dicky wish me to see it,
I stared at her in amazement: It.