The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-01-17
REVELATIONS
.QfR'WlFE
How Dicky Met the Unknown.
H1 &eis GorrisoC

NHY heart almost stopped beating
V when ] heard my mother -in-laws
AA query concerning the man who,
she said, was looking at me so intently
from the table near ours in the Snydcn
ham grillroom.
My intuition told me at once the
identity OF the. gazer. II must be the
man whose uncanny mournful look had
so distressed me when ! was waiting
for Lillian Underwood in the little re.
ception room at the Sydenham the pre-
ceding Monday. the man who had iol-
lowed us to the little tea room. who
had even taken the same train TO Mar
yin with me.
| remembered Jim's hurried story OF
the mysterious stranger who had bribed
the Crest Haven taxi driver TO reveal
my identity to him, after ! had evaded
his scrutiny by getting of the train at
Crest Haven instead OF Marvin.
! felt as If | could not lift my eyes
to look at the man my mother -inlaw
indicated. and yet knew ! must glance
casually at him IL were TO avert the
displeased suspicion which ! already
saw creeping into her eyes.
So. with a mighty effort, pulled
myself together and looked casually
over Dicky's shoulder to The table OF
which hi, mother had spoken. ! really
feel proud Of the composure with which
| met the ga,e dreaded. for my intui-
ton was correct. With his elbow rest
ing on the table and his hand propping
his head, the man whose espionage had
so disturbed me, sat caring At me. ut
terly obvious of both the viands before
him and the people surrounding him.
When my eyes met his he gave not
the slightest sign that he knew wa,
looking at him. simply continued his
steady gaze, which had something OF
wistful m6urnfulness in IT, ! averte1
~ eyes as quickly as possible, and
tried to look absolutely unconcerned
IL am sure he cannot he looking at
me-" | sad lightly. II do not know him
at all"
Between Two Fires
| hoped that my mother law would
not notice my evasion, but she was too
quick for me.
You may not know him, but have
YOU ever seen him before" she asked,
shrewdly.
Really, mother" Dicky interposed,
his face darkening. you're going a
little too far with that catechism. il
Madge says she doesn't know the man
that settles IT, BY the way, Madge. is
he annoying you' II he is | can settle
him in about two seconds"
"Oh, no" said, nervously. II don't
think the mans really looking at me
at all; he's simply gazing out into
space, thinking, and happens to be fac
ing this way II would be supremely
ridiculous to call him to account for
IT,"
My mother -in-law snorted. bu, made
no further comment, evidently silenced
by Dicky's reproof,
may have imagined II. but i, seemed
TO me that Dicky looked at me a little
curiously when l protested my belief
that the man was simply absorbed in
thought and not looking At me at all.
But had no time to speculate on hi,
thoughlS | knew that u kept M,
motk(S.in law silenced and Dicky from
growing suspicious Of the real state o
affairs ] should have 10 mask my verl
real nervousness and concern over IN
strangers scrutiny, so ! addressed my
self seriously TO the task Of keeping tn
conversation ball rolling so fast tina
neither Dicky nor his mother woul
have time to think again OF the strange
whose safe I felt, even with my bacl
turned toward him.
sPsrhaps Ne Mistakss--"
l chatted about everything and abou
nothing. piled Mother Graham wit
questions a. 10 the hotels and restau
rants In the city where she had former
iy lived, quissed Dicly a. to the name
and idiosyncracies Of the men and WON
en- to whom he nodded. and aenerall
acted the part Of 4 rattle Drained won
an enjoying TO the full her evening
pleasure.
In the midst Of my chatter my moth
er-in-law interrupted me.
"Your mysterious admirer has gone,
she said, eaustically. I'm sure he mus
think he knows. you. Margaret. for h
kept looking back a. Ne went away, 4
II hoping you wcsld look around"
Perhaps he mistakes ne for son,
one. or see q resemblance TO some On
he has known" | said, lightly, an
then turned the talk again In anoths
channel
| When We we're dallyinG with the cul
iously nodded ices which Dicky hA
ordered Tor desert I saw hh eye liRl
up As ne caught sisht Of some one !
evidently knew.
Pardon me just . minute, will You
he said, turning to his mother and m
apoloaetically. II see Bob Simont
over there with bunch Of feiicw
J. Haven't seen him In q coon's age. He