Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-13
..NIADGE, is this you? Whatever has
1fl happened"

..MADGE is this you7 Whatever has
1Nl happened"
There was note Of distinct annoyance
in Dicky's voice as II came over the phone
from the studio Even as l answered won
dered vaguely If he was piqued because
had called up the studio I'm his absence aud
discovered that Grace Draper, his beautiful
protege and model. was there.
! put the thought from me as unworthy.
] would not believe that Dicky had intended
10 deceive me His annoyance, OF course,
was due to his fear that something might
have happened since he left the house,
Nothing is the matter" | said quickly,
Tbut you have your mothers trunk checks
and she Is anxious about them
by jove! :" Dckys voice was fun Of con-
sternation. 81 forgot everything about those
trunk checks until this minute should
have. attended to them yesterday. but
he hestated then finished lamely---"I didn't
have time"
I felt my face flush as though Dicl<y
could see me The reason why he did not
have time to see TO his mothers trunks ON
the day OF her arrival touched a subject
any allusion to which would always bring
a flush to my face.
Yesterday had sent a melodramatic whirl-
wind Of happenings and emotions into my
life. had He'd from DclSy's angry insults,
had hidden a final farewell TO my brother
cousin, Jack Beckett. and had been restored
to Dicky's arms through that brother
cousins interyention.
was still too shaken with the varying
emotions ] had experienced the day before
to bear well any reference to them, no mat
ter how casual
Fortunately, Dcky too much taken
mp with his own remissness to notice my
silence.
"Ill go out this minute and attend to
them" he said Try TO keep the matters
mind diverted from them If you can, Bet
ter get her away on your sightseeing trip
as soon as possible"
she says she doesn't wish to go until her
trunks arrive" / conscious OF my
mother-in-law's tall stately figure standing
near me spoke. Whatever else she may
be- she Is not fussy, impatient woman.
At any rate, she made no attempt 10 inter
rupt the conversation, simply stood still and
listened.
81 KNEW HE'D FORGOTTEN!
What rot" Dicky calculated inelegantly.
She'll do no sightseeing today II she waits
for those trunks unless | can find some ex-
pressman who will move faster than any Of
his breed ever moved before. I suppose
she's in an awful wax about them, isn't
she?"
"Of course she is anxious about them"
returned, realizing the difficulty OF conduct
ing a conversation with Dcky concerning
his mother in her presence.
"Oh yes, she Is anxious" mimicked
Dicky. Il can see her. 1t is little old me
that will be anxious If can't get an ex-
pressman started with them, But make her
understand one thing. There is no possi-
bility Of their getting there much before
nd IL will he nrDbablV 2 q O'Clock
in the afternoon when they arrive. Katie
can attend to them perfectly well Tell her
so. Get her out on her trip and keep her
mind off the trunks, for heavens sake"
Having thus shifted his responsibilities 10
my shoulders, Dicky blithely hung up the
receiver. l turned to his mother.
well !" she demanded.
"He is going out now 10 attend to the
trunks" ] said.
'aThere! knew he had forgotten them,
she exclaimed, with little malicious
feminine triumph running through hel
tones. when will they be here?"
mot before noon at the earliest" re
peated DiclSy's words in as matter -of-fact q
way as possible. Probably not until oi
o'clock in the afternoon. We might al
well start on our trip. Katie Is perfectly
capable of attending to them"
My mother-n-law frowned. I could SCI
that she was hesitating between the desire
| to get out into the city and the wish 70 SCI
that her belongings had not been hurt II
| any way,
-Are you sure that your maid 10 perfectl,
| honest?" she demanded at last I gave
quick. involuntary glance toward the iSitchei
| door. ] knew that Katie was not abov'
listening to conversations I certainly di'
| not wish her to hear this one
SURE OF KATIEs HONESTY
Mrs Graham followed my look. '-rh'
| door IN closed" she said quickly. "I wa
| sure of that before I spoke" / could no
resist little mental tribute to my mother
| in-law's sang froid.
"You have not answered my question.