New Britain herald., 1917-12-07
REVELATIONS OF A WIFE
By ADELE GARRISON

, and hid in the closet in order to find l them out. But the presence of two 1 other women would lead at once to l speculation as to how you got there. I shan't be any longer than can help. so don't be frightened. But the se- | cret of this entrance must be kept" "I Have Needed You.' It was characteristic of Lillian that she did not wait for any answer or assurance upon our part that we would do as she wished, but proceed ed at once upon the difficult task of getting into the other closet without the slightest noise. So we'll did she accomplish her task, after taking us with her into the dark closet leading into hers that it was only by putting out my hand and touching the wains- coting instead of her gown that found out she had gone.
 Katherine and I chung close to each other afraid to move, to utter the slightest whisper, for fear we might hamper Lillian in whatever she was doing on the other side of the wains- coting.
 It seemed hours that we stood there, but it was in reality less than 15 min utes before we heard the door of the
 
 coting slid back with Lillian's face on the other side of the opening, and in another minute we were back in her library with no indication anywhere that we had ever been out of it. II don't know what to think,' she said, and her tone was as worried as her face. Betty is in the kitchen, her sleeves to her elbows, busy with one of her special buildings for dinner. l know from her appearance and my knowledge of her that she has been right there for half an hour at least. And the nurse looks as if she hadn't stirred from her place in Mrs. Nor tons room for hours. Marion has been painting pictures as she calls it, in her drawing books. And there isn't another soul in the house. have been all over it, even looking under beds and doing other foolish and futile stunts. But I must make sure first that nothing has been disturbed here.''
 She strengthened herself and drew us to her, one on each side.
 Girls she said almost solemnly, T have needed you in this work, for a long time. I need not tell yo u, I think, that I am in the service; you have guessed that. It is a delicate matter that only a trusted few, of whom MT. Cabineros is one, and Mary in the next house another, know that I am any other than my everyday self. You can be of great assistance to me in any number of ways. I am al- lowed to choose my own helpers if 1 personally vouch for them. But it is an exacting, trying service, and I don't wish you to enter it unless you fully count the cost and are prepared to make many sacrifices of time and your own preferences. So if you wish to stop right here I will not be dis pleased. I shall be sure of your si- lence as to what you have seen, and of your friendship at any rate.'
 What Is Missing?<
 You can be sure of more than that, Lillian,' I said quietly. II am With you in this, no matter what happens
 And also,' Katherine added promptly.
 II was sure of it," Lillian returned. And now to work. You are going to see some of the inner secrets of the sanctuary. This room was fitted up for me by artisans who were them selves trusted members of the serv- ice, 30 that no one could know of my hiding places. There's only one which anyone but myself ever saw That is the little wall safe you saw me open once, Madge. Betty was cleaning the bookcases one day and accidentally pushed the spring. I had not sup posed anyone who didn't know about it could open it.. But I explained that it was for my valuables, and. as she is as honest as they make 'em, l have never worried about it, for from that time I have kept only my personal pa pers in it, nothing pertaining to the government. I'll begin with that, I think"
 She walked to the bookcases and pulled at one of the sections, which opened, disclosing behind it the little wall safe from which. long ago, had seen her take the cherished hidden picture of her little daughter. She looked over the contents of the safe carefully, then turned to us, her face white.
 "Either someone else has learned of this or Betty has been in this room since I left, and must have a duplicate key. The things in here aren't at all as I left them. They've been thor oughly ransacked, evidently by some- one in search of something special"
 HX- SEED f.