The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-02-15
pickY MAKES AN OFFER

That's not bad at ALL" she said.
'Of course. If it were large club you
could command much more, but It's
nice little sum for an afternoons talk.
TITS ridiculous." Dicky grumbled.
II know Madge. She'll not only have
to give up that one afternoon each
week, but she'll be studying and plan
ming ali the rest Of the week, she's so
blamed conscientious. And all for
twenty dollars. I'll tell you, Madge,
'phoue the old girl you've reconsider
ed. and I'll pay you twenty dollars
each week"
Let him rave" said Lillian He
will be sane by and by" Dicky made
a face at her, and she crossed over to
him and calmly boxed his ears as II
he had been a troublesome boy.
Il haven't time to listen to you." she
said. while l inwardly ragged at the
familiar way in which she treated
Dicky. "I'll be late for my dinner en-
Eagement If I don't hurry away. L
came over to ask you to eat dinner
with US Sunday Then we'll think up
something to do in the afternoon and
evening. We always dine Sunday at
2 O'Clock, a concession to that cook OF
mine. III never get another like her,
and if she only knew it 1 would have
Sunday dinner at 10 o'clock rather
than lose her. I do hope you can
come
There's nothing in the world to
hinder as far as know" said Dicky.
81 am SO sorry" I turned to Lillian
as I spoke My dismay was genuine,
for l knew how Dicky would view
my answer But could not possibly
come on Sunday. I have dinner en-.
gagement for that day which I cannot
break
For I had remembered as she spoke
that Sunday was the day when Jack
Beckett would arrive in the city; Jack.
the best friend I ever had. who had
been in the wilderness for over year,
and who had no knowledge Of my mar
rage. He had written to ask me to
dine with him on the day he reached
New York. / could not break that
engagement.
How Lit Saved the Day for Madge
If had suddenly thrown bomb at
Dicky he could not have looked more
surprised than he did when l said
had dinner engagement for Sunday,
and therefore, could not accept Lillian
Gales invitation.
Mrs. Underwoods face also held
look of establishment. but l could read
also in her expressive features that
she thought I was simply pretending
an engagement in order not to accept
her invitation.
"a dinner engagement" Dicky ejac-
ulated at last. why, Madge. you must
be mistaken We haven't any dinner
engagement for that day"
His face was beginning to reflect
Lillian Gales doubt of my sincerity.
Much as I dreaded reminding Dicky
anew of Jack Bicketts return from the
wilderness l saw that there was moth
ing else for me to do.
knew that he would be angry, but
hoped that he would wait until Lill-
ian went away before indulging in one
of his paroxysms of temper.
You haven't any," tried to speak
as calmly as l could. There is no
reason why you cannot accept Mrs.
Underwood's invitation if you wish.
But do you remember the letter I
received a week ago saying an old
friend Of mine whom I had not seen
for year would reach the city next
Sunday and wished an engagement for
dinner? There is no way in which
can postpone or get out of the engage
ment, for there is no way l can reach
my friend before Sunday"
had purposely avoided using the
words che" or "him.' hoping that
Dicky would not say anything to be-
tray the identity of the friend" who