New Britain herald., 1918-01-28

pected me of some vague underhand-
 ed action to trap me in which would
 be balm to her wounded vanity, l
 knew. But the knowledge troubled
 me little, save for the danger to the
 secret service work was doing under
 Lillian which might enSue from her
 inquistiveness.
 That danger, for the present. how
 ever, was obviated by Mother Gra- hams broken arm, which Cousin Agatha was nursing with a care and devotion curiously in contrast to her usual selfish, disa greeable manner. I
 knew that as long as my mother-in- law needed nursing I was compara- lively safe from her kinsw oman S med dlesome curiosity.
 ''What's the Matter?' It was little I thought or cared for Cousin Agatha's suspicious or, indeed, for anything in the world save the assurance of my husbands safety. All the morning I sat in my room with my door open ready to spring to the tele- phone at the first ring.
 It seemed to me that never had our telephone had so many rings. Trades men, little Mrs Durkee, strangers who had been given the wrong number I by the time Dicky's long-eXpected call came I was feverish with excitement. That you. Madge?" His voice calmed me with the assurance of his l safety, thrilled me as ] realized that ! it held no sulky information, but was 1 full of tenderness.
 "Oh, Dicky! Dicky!' I exclaimed as
 silly schoolgirl in her first love af- fair might have done. Pm so gSad | to hear your voice.
 uif irl- 1 Whats the matter, sweetheart? Your voice sounds weepy."
 i've been so upset about you, dear" I returned. and then rushed on 1 incoherently enough: 'Pemberton 1 Hospital telephoned me last night l they had q message for me from you,
 and until I found out they meant an
 other MT. Graham I imagined all sorts of terrible things
 l II haven't the slightest idea what you're trying to tell me-" Dicky de- 1 cIared with masculine obtuseness, l ''but it's too bad you've been worry ! ing. Incidentally, yours truly is ! mighty sorry he was such a boor yes terday over the phone. I've been put
 ting ashes on my head all morning.
 And I've tried to get you on tho phone ever since got into the city three hours ago. but I've had the busy , signal every time. You must have
 been settling the war with the powers | that be-
 Something Left Undonc. Not a syllable have I uttered over l that phone this morning, except Y es'. l No, and This is the wrong mum ber,' " l l declared gayly, too happy to notice 1 the irrational irritation in my hus- bands words. But think every one l in Marvin has called lis up this morn ing. I've been on edge over it all tho l forenoon. because I wanted to hear your voice so much, and to tell you
 how sorry I am about yesterday" l Sweetheart girl.' Dicky's voice
 came softly ever the phone, in one
 of the names which are sort of code
 between us. When icky says those { two words fa just that way I know
 that everything is all serene between
 my husband and me, tbat there's no further need for acologles or of any 1 words.
 There was perceptibie pause and then Dicl<y's voice again. this time in 1 a matter of fact information:
 1 ''I'll be out on the next train. Have l lust time to catch it. By the way. Lii l 'phoned me a lot of stuff this morn ing that I'll talk over with you when get there. So long"
 AS 1oc ked at my wrist watch to determine how long 1t would be be- fore Dicky reached hoIs sudden re-
 collection Of something left undona flashed upon me.
 The watch wore was still tho trick
 watch Lillian had given me, holding