South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-01
REVEL ATOMS OFA WIFE

phone. had feared that If my
mOther-in-law were indeed az the
Marvin house she might answer the
phone. and 1 had no desire TO hear
the brunt Of her displeasure, if she
were. as Lillian described her, "in
wax over something"
But Katie's tones were not her
usual ones, full Of carolliug light
heartedness Instead Of the familiar
"Oh Missis Graham is dot you?
so gladi" with which she was wont
90 greet a call of mine over the
telephone, her answer was low and
cautious Yes. dis is Grahams,"
she said, and then with a little gasp
as she recognized my voice I heard
her mutter a lOw-toned command to
Jim.
Make dot door shut, jim. no
noise"
jim must have obeyed her man
date literally. for I heard no sound
Of a closing door. But Katie spoke
quickly. softly into the receiver.
"NIissis Graham. say notings. don't
tell you called oop. but COON home
joost as quick as you can. Do old
voman's is here, and she so mad she
ioost raise one hell all time. Goot-
by. I no want her 10 catch me al
phOne!"
Why Dicky Decided TO "Humor
Mother"
Wen Is mother there2"
Dicky's voice sounded a staccato
note as I turned from the telephone
in our room at the Hotel Sydenham.
from which i had just talked TO
Katie in our Marvin house.
Yes" L returned laconically. 70
relieve his evident anxiety. We had
come back from our autumn outing
In the Catskill mountain to find that
Dicky's mother had checked out
from her rooms I'm the hotel where
we had left her and had left no ad-
dress behind.
What's up? Did Kate tell you ?"
Dicky demanded
Katie is evidently as much at sea
as we are" / returned, smiling de-
murely "She implored me TO
COON home qvick. as de old vOm-
ans was so mad she joost raise ore
hell all time.
DiclIy roared his appreciation Of
Katies dilemma, then his face
ciouded.
Mothers getting these tantrums a
bit too often" he said. It's as bad
as living in a Jail, this never know
ing when you're going 10 have a fit
Of the sulks shot Ut you. I'm going
70 have il out with her some time
soon"
I made no reply to this speech,
although I secretly sympathized with
Dicky's words. After frowning a
minute he spoke again:
well, it's after 9 O'Clock, Would
YOU ike TO drop i'm at one Of the
cabarets for a little while or are
You tired enough to go straight to
bed?"
WHY Aren't we going out to
Marvin tonight?' I asked.
Not on your golden wedding
/ day" Dicky returned emphatically.
Plenty of time tomorrow to get in
to the scrape."
/ But Katie expects US home" I
T protested weakly.
/ III alter little Katie's expecta-
/ tons then he retorted. taking
down the telephone receiver.
Madge Masks Concern.
Katie, this is Mr. Graham" ne
said when he had secured our num-
\ ber Tell my mother that Mrs
/ Graham and 1 viii be out tomorrow
morning after breakfast What's
that? Oh. all right Goodbye"
He turned back to me grinning
I broadly.
The mater must be on the ram
/ page" he said. Katie confded TO
F, me that she was asleep. and dot
not for three tousand dollar in her
/ hand would she wake her up"
"I do wonder what can have hap
pened Co upset her so2" I worried
Perhaps she has found out your
/ secret past and is going 10 free me
from your clutches?" Dicky said
lightly.
The words so lightly spoken az
fected me curiously. OF course, ]
had no past. my life had always been
an open book, but the conviction
came 20 me suddenly that my
mother-in-law's anger had some
thing 70 do with Robert Gordon, the
mysterious South American million
aire who had made me so uncom-
Portable by trying 70 find out my
identity, and who-after having az
last obtained an introduction e
Dicky and through him 10 me-had
told me that he had known my
mother and father
knew that Robert Gordon was
$50 staying AT the Sydenham. How
or En- what manner. he had angered
my mother-in-law ! could not ina
sine. but 1 was sure that in some un-
explained manner he would be
found 20 be the reason for her
wrath.
But &c would never do for me "a
let Dicky guess my thoughts.
/ knew. although he had said nothing
only looked at me curiously. that
he had resented my asking Nr. Cor
don 20 our home that ne might tel
me or my mother. and did not
wish 90 turn his thoughts I'm the di.
.-..+t.., 90 tho v7,1-efa-ioua million.