New Britain herald., 1918-11-12
News For Women Readers and Theaterg0erS-

touch with an art editor to whom he
has promised some stuff. Ravens you
had any inkling of it %
fancied there was reproach for my
blindness in her voice, but [ had no
time for either introspection or self
accusation, however much | might in
dulge in them later.
mo, I haven't" I replied. But
that explains"
As Bad as THAT"
Explains what?" Lillian inter-
rupted peremptorily as my voice fall
tered.
"Dicky's utter exhaustion when he
comes home from his trips to the city.
lie goes straight to bed, and generally
stays there until noon the next day.
You see h eonly goes to town every
other day
He'd be dead if he went any
oftener" Lillian commented grimly.
'Now Madge, we've got to come down
to cases and put the cards on the
table. Either Dicky's a bit touched
and is trying to get lot of money put
away for the future, imagining he will
be in need or you're really up against
it. And if I'm to straighten this
tangle out it is vitality necessary that
1 know all about everything. So tell
me the truth, my dear"
Her keen eyes, with the kindly,
friendly light in them, searched mine.
I saw there was no change of de-
ceiving her. That she shrewdly
suspected the truth I was certain.
eff you call up against it being
worse than bankrupt, then we are
that" said bitterly.
CAS- bad as that?" she queried.
'Now don't mince matters. Give me
all the details. They're more neces-
sary than you know"
Madge Is Shaken.
So, beginning with my mother-in-
laws discovery of Dicky's checkbook,
[ outlined the history Of my financial
woes, ending with the gift of my
fathers generous check. Lillian lis
tened attentively, once or twice inter-
rupting me by a request to go over
some point again
80 you're all right for three
months to come barring any unusual
illness or expenditures, she COM
mented as 1 finished. Il suppose your
father is in shape to come to the
rescue again if anything unusual
should happen"
''I-don't-know," I said reluctant
ly. and then at Lillian's startled look
of inquiry I told her of the awkward
rnomentary hesitancy L had observed
in my fathers manner, and of the
strange telegram he had sent to DR..
Petit.
HIN! Looks bad" she com
mented. Nov look here my dear,
don't let any false sentiment stand in
your way. When Petit gets here you
find out from him the truth as to your
fathers affairs Your father will
never tell you, but you can get any
thing out of Petit. You know that,
and-this is no time for scruples.
More than Dicky's life depends upon
our being able to stop this studio
work.
Her voice was pregnant with
solemnity, intensity. 1 clutched at
her hand.
Lillian! What do you mean?'
She came over to me as l sprang to
nv feet. and put her warm, protecting
arms around me.
Brace up dear" she said you've
got to for Dicky. I've ferreted out the
one possibility you heard the ply
sician mention as the only handicap to
Dicky's return to perfect health, and
it's that one thing he's crafty risklng
now
''You-mean-his- / inter
rupted, breathlessly.
II mean his eyes" she returned
measuredly. There lies the only
danger, and worry about them and
other things-about which I haven't
found out yet, but which I'll certainly
discover soon---is the reason he isn't
getting well. BY the way I'd like to
take a look at that checkbook of the
Dicky- birds Do you suppose you
could manage to get it for me?"