New Britain herald., 1918-03-13


Id you would call vel
4tor. We shall hear her
before she's here. And
fs with Mother Morton and
k8N drew a chair close to her oNn,
tfd bending down stirred the crack
ling wood OF the fire which her friends
always count on finding in her homo
until the hot days Of the real sum-
MGR make it a discomfort instead OF
q pleasure.
These old fashioned stone houses
are always chilly In the late afternoon
when the heating plants aren't going"
she had said to me once in explana-
ton Of her hobby.
Pm glad they ares'' I had returned,
! "if it gives a pretext for an open fire."
and her smile Of comprehension had
cemented our comradely Hiking for the
heart and hearth Of the house"
"How Did He Eook?"
Mr.. Underwood came to the
! library shortly after I arrived there"
I began.
How did ne look" Lillian inter
rupted, Prosperous or shabby? Had
he been drinking?
"F'orgive the Interruptions, Madge
but it is vitality necessary that [ knew
these things. Harry is always a
walking barometer OF his condition.
Gle appeared decidedly prosper
ous,'' 7 answered, rcmemb ering the
roll Of bills from which he had taken
the one he had bestowed upon tho
l.
he had been drinking any more
than
L stopped in embarrassment.
Than he generally does" Lillian
| finished coolly. "H-m! don't
! know whether T like that report or
not. If he's not drinking more than
usual he knows exactly what he's do
ing, and If he's prosperous it must
mean that his name is on that heIlish
payroll, for 7 happen to know thcrc's
nothing doing among the old enter
prises which used to provide him with
funds"
I had Il shrewd suspicion that
prominent among the enterprises
which used to provide him with
funds was LilIian's own purse. But
that was in no possible sense my at
, fair. SO I fastened to continue my
story
Gillian Is TnSistcnt
BEGINNING at my discovery that
Grace Draper had accompanied him
to the door of the theatrical exhibit,
7 told Lillian everything that had
occurred, including our luncheon at
! the Fleur dc Lis tea room, and the
unexpected entrance there Of Dicky
and Edith Fairfax. I conscientiously
! tried, however, to eliminate wholly
| my own impressions of Mr.. Under
| wood and his actions. ] meant that
| Lillian should get the real news Of
my little expedition under her direc-
| ton, leaving the details until she
called for them.
She listened attentively and without
interruption until 1 had finished. Then
she said quietly:
"And now I want the real meat OF
! the thing"
What do you mean?'' STAN
! mered, almost upsetting my cup of
| tea under the searching regard of her
! wonderful eyes. Betty had brought
up the tea service while 7 was in the
middle of my story, and we had
talked of immaterial things until she
! had gone downstairs again.
'What do you freally think about
him." Lillian returned. Does Grace
Draper seem to have any hold on
him? What Is his attitude iowa I'd
you? And what do YOU think is his
real reason for mixing up in this
| thing?"
His attitude toward Grace Draper
| reminded me OF that Of a business
man toward a partner whom he dis
liked. and to get rid of whom he was
onyl awaiting an opportunity" L re-
piled slowly, for that was the idea
| which had struck me when [ over
side the door of the library.
'I thought So" Lillian returned
with a note OF satisfaction in he1
voice. 'Now for tho other questions
rs Harry as much in love with you rs
ever7'
She looked at me shrewd'y, and
struggle as I might. 7 couldn't control
the flush that covered my face.
.That's unkind of me. l. know, -
Lillian said. "but | wanted to be sure
You needn't answer. 7 can see he is
for which his particular devil be
! praised
And now for tho last and most
important query OF all. Did that
half-clairvoyant intuition Of yours get
any line on what is behind his be
longing to that cang?"
T wanted oh n rive her