South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-17
REVELATIONS OLA WIFE


bizarre situation in which we found
best we could circumvent the ma
chinations OF the clever, unscrupu-
lous woman in the next room.
For three or four days things went
on in their usual routine. Dicky and
L spent almost every glorious day
light hour out of doors. fishing in
the turbulent brook. tramping the
forest paths, or climbing the steep
mountain sides.
Mr.. COsgrove Odd Warning.
At night 1 was generally so dead
tired that it was a real effort each
evening TO accept Mrs. Allis' invita-
ton 10 drink tea with her in her
room. Not willing 10 arouse the
woman's suspicion by refusing her
urgent invitations 1 religiously held
to my nightly visit, although it was
all could do TO keep awake.
Thursday morning however, two
days bore the last of the week, +"
which we had heard Mrs. Allis
specify in her surreptitious interview
with her accomplice. an incident oc-
Cured which put out of my mind
for the time being all thoughts of
both the woman and the plot 10
steal the pictures in the farmhouse
parlor.
We had come down early TO
breakfast, Dicky and 1. as was our
daily custom, arrayed for fishing.
/ There was no one in the dining-room
save Mr.. Cosgrove. and 1 saw him
glance at our costumes. Then he
spoke cautiously. graphically. TO
Dicky.
Better keep your eyes peeled to-
day. Heard there was a fox skulk-
ing around"
To my surprise Dicky glanced at
me uneasily before he answered.
Evidently he understood the elder
mans references.
"AIl right, thanks" he replied,
I laconically But 1 saw that he was
thoughtful during the rest Of the
breakfast and as soon as the meal
was over he took Cosgrove aside, and
IL heard the two men talking
earnestly together.
When their conference was ended
/ he beckoned me TO come upstairs
/ again. I followed him. bewildered,
/ but certain that Dicky had been con-
IceaIing something from me. He is
| not an accomplished prevaricator,
and his manner was exactly like that
Of a schoolboy furtively trying 20
throw his teacher off the track Of his
| misdeeds.
"OH! NOTHING AT ALL!"
I Inc Cd
instead OF fshing?" he proposed,
Inonchalantly, but I saw that he was
watching me YEARLY as he spoke.
"Why?" I asked. We tramped
yesterday, and had so counted on
fishing today. What has happened
to change your mind ?"
ooh. nothing at ALL" Dicky as
sured me. hastily. But 1 don't feel
like fishing today. and I'm not going
to do it."
There was a sulky. arbitrary note
in his voice which I resented. With
toss Of my head I threw open the
door.
I'm going trouting." I said
spiritedly. 'ff I have TO go alone.
Dicky rushed after me, took me by
the shoulder. and swung me back
into the room.
you little idiot" he said, savage
". Il suppose I must tel you, would
have done 1t before, only I knew
you'd have one of your splurges Of
/ conscience.
/ Tell me what?' 7 demanded.
why. simply that we have been
/ ~ Ia MS
| Dicky explained. flushing awkward
/ lv-"trout season closed Aug. 81, but
\ the wardens can't be everywhere at
once. and there's a sort Of grape
vine understanding among the farm
ers-they're always tipped off when
/ he's around He's on the job just
\ now. so there's nothing doing"
\ WHAT HAPPENED IN MRS. Al
LIS ROOM.
True TO Dicky's prediction, Mrs.
ATis questioned me very adroitly
concerning our sleeping arrange
ments while we were drinking tea
/ together in her room. Remembering
the Injunction he had laid upon me
before I Joined Mrs. Allis. 1 an
swered all her questions fully, even
volunteering information. when all
the time / yearned 10 rebuff her
Icoldly for her smiling irnpertinence.
had 20 struggle all the time. too,
against losing myself in speculation
| as 10 the womans motive in invit-
ing me 70 her room and thus pump
/ ing me. That It had some bearing
upon her plan-which, unknown 10
/ her. I had discOvered-to steal the
paintings in the Cosgrove parlor. l
/ was certain But just how she eN-
pected TO use her knowledge OF our
rooms and habits in her scheme l
could not see.
OF course 7 realized the reasoS
I for her look ~ satisfaction in hear
ing that Dicky was a heavy sleeper
information which Dicky had laid
great stress upon my giving her.
Naturally. she would not like to have
light sleepers in the house when at
tempting a daring plan like hers.
But how the fact that Dicky slept
/ in the back room and I in the front
room could interest her was beyond
me. although Dicky had warned me
that she would ask me that very
thing