The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-05-30
HOW HARRY UNDERWOOD MET
MRS. GRAHAM.

you don't seem delighted TO see
me. am surprised at you"
Harry Underwood lowered above
me. his handsome face marred by the
little leering smile he generally wears,
his bold, laughing eyes staring down
into my Mortified ones.
do not believe that ever woman
OF more superstitious time dreaded
the evil eye as I do the glance of
Harry Underwood.
He is fast becoming a boyle to me.
He hobs up in my path at the most I'M
expected times. And whenever l see
him there come involuntary to my
mind the cool. matter-of-fact tones of
Lillian Gale. and the astonishing words
which she uttered at my chatting dish
party: You're not used to our ways,
or shouldn't bother to tell you this,
But can see that you are much an
noyed at Harry. and l don't blame
you. But you mustn't mind him. He
Is really harmless. He falls in love
with every new face he sees, has a
violent attack. then gets over it Just
as quickly. You are an entirely new
type to him, so | suppose his attack
this time will be a little more pro-
long"d He'll make violent love to
you behind my back and before my
face, but you mustn't mind him.
understand, and I'll straighten him
out when he gets too annoying"
] tried TO assure myself that Mrs
Underwood had been mistaken, but
the look In her husbands eyes when
ever he met mine always made me I'M
comfortable. There was bold admira-
ton in every glance, but also lurking
behind II there was touch of malevo-
lence. l was much puzzled. too, by
his presence in the Aquarium. 1t
seemed to me that of all places in the
world. it would be the most unlikely
TO appeal to him.
How do you do" I managed to
gasp. trying to be courteous and chill
Ing in the same breath Even with
my slight experience in such matters
] saw that he had been drinking heav-
!ly and that the two men that stood
behind him. and who were evidently
anxious to avoid attention. were In
even worse condition than he.
How do you dol" he Knocked, seiz-
ing my hand and bringing II almost up
to his shoulder in a burlesque of a
frigid greeting. You don't seem glad
to see me at all. You don't seem sur
prised. either. You ought to be eaten
up with curiosity to know what brought
me down to this godforsaken place.
Worst hole ever struck | know you
think SO, too"
How to answer him or what to do
did not know. He evidently had been
drinking enough to make himself ir-
responsible. He did not give me time
to ponder long. however. "Who is
your lady friend?" he burlesqued. In.
troduce me-
A man less audacious than Harry
Underwood would have been daunted
by the picture my mother-in-law pre-
sented as he turned toward her Her
figure was drawn up to its extreme
height. and she was surveying him
through her lorgnette with an express
sion that held disgust mingled with
the curiosity an explorer might feel at
meeting some strange specimen of
animal in his travels
Mrs. Graham, this is Mr.. Under
wood ! managed to stanmer "Mr.
Underwood, Mrs. Graham. Dicky's
mother"
My mother-in-law may overawe or
binary people, but Harry Underwood
minded her disdain no more than he
would have the contempt Of a stately
Plymouth Rock hen. She had lowered
the lorgnette as | spoke. and he
grabbed the hand which still held it,
shaking 1t as warmly as if it BELONGED
TO some long-lost friend