South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-20
HOW DICKY MET THE IN

said, was looking at me 50 intently
from the table near ours IN the Sy-
denham grill room.
Ny intuition told me at once the
identity OF the gazer. Tt must be the
man whose uncanny mournful look
had so distressed me when / was
waiting for Lillian Underwood in the
little reception room at the Syden-
ham the preceding Monday. the man
who had followed US 10 the little tea
room, who had even taken the same
train 20 Marvin with me.
I remem bered Jim's hurried story
OF the mysterious stranger who had
bribed the Crest Haven taxi driver
10 reveal my identity to him. after
had evaded his scrutiny by getting
of the train at Crest Haven instead
OF Marvin.
felt as II I could not lift my
ewes 20 look at the man my mother
in-law indicated, and yet 1 knew /
must glance casually at him II
were TO avert the displeased sus-
picion which 1 already saw creeping
into her eyes.
So, with a mighty effort I pulled
myself together and looked casually
over Dicky's shoulder 70 the table
Of which his mother had spoken
with which I met the gaze dreaded.
for my intuition was correct. With
his elbow resting on the table and
his hand propping his head. the man
whose espionage had 50 disturbed
me. sat gazing at me. utterly oblivi-
Gus OF both the viands before him
and the people surrounding him
When my eyes met his he gave
not the slightest sign that he knew
] was looking at him. simply con-
tinued bis steady gaze, which had
something OF wistful mournfuiness in
st. I averted my eyes as quickly as
possible. and tried 70 look absolutely
UncO1cerped-
II am sure he cannot be looking
at me-" 1 said. lightly. Il do not
know him at all
Between Two Fires.
hoped that my mother-in-law
would not notice my e@asion, but
she was too quick for me.
You may not know him, but haze
YOU ever seen him before?" she ask
ed. shrewdIy.
Really, mother" Dicky inter
posed. his face darkening. you're
going a little too far with that cate
chism. Madge says she doesn't
know the man, that settles it. BY
the way. Madge. is he annoying you?
II he is. can settle him in about two
seconds"
"Oh. no." I said nervously. Il
don't think the mans really looking
az me at all: he's simply gazing out
into space, thinking. and happens TO
be facing this way. IL would be SUI
premeIy ridiculous 10 call him to &C
count for IT,"
NV mother-in-law snorted, but
made no further comment. evidently
Eilenced By Diclxy's reprOOf.
may have imagined IL. but Il
seemed 10 me that Dicky looked at
me a little curiously when 1 protest
ed my belief that the man was sim
ply absorbed IN thought and not
looking at me at all.
But I had no time 10 speculate on
MS thoughts. I knew that II kept
my mother-in-law silenced and
Dicky from growing suspicious OF the
real state OF affairs I should have 20
mask my very real nervousness and
concern over the strangers scrutiny,
80 I addressed myself seriously to
she task OF keeping the conversation
al ball rolling so fast that neither
Diclv nor his mother would have
time 20 think again Of the stranger
whose gaze I felt. even with my back
Eurned toward him.
Perhaps He Mistakes-"
chatted about everything and
about nothing. piled Mother Graham
with questions as TO the hotels and
restaurants in the city where she
had formerly lived. Quizzed Dicly
as TO the names and idiosyncracies
or the men and women 20 whom he
nodded. and generally acted the part
or a rattle-brained woman enjoying
90 the full her evenings pleasure.
In the midst OF my chatter my
mother-in-law interrupted me-
Your mysterious admirer has
gone" she said. caustically. I'm
sure he must think he knows YOU,
Margaret. for ne kept looking back
as he went away af II hoping YOU
would look around
Perhaps he mistakes me for some
one. or sees "a resemblance 90 some
one ne has known" 7 said lightly
and then turned the talk again in
another channel
When we We're dalyinE with the
curiously moulded ices which Dicky
had ordered for dessert I saw his
eyes light mp as he caught sight OF
some one he evidently knew.
Pardon me just a minute viii
you ." he said. turning 90 his mother
and me. apologeticauy, "T see Bob
Simonds over there with bunch OF
fellows. Haven't see him in a econ S
axe. He's been over across the
pond iu the big mixup Didn't know
ne was back. 7 don't want any more
Of this ice anyway and when the
waiter comes. order cheese. coffee
and n cordial for us ai
He was gone iu another instant.
making his WAY with the swift de