South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-15
WHY DID MRS. AILIS INVITE
MADGE TO HER ROOM FOR
A CUP OF TEA?

Dicky and l stood for a long be-
wildered moment gazing at the cur
/ tanned window of the tiny house in
I the queer little clearing near the
/ Cosgrove farmhouse. The curtain
was still shaking as IL held by the
tremulous hand OF the mysterious
man who had just drawn it aside to
peer out at US. Dicky watched its
trembling for a little as if fascin-
ated. then catching my hand, he
whirled me swiftly about face and
fairly raced me down the path we
had just come.
Il don't want these Cosgroves 70
get the idea we are spying on them"
he explained as he hurried me along.
I'VE will go back TO the entrance
to this path, then beat along down
( the stream TO the farmhouse"
What does it all mean. Dicky?"
queried breathlessly.
We'll! for heavens sake, don't
expect me 10 discuss that here!" ne
retorted impatiently. Wait till we
get out Of this"
| QEltCltu a HULt VI dhAACNg III has
voice. It gave me the key 10 his
haste and Impotence. He believed
the man in the tiny shack who had
looked out at us. and whom 1 had
previously encountered while fish
ing, to be a dangerous maniac. He
was rushing me away for fear the
man should escape, follow US and
harm me.
could not share his misgiving,
however. The memory OF the mans
child-like expression and voice. and
of his unobtrusive kindness when he
helped me TO catch my first trout
was too fresh in my mind to allow
me to be obsessed by any fear Of
him.
But I did not utter my thoughts
aloud Dicky was in no mood for
contradiction. He was thoroughly
uneasy, and not until he had drop
ped behind him the curtain Of vines
which masked the little path, and.
listening carefully, assured himself
that no footsteps followed ours, did
he slacken his pace
This place is getting on my
nerves" he declared, as we picked
our way along the edge Of the
stream. IT'S too blasted mysterious
for me. I've a notion to chuck the
whole thing, go farther up the
mountains tomorrow and find an
other place"
"Oh. Dicky!" I protested, and
leave all this mystery and the plot
to steal the collection OF pictures in
the Cosgrove parlor! Why. it's all
just like a story book. I never was
so thrilled in my life before"
Mrs. COsgrOve's Welcome.
And you want 10 be in at the
finish, to confront the willy Mrs. Allis
and hiss: 'Ah-ha. me proud beauty.
have known all from the fir-r-st,
or words to that effect. don't your
Dicky Knocked good-naturedly. well.
have II your own way, but don't
blame me If that maniac they have
locked up back there gets out and
gives you a good fright"
Hes not a maniac" retorted
spiritedly, land l am not one bit
unbalanced, but l am sure / shall go
out of my mind altogether IL 1 do
not find out soon who he is and why
all this mystery is made about him.
Remember. you promised 70 tell me
all you surmised about him"
Eyes. but not here" Dicky's tone
grew suddenly serious. The woods
around here are too blamed full OF
freaks for me-picture thieves. mys
terious maniaCs-I beg your pardon
eccentric gentlemen, clever villain
esses-let's get into the shelter OF
our own room before we discuss
things. Here we are at the foot Of
the Cosgrove back yard, anyway 1
hope it won't take her long TO cook
these trout"
Mrs. Cosgrove. smiling. cordial and
efficient met US at the door.
what a splendid catch" she eX-
) claimed. I'll cook enough for your
suppers tonight and save the res.
for your breakfast"
you won't do anything Of the
kind" Dicky retorted heartily. Cook
enough for everybody. We couldn't
enjoy them II the others did not
share them"
We'll" Mrs Cosgrove conceded
I'll cook enough TO give those two
young men from the city a good
taste. To the rest OF us here. you
know. trout isn't as much OF a nov
city as beefsteak. and Mrs. Allis has
gone TO the city She will not be
back until nearly o'clock, and will
have had dinner"
4 Light Knock.
Her tone intimated that she would
take no especial pains for Mrs. Allis,
whom I was sure she disliked.
wondered what she would say II she
knew as I did that Mrs. Allis was
planning 10 steal the pictures paint
ed by Robert Savarin, Mrs. Cos
groves brother.
I tingled with excitement at the
thought Of what the end of the week
would bring forth when, according
20 the plan we had overheard In the
woods. Mrs. Allis intended 20 exc
cute her plan. The thought OF il
savored all my supper. I suppose it
was because my life before I met
/ Dicky had been so humdrum, go