South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-24

fumbling at the door of our living
room, a mufhed, sinister sound.
sat upright in bed listenins. What
could it be?
WHY MADGE BARRICADED HER
BEDROOM DOOR.
have always prided myself on
not knowing what fear is. but never
again can j boast in that direction.
The queer sound at thu keyhole of
the living room which L heard
shortly after midnight OF the even
ing when Dicky had gone to Lillian
Gales affair after a bitter quarrel
with me left me weak as a baby.
But 4 knew / must get up, and
that at once. Perhaps ] could
frishten away the intruder if
spoke through the door. At any
rate I must reach the telephone TO
summon aid if / needed it. / dio
not consider calling Katie. / knew
know that she would be so frighten-
ed as 10 be of worse than no use.
I had lain down in my heavy
bathrobe, because of the nervous
chill / had suffered just before get
ting into bel. / gathered it closer
around me. slipped my feet into my
mOcCasins. which Law beside my bed,
and forced myself TO the door of
the living room.
who is there o" i called family,
but even as ! spoke. 10 my horror
the door 0esan 10 open. 1 sprang
back 10 put the table between me
peared before my astonished gaze.
But it was a Dicky whom | had
never seen before. lie could have
been no more a stranger if he hao
been another man indeed His hat
on the back or his head. his hair
rumpled. has eyes glittering with eN-
element his steps staggering ever
SO slightly but still distinctly un-
certain. il did not need the odor of
spirits which overwhelmed me as he
came toward me TO tell me the
sickenins truth.
Dlcky was drunk
might have been more terrified
ir instead of Dicky "a burglar with "a
revolver had confronted me. but
doubt il. have always had a Sc
cret horror that some day I would
come I'M contact with an intoxicat-
ga man. It did not lessen my dis
gust on nay fear that the man should
be- my own husband.
backed away from him. my
hands outstretched before me.
felt as it I should scream If he
touched me. A sudden grim mem
DRY assaulted me of the times when
D had crossed the street i'm my walks
10 avoid passins drunken man on
the sidewalk Here I was practic-
ally imprisoned in the same room
with one. and one who had a legal
right 90 my presence.
But Dicky made no move 10 come
toward me at first He stood near
the door, swinging his stick jauntily.
his eyes blinking "A little at the
light. his body swaying almost inn
percepubIy. / dreaded TO hear him
speak I expected the thick utter
auce. the confused words. which
had always read were the hallmark
of an intoxicated man. But I was
TO be surprised.
Hello sweetheart" His voice
was a trihe husky. bur his words
were clearly enunciatcd, indeed. his
utterance was much slower than
usual He appeared to deliberate
before each word You are not
angry with me now, know. You've
. had time 20 sleep It of. haven't
you2"
Haven't YOU ." ne repeated \
trhe impatiently as / did not an
swer was gazing at him with a
I mixture OF terror and amazement
Yes. Dicky." I said family, I did
+ not know what 10 answer. Anything
/ 20 keep him away from me. Evi-
IDENTIFY / had hit upon the right
words
That's right" he said that's