South Bend news-times., 1918-10-13

We'll, my dear, what are YOU
incoming over that you didn't see me
come iuE beg your pardon.
Madse, what is the matter? Tell
me-"
Lillian Underwood stood before
me. Lillian. whose entrance into the
small reception room OF the Syden-
ham. at which we had an appoint
ment. had not even seen. She
stood looking down at me with an
anxious. alarmed expression in her
eyes.
There is nothing the matter"
returned. evasively.
Don't tell me a terradiddle. my
dear" Lillian countered smoothly.
You're as white as sheet, and
can see your hands trembling this
minute. Something has happened
20 upset you. But, Of course. if
you'd rather not tell me"
There was a subtle hint Of with
drawal in her tone. / was afraid
that j had offended her After all,
why not tell her OF the stranger
who had so startled me?
I said, in a low voice, mot suddenly
as X 1 had just spoken to you about
it, but carelessly. Tell me if there
is man still standing there star
ing at us
Lillian whistled softly beneath
her breath, a little trick she has
when surprised.
"Oh-h-h!" she breathed, and
turning, she looked swiftly at the
place / had indicated.
Il see a disappearing back which
looks as though it might belong 20
masher' 1 just caught sight OF
about middle age, hair sprinkled
with gray rather stunning looking"
LiIlian's Common Sense.
Yes, that is the man." 1 return
ed. family "but. Lillian, I'm sure
he isn't an ordinary masher.' He
had the stransest, saddest. most
mysterious look in his eyes. 1t was
almost as if ne knew me or thought
he did, and 1. / have the most Un-
canny feeling about him, as if he
were some one 1 had known long
ago. can't describe to you the ef-
feet he had upon me"
Nonsense" Lillian said, brusque-
ly. "the man is just an ordinary
common lady-killer OF the type that
infests these hotels, and ought 10 be
horsewhipped at sight. You're get
ting fanciful, and 1 don't wonder at
il. You've had a terrible summer.
with all that trouble the Draper
caused you. and l imagine you
haven't been having any too easy a
time with dear mamma-in-law. I'm
mighty glad you're going to get
away with Dickey by yourself. a
week in the mountains ought 10 set
YOU up wonderfully, and you Ger
tainly need it when you start weay-
.ng mysterious tragedies about the
common or garden variety Of
'masher'
Lnlian's rough common sense
steadied me. as it always does. 1
felt ashamed Of my momentary
emotion.
Il fancy you're right, Lillian 1
said nOnchalantly. Let's forget
about it and have some lunch.
Where shall we go?"
There's a bully little tea room
down the street here, she said. It's
very English, with the tea cozies
and all that sort of frills. and some
of their luncheon dishes are de-
licious Shall we try it?"
by all means" 1 returned, and
we went out of the hotel together.
Although /, looked around furtive-
/ Is and fearfully as we left the hotel
I entrance. i could see no trace OF the
man who had-sO startled me. Scor-
ing myself for being so foolish as TO
/ imagine that the man might still be
. keeping track of me, 1 put all
thought of his actions away from
me and kept Up with Lillian's brisk
pace. chatting with her gayly over
our past experiences in buying hats
and the eXecrable creations turned
out by miliners generally.
Don't say Anything
The tea room proved all that Lii
|lian had promised. Fortunately, we
were early enough 10 escape the
noon hour rush and secure a good
table near a window looking out up
ON the street
u like 20 look out upon the peo-
PIE passing don't youe" Lillian
said. as she seated herself.
Yes 7 do I assented. and then
we turned our attention 20 the menu
cards
I'm fearfuly hungry" Lillian
announced. 1--WE been digging all
morning. OH, it's chicken pie here
today" Her voice held all the glee
of a yormaudizing child "I don't
think these individual chicken pies
they serve here can be beaten in
New York she went ou. You
know the usual potatoes and
onions. and "a I4ue bit of chicken
mixed up with q sauce they insult
with the name gravy These are the
real article-just the chicken meat
with a delicious gravy covering IL.
baked iu the most haky crust YOU
can imagine. What DO YOU say 20
those. with some baked potatoes.
new lima beans. sliced tomatoes and
am ice fog desert
.I don't think il can be improved
uuer. j said. gayly. and then
...ut.heQ Luuaus arm. Look