New Britain herald., 1918-05-20
REVELATIONS OF A WIFE
By ADELE GARRISON

ness and very real fear of her asso- ciates returned.
 After all, | am a fool she sOlilo- quzed. The woman is nothing to me, and their hands will be heaVy.'
 She paused, and with her eyes bent upon the floor, evidently threshed out the problem of my treatment with her self while I--with hopes sliding the gamut from hope to despair-watched her helplessly.
 At last she threw up her head with a gesture of determination, her features fixed in resolve. I knew that my fate had been settled. Whatever decision she had arrived at was un- alterable.
 'I shall have to tie her up, that is certain she muttered, but I'll give her what those cursed English call a sporting chance. If she has any brains she can unloosen herself and can guess what the little toy I shall leave her is for. And if she is so inn beetle as not to know these things she is better dead. As it is I am risling my own neck just because she has eyes like Olga"
 She went to a trunk in the room, unlocked it. and took from it coil of stout cord, a bit of wood and another object which made my heart leap with excitement. If the glimpse of it I had caught through my half-veiled eyes didn't deceive me the thing was a small silencer pistol such as 1 had seen in Lillians possession. It seemed incredible that Mime. Hofer would put such a, deadly little weapon in my power but I long ago have learned that the evolutions of the Teutonic ir1 io nf neurotic, feminine type, are beyond ordinary understanding.
 Fresh Hopes.
 She came over to me. and with raordinarily delft hands wound my wrists with cords and tied them to- gether. She did the same to my an kles. and then. wrapping the piece of wood in cloth she pried open my mouth and inserted the impromptu gag, tying the ends of the encircling cloth behind my neck.
 I gathered fresh hope from the mul- tiplicity of cords she used, and the fact that the cords nearest my wrists were comfortably loose. The knot be- hind my neck was a mere apology for one. I thought that I could almost work it loose by moving my head from side to side.
 When Mime. Hofer had finished she stepped back and looked me over care fully. Then she gave a low laugh, in which I was sure I detected a note of malicious mischief.
 "There." she said triumphantly. If old Otto can detect anything wrong about those he is more clever than I take him for. Now for the other"
 She bent over me, opened my coat, which, fortunately, I had slipped on when I had my service moved to the veranda. and felt around the lining until she found an inside pocket.
 Laying Strange Plans.
 T thought there would be one in this make of coat she muttered, and I made a mental note of the minute knowledge of trivial facts the remark betokened.
 Into the pocket she thrust the tiny pistol, arranged the loose folds of the coat so they concealed the form of the pistol, and fastened the coat again.
 ''So-o!' she exclaimed. Now I think We are ready for even Otto's eyes. He Is very wise, but Sophie Hofer has wriggled out of too many bonds not to be able to match him."
 I felt a little jingle of excitement.
  known only as the efficient somewhat stolid hausfrau of the inn. had a his- tory and a personality worth ones study.
 She walked toward the door, but be- fore she turned the key she raised her hands above her head wearily.
 "Ah, Olga, liebchen!" she mur- mured, T do this for you.'
 She went downstairs locking the door after her. and 1 relaxed the heavy breathing, for I knew that soon I must again undergo the ordeal of Otto's searching eyes. Mme. Hofer's clever scheme was perfectly plain to me- She meant to exhibit me bound and gagged for 0tto's inspection.
 Then. if I succeeded In getting loose and escaping she would have the indisputabe evidence of his ap- provai of her work.