South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-01
WHY DID DICKY's MOTHER SUD
DENLY DISAPPEAR FROM
THE HOTEL AND VANISH
FOR A TIME?

Why Is it 1 wonder. that the per
feet moments OF life are so often
quickly followed By petty. disagree
able. trying Incidents
1 have thought OF this many
times. but never did it strike me as
forcibly as IN the hour following our
departure from the Hudson river
boat with IT'S golden memories OF
our return Journey from the Catskin
mountains
As we joined the crowd going
ashore Diclcy's tender, protective
manner which had enveloped me
Ike a warm cloak during the jour
new down the river. changed into
his usual careless matter-of-fact de
meanor. He grasped me firmly by
the elbow and hurried me through
the crowd are unceremoniously as II
] were the suitcase and bag, both Of
which he insisted on carrying with
his right hand.
Hustle up now" he admonished
IN staccato fashion, we've got 90
beat Il II we want 10 get taxi
And Ehustle up" I did 90 the best Of
my ability. with the result that we
soon secured a taxi and were whirl-
ed toward the Hotel Sydenham'
where Dicky had established his
mother comfortably for the interval
Of our absence, and where had met
Robert Gordon. the romantic. Broad
way habitue. man OF millions and of
mystery. who had told me Of his
friendship for my dead mother and
the father whom I had never known,
who was worse than dead 20 me-
AS we entered the doors OF the
svdenham had one Of my swift,
unreasoning premonitions that /
would hear disagreeahle news.
tried 20 shake il off. but the impress
sion strengthened as watched Dicly
hurrying across the lobby t the
desk 10 register.
I saw him in earnest colloquy with
the clerk, then. with face express
ing annoyance and dismayed won
der. he came swiftly back toward
me.
What is the matter Dicky2'
asked. excitedly, clutching his arm;
lis your mother III? What has hap
pened ?"
He shook off my hand impatiently
Don't be an idiot, Madge, nc
said GROSSLY, Just because you know
how: there's nothing the matter VIII
mother. except her usual brand OF
blasted foolishness- She simply
checked out yesterday. and left with
out leaving any address
sank blankly into the nearest
chair and looked at him i'm oper
CONSERVATION.
why! whatever do you suppose
made her do such a thing
do YOU think I'm a MIND read
er2" demanded Diclly truculently
How 90 you suppose I know whai
she's taken Il into her head 10 do
There's no use standing here, come
on up 20 our room and Wen get busy
on the telephone.
Safely in the room ne tossed the
bags into a chair and strobe toward
a telephone.
no use unpacking until we find
out what mothers mp TO. I suppose,
he threw back over his shoulder az
he took down the receiver. Don
stand there staring though, sit dow
and he comforta BILE"
Lillian Knows Nothing.
knew the number ne would cal
even before I heard him give 10 q
the telephone girl. II was Lillian's
II IL had been q predicament OF m.
own I would have called Lillian jus
as DiclIy had, although I had know
her "a so much shorter time than ha'
he. People turned instinctly TO Lii
Ian Underwood for help i'm an emer
gency. Her GOODNESS. her resource
fulness. her ready wit, about all ne
spontaneous willingness to help
made her q tower Of strength.
listened breathlessly 20 Dicly
part OF a hurried conoQuy between
himself and Lillian. who evidently
had answered tne phone herself.
could tell by his questions and an
swers that Lillian did not know any
thing OF his mothers whereab bouts
'I'u have NIadge call YOU up "a
soon as I get the house" he said 81
nally. and hanging up the receiver
turned 10 me with an annoyed frowl
on his face.
ILL SAYS she hasn't a ghost of al
idea what has happened he AZ
planned hurriedly. she thinks sh
may have gone out home 90 Mar
win. Says she called on mothe
twice while we were gone. once tn
day after we left. when mother re
ceived her very cordially and agai
the day before yesterday. when Ia
mater frOze her stiff She sai
mother seemed 10 be I'm "a terribl
wax about something
suppose you call the house
Madge. YOU can make Katie under
stand better than 7 can. 7 suppose
OF course. she and Jim are back d.
this time"
~Oh. yes" 7 returned. as wen
20 the telephone, 'you know the
were 10 be back from their honey
moon inside OF a week"
Located at Last
Dicky muttered something un
complimentary cOucerning the abii
fty OF any blasted pot waIoper" @
keep a promise, but I pretended nC