New Britain herald., 1918-02-26
what Happened When Madge Met Harry Underwood in the Library.

Harry Underwood in the Library
 don know whether to call it tele- pathy or something else, but al- though my eyes were averted from Harry Onderwoods direction, and 'as- slduously studying the printed page before me, I knew the moment he lifst caught sight of me as well as II had been gazing directly at him.
 It was as if a tiny electric bell had sounded somewhere within my con- sciousness, warning me that at last the moment I had so dreaded was at hand
 By a tremendous effort I kept my face devoid of expression, my eyes fixed upon the pamphlet before me- although l heard the firm tread of masculine feet coming toward me, steps which 1 identified as those of the man whom I so feared. Harry Underwood's step was a distinctive one, and one not easily forgotten by any one who had heard it more than once or twice.
 Then his hateful. well-remembered voice spoke softly from across the. ta- ble
 If I can determine the particular god Or devil that looks after me I'm sure going to offer him a libation this afternoon. Talk about luck! To think of finding you here, lady fair!'
 l had schooled myself for hours for this meeting, resolved to play my part as Lillian and I had outlined it days before. Surprise and aversion were to be the emotions I was first to reg ister. I thought grimly to myself that I would not have to stimulate the second on the list.
 I looked up with a little gasp of pretended surprise upon which l ra ther prided myself when I later looked back upon the interview. MT UnderWood!' I exclaimed. and involuntarily took step ackward, for he was leaning eagerly across the desk, his brilliant black eyes a-gleam with the old expression I used to dis like so, his lips twisted into his old sardonic smile
 "Oh, come. now.' he mocked- friend away the other night?' "You're surely not going to begin again that eyes-and- hands offen- m e villyun stuff you always used to carry around with you. Don't you think ] deserve just one kind glance for not giving you and Lii and your other friend away the other night ,
 My thoughts leaped back to Lil- liar'a expedition to the Latin-Amer- ican cafe, to Grace Draper's unsus- pecting eyes, and to Harry Under woods attitude toward us. I was glad, indeed, that he had referred to the incident, for it gave me the pretext I needed to carry out Lil- lian's instructions gradually to modify my harsh attitude toward MT. Under wood in order to gain his confidence.
 "I'vc Got to Sec You.'
 "Ycu were kind that night" I ad- mitted slowly. '.I suppose I ought to thank you"
 He muttered something beneath hia breath, and then spoke tensely, though in so low a voice that no one but myself could hear him.
 ''See here, girl, if I have offended you and I suppose I have in about nine hundred million different ways since I first met you, I'm mighty sorry. And I promise you I'll be old Messrs. Discretion and Repression themselves when I'm ta!king with you. But I've just got to see you in some place where we can talk with out the chance of somebody we know coming in. There's a lady liable to pop back hero any minute that I wouldn't have sec you for a good deal, and that's not on her account either"
 What Does He Know?
 l drew myself up haughtily at his irnpertinent proposal, and was just about to turn away and hurry out or the library when the memory of Lll- lian'G admonition came back to me. I was at a loss how to handle the bizarre situation. His next words startled mo out of any thought Of self.
 Now, don't get it into that pretty. obstinate dome of yours that l want