South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-16

nam
WHY DRAKE SAID ITS USELESS
TO DENY TT"
I was glad TO be seated when Mr..
Drake. the stranger whom Dicky had
brought home TO dinner, leaned for
ward in his chair and asked me IL L
knew why my father had changed
his name. / know IL I had been
standing that my knees could never
have supported me, so terrified was
I at the knowledge of my fathers
secret which this stranger evidently
had, and meant me to know he pos
sessed.
True, he had not said in so many
words that he knew that Robert
Gordon was my father, but his whole
manner. his elaboration when he
uttered the words:
Charles Robert Gordon Spencerl
Can you throw any light upon the
gentleman's reason for changing his
name-Mrs. Margaret Spencer era
ham ?'-told me that he was in pos
session OF my fathers secret.
But 1 was resolved to yield no hint
of my own knowledge unless I was
forced to do so. I waited until my
voice was steady, and then said.
coldly:
You are talking very strangely.
Mr.. Drake. I do not understand you.
nor can / imagine any reason why
you should adopt so melodramatic a
manner OF addressing me-"
Into Mr.. brakes eyes there flash
ed the same look Of sympathetic ad-
miration / had caught before. Then
he clapped his hands together softly.
] realized from the gesture and the
words which followed that he had
no intention of letting Dicky gain
any hint OF the subject we were dis
cussing.
'T Admit Nothing"
Bravo! little LADY," he said, and
his low tones did not disguise the
genuine enthusiasm in his voice. II
like grit wherever 1 find il, and you
surely have your share of gameness
and resourcefulness. I'd like TO have
you working with me instead of
against me. But I'll have TO tell you
plainly that your wonderfully clever
little air OF misunderstanding my
meaning won't do. see 1 shall have
TO lay my cards on the table after
all"
He paused a moment, and I real
lied In that moment OF waiting how
a charmed bird must feel waiting for
the doom II canno. move a muscle
TO escape.
You are the daughter of the man
who calls himself Robert Gordon.
Mrs. Graham he said slowly at last.
1T is useless for you to deny Il. /
have absolute proof OF the truth OF
what ] am saying. Whether or not
you know why he changed his name
I do not know, nor do I care. The
only thing which concerns me is the
gentleman's present address. and
that is what I am sure you will give
me"
The absolute certainty OF his tones
maddened me. I sprang to my feet
and faced him, quivering with anger.
You are utterly mistaken" I said.
'T admit nothing you have said. and
under no circumstances should l
give YOU Mr.. Gordon's address even
If had It."
The sound of Dicky's footsteps
descending the stairs came distinctly
10 both our ears. Mr.. Drake altered
his manner in a moment.
I'VE will discuss this again before
l leave he said quietly. MAY |
point out TO you that IL would be
very unwise for you 10 involve your
husband in this matter? If I guess
correctly. and I think l do. he does
not know as much about your father
as you do. and the knowledge I do
not imagine would add much TO his
general peace OF mind"
4 Hidden Menace?
The next moment he had turned 70
the door and greeted Dicky with a
merry quip as far removed as pos
sible from the half-veiled sinister
threat he had given me. And not
once during the remainder OF the
evening did he refer in any manner
20 Robert Gordon.
But I-I1ay awake almost all OF
the night by Dicky's side trying hard
20 keep from waking him by my
restlessnesS For a deadly fear was
upon me, not so much the fear for
my fathers safety, as a dread that
behind the mystery OF his long alb
sences in South America lay som T.
thing sinister. criminal.
Should I tell Dicky my fears? This
was the question which I thrashed
out At length during the long wake
full hours OF course Dicky knew
that my fathers name was not Rob
ert Gordon. but in telling him I had
minimiZed the earnestness with
which my father had urged me "a
tell no one but Dicky and Lillian OF
his identity as Charles Spencer.
knew from his manner when Mr.
I L ..e - -