South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-02
WHAT DOES GRACE DRAPER's
LETTER To DICKY CONTAIN?

LII LII ~ DINA1 AJN lAAN
Don't open that letter" Lillian
said sharply as my fingers went me
chemically to the flap OF the envelope
Let me read IL first"
looked up at her apologetically.
Pardon me, dear" / said earnest
ly. Il had forgotten for the moment
that you had offered to shield me by
reading the letter first. But really
I'm stronger than you think"
held out the letter. however de-
spite my protest, and she opened
il without further ado.
Her very first glimpse Of the writ
ten pages seemed to anger her. Her
eyes hashd, and her lips set in the
grim, tight lire which means wrath
with Lillian. I was wild with curl
osity 10 know the contents OF the
page which was so disturbing her,
but / held my peace until she fin
ished the letter with an exclamation
of intense disgust.
That's an unusually lengthy epis
e for an anonymous letter, isn't it?''
1 asked timidly.
Lillian didn't answer. for a long
moment, then she gave a start as
if she had been suddenly awakened
from sleep.
What did you say?" she asked
absently. then abruptly, lit isn't
anonymous"
1t was my turn TO be amazed. The
handwriting on the mysterious let
ter which had aroused first Lillian's
misgiving. then her anger. had been
the same as that of the anonymous
clippings which had caused me so
much pain. We had been practical
~ certain that those had come from
Grace Draper, or at least that she
had inspired them. Was it possible
that She"
I.iIIian's Warning.
Lillian's voice interrupted my eX-
cited conjectures.
Look here. Madge," she said in
cisively, and / mentally stood at at
/ tention at her words 81 would
have given a good deal 10 have
spared you this. but. of course, hay
ing once known OF the existence Of
this thing" gestured toward the
letter in her hand as if it were a
loathsome reptile she grasped-"yOu
viii have to be told the whole mis-
cradle business. l want you to prom
Use me one thing. however, before
YOU take it. Will yOu?"
"Of course / said family
Don't judge your husband too
harshly until you give him an op-
portunity to defend himself" she
said, with a wistful note in her voice
which revealed to me anew the
strong, helpful. wonderful friend
ship which Lillian had given to
Dicky for so many years.
began to tremble violently. There
must be smething especially damn
ing against Dicky in the letter which
Lillian handed to me. I glanced at
the letter from Dickey which l had
just read and crumpled in resent
ment at the attitude of mind it dis
played. Had my anger been called
forth by a psychic premOnition that
this other fanged thing was also in
the room? It seemed something
more than a coincidence that the
two letters should have come to me
/ in the same mail.
II Must Sec"
I have heard and have used many
times the expression burning ones
fingers" but always idly. 1 think
/ never shall speak or hear the words
again without the remembrance of
/ the sensation I had as 1 slowly un-
/ folded the sheets Lillian handed TO
me. Ny dread of the unknown words
I before me vas so great that I had
\ the actual physical sensation Of
\ touching burning Goals.
Lnlian's hand closed over the let
\ ter.
II told you you weren't strong