South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-07
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MADGE
MET HARRY UNDERWOOD
IN THE LIBRARY.

L uOl hiiOW WUtlntI 10 call II
telepathy or something else. but al
though my eyes were averted from
Harry Undcrwood's direction, and
assiduc-- --~ tho printed
,'ge before me, 1 knew the moment
he frs. ol me as well
as if had been gazing directly at
him.
1t was as if a tiny electric bell
had sounded somewhere within my
consciousness. warning me that at
last the moment l had so dreaded
was at hand.
BY a tremendous effort ] kept my
face devoid Of expression. my eyes
fixed upon the phamphlet before me.
although l heard the firm tread Of
masculine feet coming toward me,
steps which l identified as those of
the man whom 1 so feared. Harry
Cnderwood'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-rcmember-
ed voice spoke softly from across
the table
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"
had schooled myself for hours
for this meeting. resolved 10 play
my part as Lillian and 1 had out
lined it days before. Surprise and
aversion were to be the emotions l
was first 10 register thought
grimly TO myself that I would not
have TO simulate the second on the
list.
1 looked up with a little gasp of
pretended surprise upon which I
rather prided myself when I later
looked back upon the interview.
Mr. Underwood" exclaimed,
and inyoluntarily took a step back
ward. for he was leaning eagerly
across the desk, his brilliant black
eyes a-gleam with the old expression
1 used to dislike so, his lips twisted
into his old sardOnic smile.
"Oh. come, come, now!" he mock
ed. You're surely not going to be-
gin again that eyes-and- hands often
me-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 Lii
lian's expedition TO the Latin-Amer-
- %
suspecting eyes, and TO Harry I'm
derwood's attitude toward us. /
was glad, indeed. that he had re-
ferred to the incident, for it gave
me the pretext l needed TO carry out
Lillian's instructions gradually 10
modify my harsh attitude toward
Mr. Underwood in order to gain his
confidence.
1--WE Got TO See You"
you were kind that night" I ad-
mitted slowly. 4 suppose 1 ought
TO thank YOU"
He muttered something beneath
his breath. and then spoke tensely
though in SO low voice that no one
but myself could hear him.
See here. girl, if I have offended
you, and l suppose 1 have in about
nine hundred million different ways
since 1 frs: met you, I'm mighty
sorry And I promise you I'll be old
Messrs. Discretion and Repression
themselves when I'm talking with
you. But I've just got TO see you
in some place where we can talk
,k,a -
know coming in. There's a lady IL
able 10 pop back here any minute
that 1 wouldn't have see you for a
good deal. and that's not on her ac-
count either"
What Docs He Know?
drew myself up haughtily at his
impertincnt proposal, and was just
about TO turn away and hurry out
OF the library when the memory of
Lillians admonitlon came back to
me. l was at a loss how TO handle
the bizarre situation. His next
words startled me out Of any thought
of self
Now. don't get it into that pretty,
obstinate dome Of yours that want
10 make love TO you. I do, you know
that, but, on honor, I'll be good. But
let me talk 10 you somewhere else
than here. More depends on IL than
you can guess. I've been trying 10
get a chance &c see you ever since
l came back. 1 tell you, life and
death may hang on your consent or
refusal" o..
His words, following those had
heard Grace Draper speak at the en-
trance TO ehe room, set my brain 10
wild speculation.
Did this man hold the secret OF
my fathers fate7