South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-29
WHY LILLIAN UNDERWOOD
AMAZE.S As WE'LL As HEART
EMS MADGE.

Up 10 the moment that Lillian
Underwood faced Katherine sonnet
and me in her wonderful brown
toned library. asked our assurance
that we would not betray her con-
fdence. and then told US that she
had "a little special knowledge Of
the secret forces at work against
America. i had thought that ! knew
Lillian as well as one woman could
possibly know another. She had
been my most intimate friend. I had
come 20 her with all my troubles,
and on two or three occasions had
been privileged 10 comfort her brave.
spirit in its hours Of suffering.
But il was a new Lillian that
Katherine and I saw in action aft
er We had told her OF the anonym-
Gus newspaper clippings that had
been sent me. and which she had
decided had come from Grace ORA
per's hands. II wasn't that she was
more brilliant or more resOurceful
indeed. these qualities are always so
conspicuous in Lillian Underwood
that it would be hard TO pick out
any occasion in which she eXcels
in them
But there was a grim sternness in
her manner / had never seen there
before. It was evident even to my
Unframed mind that there were
chambers in Lillian's brain and
heart to which even 1, beloved friend
as I knew myself 20 be. had never
been admitted. l also saw that she
attached even more Importance to
the supposed presence OF Grace
Draper in New York than she as
sumed 10 do. And the experiences
OF the hours following her request
that 1 make some excuse 10 stay at
her home for a few days will never
leave my memory, so filled with un-
expected developments were they.
81 Need Your Help"
And now for business" Lillian
said after she'd telephOned Dicky 4
most elaborate fiction concerning
some advertising jingles that had
been ordered, and which were TO
have a historical setting about which
she wished to consult with me, ne
cessitating my remaining in her
home I'VE haven't any time to
waste. Just a minute"
She slipped on a hat and coat
which were laying on a table, rang
the bell that summoned her faith
ful colored cook Betty and stepped
out int the hall. drawing on pair
of gloves as she did so. and leaving
the door partly ajar. Katherine and
I gave an involuntary glance OF hur-
prise at each other. and then we
both looked away again. think
the same resolution came to kath-
crime as 10 me. that no matter what
Lillian led as into in the expedition
she had promised US. in which she
hoped TO discover Grace Draper. we
wouldn't betray any excitement or
curiosity.
Betty" Lillian's tone held the
same kindly yet incisive infection
she always used toward the woman.
can you do an errand for me right
away"
"Shohs you bohn, Miss Lillian, "
Betty returned. III shake nah
foot an be wifi yoh before yoh has
/ time TO wink
All right, Betty. 1 want you 10
go over 10 that place what has those
delicious cheeses and get some tea
The young ladies and 1 will prob
ably be gone when YOU return, but
if L should get back before they do,
and YOU find this door locked, don't
disturb me. for L have some very
hard work on hand this afternoon. ~
You won't hear muffin out OF me,
Mis- Lillian"
I'm sure of that. Betty" Lillian
returned smiling. and returning.
waited until she was out OF hearing.
Put on YOU hats and coats. girls, -
she said softly and we Obeyed her.
I Down my back az least were run
ming little thrills of ixcited anticipa b.
tion OF something mysterious And
the anticipation was realized a few
minutes later when. after we heard
the street door closed upon Betty,
and Lillian had left us again for a
moment. she returned. locked the
massive door of the library. and
{ pulled the heavy curtains over Il.
Il have carried Marion into her
grandmother room. she explained.
and put her upon "A couch there.
! The nurse who is taking care OF old
/ Mrs Morton thinks we're going out.
7 and viii take care OF Marion when
she wakes up. And now. girls
she took a deep breath am go
ing To- disclose 10 YOU a grave secret
that YOU must keep inViolate AZ long
as YOU live. The reason DO this is
because I know YOU Madge and
+ YOU. Katherine. are honor itself.
I And '-she looked at q keenly-"I
need your help in something FAR
more important than merely hnding
/ out il Grace Diapers IN town, your
I mouths closed and Your faces like
/ poker players no matter what hap
= pens. Come on"
Doors Within Walls.
She walked 10 a door al the side
OF the room which i knew must ad-
F join the house upon the north
I opened IL. and drew US In after her
+ We found ourselves in large closet
lined with Lilian's dresses hanging
from hooks when she locked the
+ door behind her and we stood hud-
died together in the darkness for
there wasn't much more than room
for the three OF Us 20 stand. ] began
20 wonder II Lillian were sane.
She flashed tiny electric torch
and I saw her put aside a long cloak