Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-30
My HEART and
My HUSBAND
Adele Garrison's New Phase of
Revelations
of O. Wife "
The Way Lillian Dispatched Dieky's
Cool Questions.

THE Way Lillian Dispatched Dicky's
Cool Questions.
think Lillian was as startled as
| at Dicky's drawled interruption to
our colloquy over Kenneth Stock
bridges desk, which Jim had just
struggled into the house. He had
said that he did not know when he
would be home, and fancy we both
had unconsciously counted upon his
staying away the whole evening.
Although I had confded 10 Dicky
something of my worries in connec-
ton with the mystery surrounding
the death of Milly Stockbridge, I
knew-and the knowledge was
shared by Lillian-that it was high
ly desirable he should know moth
ing of this desk of Kenneth Stock
bridges with its secret mechanism
until its secret was no longer a men,
ace to the cause of the imprisoned
principal.
Dicky's garrulity, while much less
in evidence than before his service
in the aviation corps, must still be
reckoned with. And the most pro-
voking feature of Dicky's laxative
ness is the fact that he is always
perfectly sure that he has said moth
ing he should not, and becomes
highly incensed when proof of in-
prudent speech is laid before him.
Thankful indeed was | that Lillian
was present. I knew that she could
make the situation appear perfectly
innocuous if anyone could. So |
simply turned toward him with a
startled deprecating little smile and
waited for Lillian's move.
| didn't have to wait a second
She turned to him with just the
right shade of startled greeting.
"'Lo, Dicky-birdp she drawled.
when did you fly in? You gave us
quite start. Why don't you ring
a bell when you approach We
might have been planning to poison
you for all you know. No perfect
gent would do it."
II wouldn't put it past either of
you," Dicky rejoined, strolling up to
the desk and looking it over with
his hands in his pockets. Bum
looking piece of junk, this, Madge.
Where did you get it, and what do
you want it for?"
where's the 5 cents / gave you
last week, and what did you spend
it for?" Knocked Lillian. "Why
don't you ask her that next But,
as it happens, Mr.. Mid-Victorian
Spouse, this here thing haint none
of your business. This desk is mi
inc, me own, bought with me own
hard-earned money. needed
something to put my accumulated
junk in while I'm out here, and as
my room at Mrs. Durkee's is rather
small Madge was kind enough to
offer it house room. l picked it up
at secondhand shop In Crest Ha-
ven, and | think it's 4 bargain at
$40. Don't you?"
I'D give you about two-thirty-
seven for it." Dicky drawled pro-
vokingly, then he put his hand on
the cover of the desk as if to lift it.
How does, she open?"
Lillian smiled ruefully, while I
tingled with apprehension. How
would she manage this unexpect-
ed question?
That's where smarty Lii fell
down for once" she said. Il can't
find any key for it. But I suppose
there is one over at the secondhand
store"
"I'll be dropping over to Crest
Haven tomorrow" Dicky offered
good-naturedly. IF you'll give me
the name of the place III stop in
That's awfully good of YOU" Lii
liam returned as coolly as if there
were anywhere in existence the shop
of which she had talked so fuently.
I'll just take you up on that. I've
got the address somewhere" She
fumbled in her dress. mo, I must
have dropped it. But I'll hunt it up
and give it to you tomorrow. Thanks
awfully, old chap"
I'm glad to see you duly appre-
ciate my exertions in your behalf"
he returned with smiling grandilo-
quence. But nothing is too great
for me to attempt for you. By the
way, Madge, l just saw your friends
next door returning from another
joyride. / could hear Mrs. Durkee's
cackle and Alf's below clear over
here. The deah majah's taken them
out again. That's going some, two
nights in succession. Wonder if the
old boys shining up to Edith? I'd
better put flea in her ear to try
to land him. He's worth three or
four millions, isn't he?"
Il haven't the slightest idea" I
replied, a bit shortly. | felt vague
ly irritated, and yet could not have
told why. Surely this intimation
that Major Grantland might be in
terested in Edith Fairfax was moth
ing to me.
| was looking squarely at Dicky
as | spoke, so | caught fully the
Only One "BRoMo ouININE."