South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-03

made such an efficient helpmate for
her distinguished surgeon husband
I Or. Braithwaite.
Harriet IS as cold oio oded SIS u
! fish" Dicky continued, about any
thing that doesn't concern that be-
loved husband Of hers. but she'd die
the death rather than play a trick
such as Elizabeth has treated Us to-
F day. How does mother feel about
b it?" he asked abruptly.
I'm afraid she's terribly grieved
over IT," l returned. But she has
been very brave. and. Dicky, she was
J exceedingly sweet about having tho
Uuderwoods and the rest invited for
tomorrow Do 90 up and see he<
right away. think IL will please
her"
Lillian's Cryptic Words.
IT know somebody else who's
sweet about things, too" my hus-
band returned, giving ne a swift en-
! brace and a tender kiss before
bounding upstairs 10 his mothers
room.
1 turned 10 the telephone, with my
Dicky's tender approval always
means much TO me And my content
ment was not lessened by the knowi-
edge of my mother -in-law's softened
feeling toward me.
Lillian's voice. however, made mo
forget all my contentment. and fill
ed me with misgiving. II was tense.
totally unlike her usual BLUM. hearty
tones. and with an undercurrent IN
X that spelled tragedy.
What is the trouble. Lillian?" I
asked, as soon as I had heard her
greeting. 81 know something is the
matter by your voice"
Yes. there is" she replied, but
nothing of which I can talk over the
phone. Tell me. are you going to
have any strangers there tomorrow?
I couldn't get anything definite out
OF Dicky"
How like Lillian the bluff, honest
speech wasl Almost any other wom-
an would have hypocritically assured
me that nothing was the matter, but
not Lillian Underwood
Nobody but the Durkees," I as
sured her. They have already
promised to be here. But, Lillian,
you surely must get here as soon as
you can. 1 shall be so worried until
I see you. II you don't get here
early tomorrow morning shall
come in after you"
You couldn't keep me away from
you, you blessed child, If you are go
ing to have no strangers there"
Lillian returned IT don't mind the
Durkees But I need you, my dear,
very much. Now must tell VOC
something-don't be shocked or sur
prised when you see me, for 1 shall
be somewhat changed in appearance
Run along to Dicky now. I'll be with
you some time tomorrow forenoon.
Good-by"
Robert Gordon Phones.
almost forgot TO hang up tho
telephone receiver in my bewilder-
ment. What trouble could have
come to Lillian that she needed re.
She was the last person in the world
10 need any one. I thought-she.
whose sterling good sense and I'M
falling good nature had helped me so
many times. And what change in
her appearance did she mean when
she cautioned me against being
shocked and surprised at seeing her.
My anxiety concerning Lillian
stayed with me all through the eve
ming. 1 awoke in the night from
troubled dreams of her to equally
troubled thoughts concerning her.
And my concern was complicated by
a message which Dicky received the
next forenoon.
He had barely finished breakfast
when the telephone rang and Diclky
answered.
Hello" I heard him say. Yes.
this is Graham. Oh. Mr.. Gordon.
How do you do?"
My heart skipped a beat Robert
Gordon. the mysterious elderly man
reputed to be a millionaire, who, be-
cause he had known my mother, had
shown such an unaccountable inter-
est in me.
Why! that's awfully kind OF you"
Dicby was saying. but we couldn't
possibly accept, because we have
SuSSlS COhAluB OURSELVES. we expect
TO have a regular old fashionei
country dinner here at home. But
why do you not come out TO US? Oh,
no, you wouldn't disturb any plans
at all-they've been thoroughly up
set already. We had planned to have
my sister and her family. six in all.
spend the week with US, but yester-
day we found they could not come.
So were inviting what friends we
can find who are not otherwise en-
gagged, 70 help us eat our dinner
You will be more than welcome IL
you Will join us ALI right, then. DC
you know about trains? Yes, any
taxi driver can tell you where we
are. Good-by"