South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-14
WHAT HARRY UNDERWOOD
SAID WHEN MADGE TOLD
About THE CLIPPINGS

aren't you, girl?"
Harry Underwood leaned across
the table toward the sad-eyed
French waitress whose cause he
had championed so royalty at my
request disappeared into the kitch-
en-. and held my eyes with his quiz
zical ones in which, however. there
was a shadow OF something deeper.
"I-I-don't know what you
mean" 1 stammered.
"Oh, yes. you do" he returned.
You had a real, warm, human i'm
pulse a moment ago to clasp me
hand. because Of the little waitress,
but that iceberg Of prOpriety and
reserve that encases your heart
made you draw 1t back"
Was the man clairvoyant? I was
sure my hand hadn't moved an
inch from its fellow. II he could
read my very thoughts 1 must be on
my guard, indeed, in this interview,
and the others TO follow on which
Lillian was depending so much
/ shrank back in my chair a lit
tie. He saw the movement, and
the quizzical light died out of his
eyes.
Pardon me-" he said quickly.
I'm forgetting my bargain. I'll can
the persiflage. and suppose you
start telling me what's troubling
you, as you agreed a few moments
ago"
4 have received a series of an
onymous clippings which have
alarmed me terribly" 1 began.
Harry Underwood Strengthened
himself in his chair and into his
eyes flashed an unfathomable look
Anonymous clippings!" he re-
peated sharply. What about"
How Madge Told Him.
The first ones were newspaper
7 clippings" l said slowly, for the
horrified terror OF the abominable
things was gripping me anew as ]
recalled the memory. Each was
an account OF some mysterious muir
der with horrible cruelties attached
and the victim in each case was
| some person suspected of having
| TO which he belonged"
"D-n!" l heard Harry Under
wood mutter between his teeth, and
the expletive was filled with anger
1 hurried on without raising my
eyes.
The last clipping came almost
two weeks ago" l said, my voice
/ f~f
missive of terror. 1T had a broad
black border which surrounded
words cut from a newspaper. They
were"
1 stopped abruptly, almost chOk-
ing with excited emotion Harry
Underwood spoke quietly, warming
ly.
Better sip your hot coffee before
you go on. You're pretty white,
and we don't want anybody TO no
tice you're upset. you know"
L picked up my cup obediently
and drank mechanically. Then !
took frmer grip upon my nerves.
and went on:
"YOu-Can't Mean
The words were these" said
'' The late Robert Gordon, alias
! Charles Spencer. Better not 10 guess
how he died, Au revoir for two
weeks"
Good heavensi" breathed Harry
Underwood, and in the words. was
unbelieving horror. and something
mora rising, awful wrath [ took
another draught Of my coffee and
then ventured again TO raise my
eyes to my companions face.
Ii was as colorless as 1 was sure
my own was. But his eyes were Iik,
glowing Goals. and the fingers OF the
hand that gripped the table wert
white with the strain on the mus
cles.
or-little-devil." These
We're the first WORDS ne uttered. and
there was that in his voice which
made the uncouth epithet almost
a careSs. Then his fingers relaxed
their tensity and he gave a slight
shake OF his tremendous shoulders
as if pulling himself together to
face something that had found him
unprepared. Forcing his lips TO g
smile he signalled our waitress
Another pot OF coffee. please.
quickly. and have it piping hot he
ordered.
Yes. sir" and she was gone as
II her feet were winged
Now tell me quickly" he said.
and there was a tone IN his voice
which impelled obedience Where
were those things mailed %"
From different suburbs and Dor
oughs OF New York" replied.
Brooklyn, Staten Island Flushing
there was one from a village in
Jersey"
He pondered a moment, then
, shot a glance a; me.
Look here" he said Have YOU
guessed at all who was behind
them Q"
I hesitated IL was one thing 70
/ tell him the story OF these clippings
Il was another 10 implicate the wo-
man who had accompanied him
/ from South America.
That means YOU do suspect some
/ one" ne returned. and I can pretty
well guess the name" He stopped
as If some thought had struck him