Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-04-17

Lillian's unexpected question
startled me. 1t was the first intima-
ton ] had that she knew anything
of Dicky's use of Rita Browns stu.
dio until he could get hold of his
own again.
WHY have no choice in the
matter" / stammered. "What could
| have done?" as
"You could have tipped me off,
she retorted. II could have tagged
that stunt in a minute"
How" l asked, frankly puzzled
at her assurance.
by placing my own studio at his
service, gooseW she answered. -
"But-Lillian," | stammered. u
thought have always heard that
you kept that studio like sanctu-
ary-and that you can't bear to have
anybody near you when you are
down there working"
"All bunk, my dear" she returned
smiling at my amazed face. But
don't YOU ever dare to tell that to
the Dicky-bird. If I had to, l could
work with sawmill going one side
of me and Belgian relief sewing
bee on the other-and that's just
what l would be up against if
didn't put up that teinperamental
bluff" she added whimsically. my
studio would be full all the time, and
nobody would be more Of nuisance
than Dicky, bless his heart. he's
such a gregarious soul.
But all that's for ordinary times
She squared her shoulders, as if con-
fronting difficult situation. "This
is something unusual When you &C
home to:1ight tell Dicky | want him
to run up and see me tomorrow. I'd
call him myself, only l don't want
him to get an inkling of my real
purpose before he reaches my Ii
brary. SO remember, if he asks you
what want with him, you don't
know-and you don't. haven't told
you"
She flashed a knocking smile al
me, devoted herself to her ice for
two long minutes, then she looked
up again.
II suppose you're invited to that
fool costume party Rita Brown is
giving?"
Lillian Analyses Rita.
eyes. Are your" spoke hopefully
If Lillian we're to be present l would
not so dread the bizarre affair.
For my sins, yes" she answered
YEARLY. "If it weren't for you I'd
pass the whole thing up. Those
prancings around are all right foi
fappers, but they're ridiculous fol
grown7ups. But the Dicky-bird'll be
there With bells on, and I've got q
sort of half-baked notion that il
might not be bad idea for you ant
me to show Brown, Fairfax & Co.
a stunt or two in the costume
line"
looked at her in mystihed in
quiry.
Her eyes were sparkling with mis-
chief, i1er cheeks glowing with en-
thusiasm. AS she looked at me thu
sparkle died, and a look of tender
ness replaced it.
IF it were simply Edith Fairfa,
in the ofing, shouldn't lift my fin
ger, for you wouldn't need me-" sht
said, "Foith is harmless, gentl,
thing, dead in love with Dicky, bu
not aggressive and distinctly not hi
type. But Rita Brown is,a cold, cal
culating little wretch, without sin
gle redeeming quality. In one way
she's not dangerous, like Grace
Draper, for Grac was insanely in
f. tuated with Dicky, and reckless
to the point of murder in both he
attempts to win him and in her re
venge for her failure. But while Rit;
Brown can never rise to the height
of reckless tragedy which Grace
Draper reached, yet she can b.
infinitely annoying in smaller
meanef, more calculating way.
Don't Say a Word.
"Rita has just one thought, on,
mission, the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Rit;
Brown. She wants to be the 'brid,
at the wedding, the corpse at thu
funeral, wherever she is, and if sh,