South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-17
THE RELIEF AND WORRY
THE PHONE CAUSED MADGE


From the moment when the in
/ terne at Pemberton hospital tele-
( phoned me the message which al
/ first believed concerned my hus-
| band until the time Of Dicky's safe
| arrival from Philadelphia ! was in
a nervous tremor of anxiety. The
reaction from my terror at believ-
ing Dicky TO be dying. or at least
, badly injured, left me shaken. ready
! 70 start at the slightest word.
stayed closely in the house all
( the morning following my tele-
/ phone interview with the other
/ Mrs Graham" From my knowl-
+ edge Of Dicky was quite sure that
/ he would telephone me as soon as
he reached the city. Quick TO
take offense. Dicky is also facile in
forgiveness.
You don't need 10 bother with
! the telephone this morning. Katie. &"
1 said at breakfast. a meal which
shared rather formally with Cou-
sin Agatha. Il will answer it my
self"
l caught the CLINT of suspicion in
| Cousin Agatha's cat-like eyes as she
raised them at my words, then
| quickly lowered them again; but
she made no comment, for which l
! was thankful. That Cousin Agatha
disliked tne cordially. disapproved
of me. suspected me Of some vague
underhanded action TO trap me in
which would be balm to her
wounded vanity 1 knew. But the
! knowledge troubled me little. save
for the danger to the secret service
work 1 was doing under Lillian
which might ensue from her in
qufsitiveness.
That danger. for the present.
/ Graham's broken arm, which Cou-
sin Agatha was nursing with a care
and devotion curiously in contrast
10 her usual selfish. disagreeable
manner. / knew that as long as
my mOther-ir law needed nursing
I was compa. atively safe from her
kinswoman's meddlesome curiosity.
whats the Natter"
II was little I thought or cared
for Cousin Agatha's suspicious or,
indeed, for anything in the world
save the assurance of my husbands
safety. All, the morning I sat in
my room with my door open ready
10 spring TO the telephone at the
first ring
1t seemed to me that never had
our telephone had so many rings.
| Tradesmen. little Mrs. Durkee.
strangers who had been given the
wrong number-by the time Dickys
long expected call came { was few
erish with excitement.
That you. Madge >" His voice
Gained me with the assurance of
his safety. thrilled me as l realized
that it held no sulky intonation, but
was full of tenderness.
"Oh. Dicky! Dicky," I exclaimed
as a silly school girl in her first
love affair might have done. I'm
so glad to hear your voice"
Why" with quick concern.
What's the matter. sweetheart?
Your voice sounds weepy."
I've been so upset about you,
dear" l returned. anh then rush1l
on incoherently enough. "Pember-
ton hospital telephOned me last
nighs they had a message for me
from you, and until 1 found out
they meant another Mr.. Graham I
imagined all sorts of terrible
| things
Il haven't the slightest idea what
you're trying TO tell me-" Dicky de-
cared with masculine obtuseness,
"but it's too bad you've been worry
ing Incidentally. yours truly IS
mighty sorry he was such a boor
yesterday over the phone I've been
putting ashes on my head all the
morning And I've tried TO get you
on the phone ever since l got into
the city three hours ago. but I've
had the busy signal every time. You
must have been settling the war
with the powers that be"
Something Left UndOnc.
Not a syllable have l uttered
over that phone this morning. ex-
cept Yes No. and This = the
wrong number" I declared cayly.
too happy 10 notice the irrational
irritation in my husbands words.
Pat I think every one in Marvin
has called US up this morning. I've
been on edge over It all the fore
noon. because I wanted 10 hear
your voice so much. and TO tell YOU
how sorry 1 am about yesterday"
Sweetheart girl" Dicky's voice
came softly over the phone. in one
OF the names which are a sort OF
code between us. When Dicky
SAYS those two words in just that
way / know that everything is all
serene between my husband and me.
that there's no further need for
apologies or of any words.
There was a perceptible pause.
and then Dicky's voice again. this
time in matter-of-fact intona-
ton:
III be out on the next train.
Have just time 10 catch il. BY the
way. lii phoned me lot OF stuff
this morning that I'll talk over