Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-04-13

| Katie shave words" and Katie pre-
pares to leave. To take her place
Mother Graham telegraphs Cousin
Agatha, an old maid relative depend
ent upon her kinswoman's bounty
and of uncertain, vindictive DISPOSE
ton.
When Katie hears this she beg.
Madge not to permit Cousin Agatha
to have anything to do with the
care of Richard Second, for she
knows that Cousin Agatha cause.
lessly hates Madge. High strung
emotional and superstitious al
| Madge knows Katie to be. she is
nevertheless strangely upset by hel
warning.
The first day Madge spends in
the school at which she teaches
she discovers that there must be
some strange reason for the cold
ness with which Mr.. Stockbridge
treats all of his women teachers
What the reason is she doesn',
learn until one day after the news
| of the armistice comes. Then Miss
Holcombe, the only teacher who
seems on friendly terms with Mr.
Stockbridge, and the principal, him.
self, meet Madge in the Office aud
break to her the news that Dicky
is reported missing.
In Kiad hearted attempt to rush
Madge 10 the quickest train home
Mr.. Stockbridge almost runs over a
woman who rushes into the path OF
the speeding automobile. But Mr..
Stockbridge doesn't slacken speed,
and he leaves Miss Holcombe to ex-
plain to Madge why he has ignored
his wife, for this is who the woman
! was. Miss Holcombe tells Madge
OF the insane jealousy with which
Mrs. Stockbridge is afflicted. and
leaves Madge to wonder if the wom-
an Miss Holcombe says Mr..
Stockbrdge really loved in his
youth, isn't Miss Holcombe, herself.
To the amazement of Madge,
Mother Graham takes the news of
Dicky's disappearance far more
calmly than one would have expect
ed, she feels certain Dicky is safe.
In the meantime Major Grantland
comes to aid Madge, and together
they go to see Lillian Underwood,
who is striving to get news about
Dicky from official friends
! When Major Grantland and
Madge reach Lillian's home they
meet Allen Drake, a man high in
the secret service, whom Madge
had once aided. He tells Madge
that Dicky is reported downed in
his airplane, and word has come
from the enemy lines that an aviator
has been found badly wounded.
How Madge manages to go on
with her school work during the
weeks that follow is mystery even
to her. For added to it there comes
worry over Richard Second. Baby
is fretful all the time-awake when
he should be asleep and sleeping
when he should be awake. Madge
suspects Cousin Agatha, but she
doesn't know what she could be do
ing. Then it is that Mother
Graham, of her own accord, asks
Madge 10 find Katie and to bring
her back home.
Madge goes in search of Katie and
discovers that she has been working
behind the partition in drug store.
At this moment, in fact, Katie is on
her way to bring to Madge startling
news-tllat Cousin Agatha has been
buying a dangerous medicine, of
whose powers Katie has heard the
druggist speak in perpleXed wonder
that the woman should purchase it.
In frantic haste Katie urges Madge
to hasten home and watch Cousin
Agatha. This Madge does, catching
Cousin Agatha in the act of adding
the drops to Baby's milk. Then
Mother Graham sends Cousin
Agatha away and she goes to pub
lie home.
There comes to Madge an official
wire she fears something has hap
pened to Dicky, but the cable is
from Dicky, himself-he is safe
within tire American lines, is well
and is writing. 1t couldn't have
been Dicly who was found in the
aviator's suit. And when Dicky's
letter arrives this proves to have
been the case. Harry Underwood
had tried to put himself in every
dangerous place and had saved
Dicky at what cost even Dlcky
doesn't know.
Mother Graham. who had been
sick when the cable came, instantly
RECEIVERS her spirits and sets about
preparing for her sons homecom-
ing. Madge fears for her strength
in the elaborate housekeeping and
also what Katie will say to all the
extra work. But Mother Graham
and Katie get along beautifully to-
gether, and then one day Katie's
husband, Jim, comes home. He has
been wounded and isn't able to do
much work, so Katie plans for him
to go to his parents until he is able
to earn his living, but to Madge's
delight-for this is her own secret
plan-Mother Graham imperiously
BIDS him stay with his wife as their
guest.
The lack of news about Harry
Underwood is a grave strain even
for indomtable Lillian to bear. Her
anxiety is heightened by what she
now tells Madge-tfat Robert
Savarin had declared his intention
of seeking Underwood. Knowing
the strange condition of Robert
Savarin's mind, Lillian fears some
thing might happen over there. And
though Lillian loves Robert .5avarln,
she decides that she will stand by
and wait for Harry Underwood's re-
turn, ready to do whatever is best
for her recreant husband.
Unexpectedly one day telephone
message comes to Madge at school.
Mr.. Stockbridge, the principal, care
fully and thoughtfully arranges
everything so Madge may receive
her message in his private Office I'M