South Bend news-times., 1920-10-03
Revelations
Ofa Wife
Ny Heart and Ny Husband
BY ADELE GARRISON

Gus and gregarious 4 creature that
have not the problera Of door serv-
ice which confronts so many house
nistresses II does not matter
whether Il be day or evening. hours
on duty or hour off. the sound OF
the doorbell IS the signal which
draws Katie with a movement as
swift and sure as that OF a homing
pigeon flying to its nest.
For many reasons. however, I pre-
ferred that Katie should not see my
visitors, II the encounter could be
avoided. / was reasonably sure that
- could be. for Jim and Katie upon
coming home would go straight 10
their own room. unless / intercepted
them with some question or direc-
tiOn for the morrow.
/ was frankly glad TO see Esther
Walters again as / was uneasily
troubled about a further encounter
with her brother. Tn girl. a won
deTtully pretty creature with big
Irish eyes OF violet shaded by long
lashes. a clear olive skin dashed
with carmine, and black hair whose
lustre would make any self-respect-
ing raven put his wing out Of sight
IN Inundated envy, threw her arms
around me impetuously as / opened
the door.
oh my dear Mrs. Grahami" she
exclaimed, and / noted again the at
tractiveness Of her throaty contralto
voice. 1T does seem so good TO see
YOU again. I'm awfully glad 1 grad
Uated last year. IL would just make
me sick 10 think OF going back 10
school with you not there"
i kissed her warmly before I ex
tended my hand to her brother.
1T is good TO see you, dear" /
replied. heartily. and then changed
my tone invOluntarily TO that Of
formal courtesy.
Il am so glad you could come
over, Mr.. Walters. Come into the
living ROOM"
He murmured something as banal-
Iy conventional in return and went
through the introduction 10 Lillian
with the same unsmiling formality.
His whole attitude was as hostilely
wary as that OF a Missourian is sup
posed TO be. / was as sure as if
he had uttered the words aloud. that
he thought himself the centre of
some scheme 10 save me at the eX-
pense OF Kenneth Stock bridge.
Lillian, after the introductions and
the usual small talk following. took
the reins OF the situation in her own
hands with her usual directness in
verbiage stripped Of frills. l had
previously assured her of Esther s
absolute trustworthiness in keeping
10 herself anything which she might
hear.
Mr. Walters" she said crisply.
of course YOU have guessed that it
was not TO play bridge that we in
vited you 20 come here tonight. Mrs.
Graham and / wish TO consult you
upon a most important project con-
nected with Mr.. Stockbridge Mrs.
Graham assures me that your sister
can and will keep her own counsel
absolutely. but ! am wondering if
we wish to bother so young a girl
with so grave a matter.
Il do not know your connection
with the case of AIR. StOCkbridge, %
Mr.. Walters returned. icily. "but il
Mrs. Graham wishes a third person
az this interview. the purpose Of
which IS wholly dark 10 me, | prefer
that my sister should also be pres
ent."
Il will try 70 make my position
clear 10 YOU a little later" Lillian
retorted gOOd-humOredly. And OF
course we are very glad 10 have Miss
Walters present Shall we go TO the
library" She looked al me. we
shall be less likely to be disturbed
there
/ rose and led the way 10 the
library without further comment.
think none OF us felt in the mood
for conversation. Pretty Esther Wal
ters was both bewildered and fright
ened, her brother. watchful. Lillian
cool and inscrutable as ever. while
i could not avoid a feeling Of distinct
resentment at the young attorneys
attitude.
Lillian brought out the folding card
table and set chairs around IT,
we might as we'll give this thing
an air - plausibility" she said, mo-
tioning US TO seats. and dealing the
c7rds eXpertly. IF each OF YOU will
be good enough 20 take up your
cards. so that anyone coming into
4ne room will think we were playing.
III plav the dummy. for / am afraid
j shall do most OF the talking"
we all three obeyed her, although
Mr.. Walters picked his cards up
EinEerly as il he suspected some eN-
plosive substance were hidden I'm
them. His sister. beginning 10 re-
cover from her first fright. had now
venture. Her ewes. fixed on Lillian.
were shining with excitement, the
carmine tint OF her checks deepened.
As for me I was occupied with
doubling wonder as 70 whether even
Ifllian's skill would be able 20 re-
move Mr.. Walters erroneous ideas
concerning my attitude toward Ken
meth StockhridEe.
II believe YOU delivered a letter
from Mr.. Stock bridge TO Mrs. era
ham upon your last visit. Mr. Wal
ters"
Lillian cut directly 70 the core OF
the subject with her first question.
rather an affirmation.
Il did" Mr.. Walters voice was
crisp. while his eyes watched my
friend warily.
Lillian eyed him for a minute
s,eadily. then bent toward him, her
closed hands resting lightly on the
n bIe.
This is no good business. she
a.,nounced Wen never get any
~ here at this rate. for I can see
that YOU have already condemned
1Frs. Graham's attitude In this mat
ter. But I can give you my word
AT honor that ! know all the facts
md that instead OF keeping back