South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-26
WHY LILLIAN MADE TO MADGE
TIE STRONGEST DECLARE
TION OF HER LIFE.

LIE -
TON OF HER LIFE.
In the hall OF Mrs Durkee's house
for the last few weeks the house
OF mystery" there Is a closet dog
onally across from the library To-
ward this Lillian moved swiftly.
noiselessly. while 1 toiling after her.
felt my breath coming unevenly in
wonder as 10 the thing she meant
20 do.
She paused at the door bent her
ear 10 the keyhole-being careful.
however. not 10 obstruct the light
and listened. Then she beckoned me
to DO likewise. As 1 did SO, dis
tinctly heard the sound Of sup
pressed breathing.
She gripped my arm, and showed
me a heavy cloth reeking of floor
oil. shut in the crack Of the door.
And then. indicating by a gesture
that I was 10 hurry on, she inserted
the key which she held into the lock
and turned IL.
The following minute she was b.
my side hurrying toward the door
side veranda, exchanging careless
perfUnctory nothlngs with DR.. Pet
tit
Il wasn't until we were entirely
within our own grounds that VEN
tured a question.
"Kato?" I asked.
''Kato. OF course she answered.
And that doddering old idiot
beg your Lardon, Madge, I really
can't help my djectives-won't hear
word against him. 1 doubt If he
would be convinced even at the sight
OF his faithful one doubled up in
the closet where he lodged when /
opened the door"
How did he ever get there so
quickly?" | asked.
Lillian Knew the Oriental.
Ny dear child" Lillian replied
dida ctically.N mo cat in the world
ever had it on an Asiatic when It
comes 20 a quick and noiseleSs shift
OF position. But. fortunately. know
ing the configuration Of the hall and
closet and "a little about the Oriental
mind, although no Occidental ever
sees more than tiny corner of
their mental workings I figured that
he would do exactly the stunt he did
And as 1 opened the door I sent my
eyes directly 10 the closet door.
wasting no time upon looking up
and down the hall And 7 was re-
warded by seeing the door close
with the oiled rag hanging out of it.
1t was child's play 10 turn the key
take IT out and be assured that nc
wouldn't have the opportunity 20
steal those figures"
TT was a wonderful thing to
catch him that way and lock him
up" said sincerely. but how could
he possibly make head or tail out
Of those figures?"
Lillian looked at me commiserat-
ingIy.
You're a nice child, Madge." she
said ironically, land you don't swear
and you're kind to your poor
mother-in-law and sometimes you're
most awfully cleveland again you
are the biggest Ounce going"
Thanks. awfully, for the posies a"
4 l.
fiage neither offends nor grieves me
but l think you'll have TO elucidatc
a bit. I still don't see"
Playing for the Biggest Stake.
We'll, then, know oh, ignorant
one" began Lillian enthusiastically
that while you may fiatter yourself
you have a memory-and II really
is remarka ble-yet almost any Asi
attic you see could beat you all hol
understood each others language
He. OF course, couldn't have any idea
of the meaning of the figures but
he would have stored them away
despite his ignorance OF even the
sounds OF our language-like SO
much cordwood, and when he got a
chance 10 deliver them TO some per
son who could use them, there
wouldn't have been a single stray
figure missing"
II see, I said humbly But why
didn't you open the door and con
front him. He ought 10 be gotten
rid Of at once, don't you Think"
Indeed I don't" Lillian retorted
II want TO give him and Grace Ora
per. too. rope enough TO hang them
if they'll only tangle themselves NJ
in it."
That's the reason you kept tel
ling tarradiddles all during the visit,
is it," l asked reproachfUlly.
"Of course" Lillian replied. un-
ashamed II tell you, my dear, il
We just manage things right, We
bag the biggest lot Of enemy spic
their master. the devil, ever le'
loose And TO do that I'll NOV
h~Nven and earth, and-I give you
fair warning-Tm going TO cOnside-
neither nerve, feelings nor person
atty until this thing is over. I'm go