South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-06


news OF Allen brakes ] never shall
forget her appearance as she stood
arrested by his words. her coffee
cup halfway 90 her lips The next
instant 70 had crashed 90 the floor
and for a long tense moment my
friend looked down at 10 vacantly
with gray face and sWaylng figure
Mr. Drake looked at me inquir-
fngly with an expression OF remOrse-
>Eul distress on his face. 4 put my
finger swiftly against my lips. for I
knew any word Of apology from him
would only distress and humiliate
Lillian because 10 would stress the
fact that she wss undeniabIy upset,
was exhibiting a loss Of pOise un-
natural in her.
ION his way 20 America" 7 re-
peated, rising as though excited by
the news. and going over 20 Mr..
Drake. ] was careful 20 take a po-
EitiOn which brought me between
Lillian and him. knew that she
needed only a few seconds To regain
command Of herself. and that the
only aid We could give her was 20
appear unconscious OF her agitation.
Allen brakes quick wits saw
through my ruse at once. and with
an unworthy little thrill OF triumph
over him I saw an undeniable CLEAN
OF admiration leap into his eyes.
"Of course. were not sure OF that
last fact" ne amended hurriedly.
"but ali the evidence 1 have been
able 20 gather points to the con-
clusion-"
Then II was really he in that
German prison" I quAried.
Yes" Allen Drake returned. He
evidently intended 10 say more. but
] saw him look quickly, attentively
at something behind me. And then
Lillian's voice. clear. incisive. cut
into the conversation.
Tell Us all you have learned"
she said crisply.
stole a look at her. She was
still pallid. but every tremor, every
trace OF emotion was gone from her.
The few seconds respite had been
enough TO enable her TO pull her
self together. She was again the
dominating figure OF our little
group.
There isn't so very much TO tell''
Mr.. Drake returned. hesitatingly I
saw that man-like. he dreaded
breakdown on Lillian's part, al
though he had worked with her
many times. knew OF what chilled
steel her nerves were made.
But I suspected from the ques-
tiOns he had put 20 me while Lillian
was absent from the room that his
shrewd observation had deduced the
real state OF Lillian's feelings toward
the husband who had treated her
so badly, and the artist who loved
her so sincerely, so hOpelessly.
Therefore he was not sure what eff
feet his news would have upon her.
Tell it all, minutely." Lillian
commanded.
As you know" Mr. Drake be-
gan. we have had people trying 10
locate Mr.. Underwood for YOU ever
since he was reported missing We
found that ne was really the man
wounded in the German prison. but
for a long time we could get no fur
Their details concerning him. Then,
recently, we found that ne had re-
covered almost miraculOusly from
his wOunds-he must have the con-
stitution Of a giant"
He has" Lillian interposed impa-
tiently, as he paused for a second.
Go on"
saw Mr. brakes eyebrows go up
momentarily, but he continued
quietly:
He left the prison. where. Of
course. he was not "a prisoner after
the armistice and started in the gem
There we lost track OF him. for. OF
course, we cannot shadow him as
we would n criminal But one Of
our men, with whom lie grew quite
Chummy. reports that Mr.. Under
wood said once that he thought he
would go back 10 America and be-
gin all over again.
never have admired Lillian
more than 7 did in the moments
following Allen brakes disclosure
concerning Harry Underwood.
The news that he intended DE
ginning all over again meant to
her. OF course. only one thing. that
the husband who had treated her so
CavalieTly wished 10 make amends
20 her and to take up their old life
together.
That the tldlngs sounded the
death knell OF Robert Savarin's
happiness. and Of Lulian's also. 7
knew. indeed. no one knew better.
FOR I had been my friends sole
Confidante in TIE long weary months
following Harry UnderwO71's de-
parture for the war zone.
I had heard her frank confession
that she loved the artist. but ! had
also heard the decision she had
made-that II her husband who had
NFOnEtu neE tnOAlN come UdCk AZ
fer his baptism Of fire needing her.
she would take up her life with
him again, no matter what heart
break II brought TO herself and the
artist who loved her 80 devotedly.
Yet there was no trace OF regret.
TO protest in her voice or face and
! knew there was none I'm her heart
for Lillian Is too big q woman TO
stoop 20 pretence about her person
al concerns-when at Allen brakes
Isst words she TUNED 20 me
Thank goodness, Madge. definite
news at last"
No trace now Of the gray palIor
which for a few brief seconds had
betrayed the panic into which Mr..
brakes first brusque words had
thrown her. Instead there were I'M
mistakable relief and gladness in
her eyes and voice. 7 stared at her
for a moment IN frank amazement.
FOR 7 could not understand how e
was possible for either emotion 20
be genuinely hers at news OF Harry
Underwood.
Then. with an involuntary flush
at my own stupidity the explana-
ton came 10 me With the news
of Harry T-nderwood's safety there
had hepn lifted from my friends