New Britain herald., 1920-10-07


 | said. in coldlv professional tone. "I am going uwav on an crrand. 70 [ cannot stay and sec you eat thiI. but when return 1 want to find an absolutely empty tray. Just push the table away when you have finished. and go tn sleep again--unles8 you Il like to rcad.'
 Leila l. Given Orders.
 | laid upon the foot of the bC1 copies of the latest ma agaZines which hnd carried over with the tray. Then stopped and kissed her, iEnOr- ing the trembling Of her lips and the entrenty in her eyes.
 "I'l be back in a few hours" I said chcerily. "Iio good girl
 was out of the door before she could do more than send a haif-eX- postulatinE. half-entreating cry of "NadRc. watt after me. But l pre- tended not to hear. and sped dNwn the stairs out of earshot I salved my conscience with the reflection that solitude was the one thing the cXcit- ed. hysterical girl needed. She had a healthy body. and youths natural rebound of spirits and SO | was sure that when she had eaten her lunch. had dawdlcd a hit over her magazine. and had drowBod again she would hc in the frame of mind in which | wished her to face Rita Brown.
 had taken the precaution to put on a small hat and a sweater before crossing to~thc big house. Thus equip ped. l knew I could get away with out my mothcr-in-law's suspecting that I was not with Leila. Mrs. Lu- kcns had already showed me n path which led through a reighbor's yard to the street beyond-a friendly short cut which she often, and which I now took with the assurance that ever if Mother Graham were outdoors with Junior she wouldn't see me leaving the place. Without betraying Leila s confidence, I could not tell my mother in-law about Rita Browns disclosures, nor the measures I was taking to combat them.
 The Stage Set for Rita.
 IL didn't take me many minutes to reach Betty Kane's little shop door again. Shc was frankly glad to see mo. but gave no hint of the surprise which mu-t have been hers at my swift return. I suspected that the little shop did not haze the pa cH. age it deserved. for this was the sec ond time in one day l had found it deserted.
 Miss Kane" I said. going directly to the point, "I find that it is neces- sary fer me to have strictly private and perhaps a bit unpleasant interview with a young woma't whom. for req sons connected with [. relative, I car- not take to my own cottage. I wor- dered if you could not rent me a room for perhaps an hour, probably for n much shorter time than that?"
 Sho looked at me steadily for minute. I saw that her keen. gray eyes were weighing me, and debating the propriety of granting my request. Evidently what she saw satisfied her. for the next minute she said heartl- Iy: will gladly give you the use Of this one" She threw open old fashioned folding doors to n typical ''parlor" of the late Victorian period-velvet furniture, "tidics." 'shclI work" and all the other atrocities.
 This belongs to the people of the house." she said. but they arc away just now. and they always let me use it when | have an overflow of people at tca--which seldom hap pens, l am sorry to say. You arc per fectly welcome to it. Sou may or der tea if you wish for yourself and your--friend. but it isn't necessary"
 ''I think 1t will be quite necessary" I smiled at her. "I expect quite a stormy interview, though not q noisy one, and I think n cup of tea would he ruost fortifyipg. Now. may use your telephone?"\
 She indicated the ono on the wall and I went to it. bracing my nerves for the coming tilt with Rita Brown