South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-10-09

T think Lillian was as startled as
I al Dicky's draWled interruption 70
our colloauy over Kenneth stock
bridges desk which jim had Just
srnuggIed into the house. He had
said that he did not know when ne
would be home. and I fancy we both
had unconsciously counted upon his
staying away the whole evening.
Although l had conided TO Dic<y
something Of my worries IN connec-
ton with the mystery surrounding
the death of AIilly StockbridSe. /
knew - and the knowledge was
shared by Lillian-that il was high
" desirab bic he should know moth
ing Of this desk OF Kenneth Stock
bridges with its secret mechanism
until its secret was TO longer men
ace to the cause OF the imprisoned
principal.
Dicky's garrulity, while much less
in evidence than before his service
in the aviation corps. must still be
reckoned with. And the most pro-
voking feature of Dicky's laxative
ness is the fact that ne is always
perfectly sure that he has said
nothing nae should not, and becomes
highly incensed when proof Of i'm
prudent speech is laid before him.
Thankful indeed was / that Lii
liam was present. knew that she
could make the situation appear
perfectly innocuous If any one
could So I simply turned toward
him with a startled deprecating lit
tie smile and waited for Lillian
move.
I didn't have 80 wait a second.
a
right shade of startled greeting.
10, Dicl<y- bird" she drawied
When did you fly in2 You gave Us
quite a start. Why don't you ring
a bell when YOU approach? We
might have been planning 10 poison
you for all YOU know. No perfect
gent would do It."
4 wouldn't put II past either of
YOU Dicky rejoined, strolling UP TO
the desk and looking it over with
his hands i'm his pockets. Rum
looking piece Of junk. this. Ma dye
Whore did YOU get il. and what do
you want il for"
Where's the five cents I ga we
you last week, and what did you
spend II for?' Knocked Lillian.
Why don't you ask her that next 4?
/ But, as it happens, Mr.. Mid-Victo-
rian Spouse. this here thing haint
none of your business. This desk is
/ milne, me own. bought with me
! own hard-earned money ! needed
something to put my accumulated
/ junk in while I'm out here, and as
/ my room at Mrs. Durkee's is rather
! small. Madge was kind enough 20
/ offer II house room. 1 picked II up
at a second hand shop in Crest Ha-
/ I y, fraI- b..r
$40. Don't you?"
/ I'd give YOU about two-thirty
: seven for it, Dicky drawled proVok-
/ ingly then he put his hand on the
cover Of the desk as If 70 lift il.
How does she OPEN"
Lillian smiled ruefully. while
! tingled with apprehension. How
would she manage this unexpected
/ question.
That's where smarty lii fell
down for once" she said. Il cant
ind any key for il. But 7 suppose
there is one over at the secondhand
store"
] III be dropping over to Crest
/ Haven tomorrow" DiCky offered
good-naturcdly. IL you'll give me
the name of the place I'll stop in
and ask about IT,
That's awfully go-i OF YOU" Ill
liam returned as coolly as if there
! were anywhere in existence the
shop Of which she had talked 20
fluently. I'll just take yea up on
that. I've got the address some
where. She fumbled in her dress
NO. l must have dropped IT, Blu.
I'll hunt il up and give il to YOU to-
/ morrow. Thanks awfully. old chap.
I'm glad 20 see YOU duly appre-
ciate my eNertions in your behalf.
he returned with smiling grandilo-
! quence- But nothing is TOO great
. for me 20 attempt for YOU BY the
way. Madge. / just saw your FRIENDS
/ next door returning from another
JOY ride. ] could hear Mrs Dur
/ KEGS cackle and All below clear
over here. The deah majah's taken
them out again. That's going some
two nights in succession. Wonder
if the old boys shining up "a
Edith I'd better put a flea in her
ear TO try 10 land him He's worth
three or four millions. isn't he p"
4 haven't the slightest idea. ]
replied, a bit shortly. l felt vague.