South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-10-08

Ny eyes were fixed on Lillian as
intently As hers were upon the desk
which JiTt had Struggled SO success
fully into the house
] do not know what / expected.
probably that she would at once
discover the mechanism OF that Sc
cret drawer. But I was doomed 10
disappointment, for after she had
scrutinized IL from every angle
some minutes she spread her hands
with an expressive gesture Of final
ity.
Wen, there's one good job done"
she said, turning away so far, so
good"
you aren't going to open it.
them I couldn't repress the query.
"Of course not" she said, turn
ing 20 me with a surprised EXPIRES
sion. In the first place I want 10
see II Mr. Stockbridge renews the
permission he gave you TO 90
through il. and what are the direC-
tons he gives YOU. You say you
couldn't work with the others.
There is a possibility. a slight one,
mind-but still eXisting-that he
purposely misled you, that ne never
expected YOU 10 find the drawer.
.In the second place" she drew
INV TT A4l- GU litlo u litl AAOuAAA Will
rueful expression. lin the event
that Mr.. Stockbridge refuses per
mission and we have to open il
ourselves. l am afraid I shall have
to call in another friend of yours.
The corner OF my brain which ought
10 house an understanding of me-
Chanism is perpetually for rent un-
furnished. I can't open a simple
lock with the keys in position. It's
Allen Drake you's the original
white haired boy in that direction.
He's the lad with the gimlet eyes
which can bore through the most
complicated mechanism. secret or
open, that was ever devised"
Allen Drakei" I echoed with a
start not exactly Of dismay, but
which held something of that emo
] ton in fl.
I, Lillian gave me a quick shrewd
glance, then looked away again tact
fully. l was furious 10 ind myself
flushing not only at her involuntary
compromising glance. but at q
Z vivid memory I had OF my last
meeting with Allen Drake. when he
had SO signally aided me in the f.
nal vanquishing of the woman who
was threatening the peace Of my
| fathers old age.
There is no other person in the
world who affects me in such con-
Trajectory fashion as does Allen
Drake. He has the faculty Of
arousinS in me furious resentment
by his lordly attitude toward fem
mime intelligence in general and
mine in particular-or so T fancy
when I am with him. And then,
with a most unexpected little turn
of his mood he proves himself th9
gentlcst. most considerate of cava-
liers. laVishing all his wonderful
skill and experience in my service.
At one moment / am sure I deteSt
him thoroughly The next J am
forced 10 wondering. remorsefuI ad-
miration and liking for him.
But finding that secret drawer
Is problem of some weeks 10 come.
not for now" Lillian went on. ex-
actlv AS if her remark concerning
Allen Drake. and my ejaculation had
never been spoken. Il suppose YOU
are wondering" she went on, why
the urgency of getting the desk here
If we didn't intend 20 try 20 open IL.
That's simply because don't
want II around where AIR. stock
bridges enemies can get hold Of il.
They may not be strong. on secret
mechanism. but they're probably
sharks with axes. and that would be
about the first thing that would oc-
cur 70 them 10 smash the thing 70
pieces always provided they had
received q hint that Somethinc
might he concealed within IL And
with those telephone girls and their
k1owledEe-the devil alone knows
how much THEY'VE heard-in the
offinE, its dan=erous TO leave any.
thing like this in any place that's
known.
Gut T think. my dear that we've
succe ssfullv turned the trick, and
the desk can stand here for weeks
to come whether we're here or not.
without fear OF discovery. So now.
suppose we forget al about II. and
turn our attention to the kind OF
clothes ven need out AT the east and
OF the island"
/ turned 10 her with laughing
protest underneath which lay a
stratum OF truth
Your brain works so fast il daz-
Zles me" I said You'll have 90
give me time 10 brinC my scattered
faculties together. This iumD from