Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-15
The Way Madge couehed Her Re.
quest of Grace Draper.
Dear Miss Draper

MY DcdI MISS DIdpel -.
Back in my room at Mrs. TIGERS,
with Dicky purposely paying such
asiduous attention to his mother and
Junior that l feared no interruption
from my doughty mother-in-law, |
sat before an in1provised desk, cud-
Ceiling my brain for fitting words
with which to clothe my request to
her that she pose again for Dickys
illustrations.
/ stared at the formal salutation
with eyes that looked backward
down a vista of trouble and tragedy,
| of which Grace Draper had been the
storm center, and wondered to what
must look forward--a little pre-
monitory shiver swept me. OF my
own yolition, I was bringing her
into my life again, convinced that
| by so doing l was saving Dicky
from threatened professional ruin,
but I could not escape the fear that
some way, somehow, she would
bring truth to me and mine again.
But having once set my feet upon
this thorny path l could not go
back. So with a desperation born OF
the impotence I felt, l dipped my
pen afresh in the ink and rapidly
wrote:
If you remember our converse
ton at the house in Hampstead,
ycu will know that this letter is
written in all friendliness and sin
| cerity. Mr.. Graham has been in
| ignorance Of your whereabouts
and of our interview until this
morning, when l discovered that
he needs your particular type tor
some illustrations he is to make
for a novel. He had no idea that
he could secure you. simply ex-
pressing the wish that you were
| available. | at cnce informed him
of our interview, and expressed
the belief that you might be will
in9 to work with him again. At
his request I am writing you to
ascertain whether or not you
would be willing to undertake the
/ work.
OF course your whereabouts
would have to be kept secret
from the people of whom you
spoke in our interview, and we
:. have evolved a plan which will
| combine secrecy and safety with
convenience. IF you can manage
to get a train for Greenport unob-
served. take the ferry at that point
for Shelter Island. Mr.. Graham
and | will motor over from Sag
harbor, through North Haven,
! and meet you on the Shelter Is
land dock. and motor you to a
quiet. comfortable little hotel in
! the heart of the island woods,
,, where we can make plans for the
posing. All the expenses OF your
:, Journey we will, Of course, repay.
Cordially yours.
MARGARET GRAHAM.
I read this over several time
4 when I had finished. feeling NOR
and more dissatisfied with it eac
fine. Il sounded stiff, stilted. and
, wondered If l had not obtruded my
SELF too much in writing OF the az
,anpements. Yet Dicky had insiste
;. | upon my WrltlHS the ie't.'
my being present at all interview
. with her and | would have pee
u something more than human il ! ha
not Welded to the temptation
!. (which the letter plainly BETRAYED
\ TO let her see how completely IN
, situation was in my hands.
{ Careful Plans.
:. I folded the letter and put It int
. an envelope, addressed simpi,
y Grace Draper" directed a large
one to the cousin of Linda Shelltor
e who was the first in the chain G
y y the girls clever illusions OF the e:
y !. pionage kept upon her-and slippe
e both into my bag, to wait for an or
portunity to. show them to Dick,
re Then ! went down to the sittin
room where Dicky was entertain
IS ing his small son to the little lad
n delight. and Mother Graham's smi
is ing approval.
NV mother-in-law's face change