The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-10-02
REVELATIONS
OF A WIFE
eY ApELE oARRlsoh.

Ordinarily, the ring of a doorbell is
not a disquieting thing, and to half the
diners at Lillian's table, the peal that
had sounded held no significance, but
to Dicky. the Durkees, to Lillian, Rob-
! ert Savarin and to me it bore a mes
sage Of terror
suppose that all our brains at once
flashed the image of Mrs Allis, the
woman once calling herself Robert
Savarin's wife, who had maliciously
tried to frighten us. and because Of
whose alarming actions Lillian had
guarded her home for the evening with
private detectives.
Had Mrs. Allis eluded the detec-
tiyes? Was It her hand upon the
door bell? What would happen to tina
one who answered that imperious
ring? All these questions rushed
through my mind with lightning Ike
rapidly, and saw by little Mrs. Dur
KEGS pale face, and the tense, startled
glances Of DiclSy, Alfred Durkee and
Robert Savarin that they, too, were
thinking Of the same terrifying posi-.
bilities.
Lillian appeared perfectly I'M
moved, although I knew by the tiny
white line around her mouth that she
was already dealing with the emer-
gency She flashed Dicky a message
from her eyes but even before he
caught It he was upon his feet.
TN go to the door" Betty, he said
quietly to the maid who had just be-
gun To serve the salad.
Thank you. Marse Dick" Betty re-
piled. curtesying with real grace in
spite of her immense bulk. Dat am
berry kind OF yer"
A Letter Arrives.
Dicky was really gone only two or
three minutes, but It seemed to me an
eternity as sat quivering with terror
yet forcing myself to second Lillian's
effort to keep the conversational ball
rolling.
There's something the mattar
dear" voice Of my brother cousin At
my right was sharp with concern. Can
1 help?"
This was the old helpful Jack again.
and even through my terror for DielSy /
was glad of the change from the dis I
courteous sulkiness with which he met
my uttered belief that his little fiancea. f
Katherine Sonnet, was suffering
through the gayety which had annoyed 1
him.
Not now" I murmured 'Tu tell
you about it later"
When Dicky came back he brought
with him a form book and a pencil
It's special delivery letter also
registered" he explained. and the
youth at the door must have your
signature before he gives up the lets
ter. I didn't want to trouble you" but
it might be important"
1T is" Lillian said, signing the
form. and you did just right in bring
ing it to me-"
she smiled up at him. but in the
look there was anxiety and, / fancied.
saw her silently ask and Dicly give
as silent an assent to some question as
she handed back the form book
When he brought in the letter.
however. Lillian glanced at It with
apparent indifference. and laid it BY
the side of her plate and went on dis
cussing her salad.
But I was wildly excited AS Dicky
handed the letter to her thought
caught sight Of a foreign stamp, and
the conviction seized upon me that the
letter was from my father IN South
America All his letters to me were
sent to Lillian for safety, and we had
agreed that she should read them 70
me without giving me his address. so
that might be able truthfuily to deny
knowledge Of my father to Mr.. Drake,
should that mysterious mau who was
N quest Of my father seek me ont
again.
It didn't seem that could wait un-
ii the dinner should be over to see
What was written in the letter lying
~ LiIlians plate.
And then she looked up and from Her
eyes there came such a message Of
strength and reinsurance that felt !,