South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-01

over Dicky's face / saw that l had
scored in the duel OF unpleasant re-
criminatons IN which we were en-
gagged.
The news that I had been aware
OF Grace Diapers release from
prison. from the first day OF her
freedom-knowledge which was
shrewdly sure antedated his own
had plainly astouded him. While my
reference 10 Allen Drake had made
him as furious as even I. in my child
lsh desire TO infuriate him. could
have wished. His lips twisted into a
knocking sheer, while his eyes were
black with the wrath which 80 IL only
too easy 10 arouse in one OF Dicky' s
rnercurial temperament
"Oh. so the original white-haired
boy IS on the jobl' he said, his words
clipped in the staccato fashion with
which intense anger always invests
his utterance. "Td Ike 20 know who
commissioned him TO act as Omnipo-
tent Protector OF shrinking, lovely
heroine!"
He stopped and stared at me with
a cold. ugly look In his eyes.
Strikes me you aren't in any n9ed
OF my aid or sympathy. no matter
what rnelodramatic dangers you may
be doomed to undergo" he said. and
every WORD was heavy with sarcasm
What with the army. as represented
by dear old Maze, and the secret
diplomatic service in the person OF
little Alice. any insignificant serv-
ices which / might be able TO rem
der would be entirely superfluous.
III be sizzled II 1 don't think poor
old Oracle needs looking after a
blamed sight more than you do!'
wonder e every married couple
have the diabolical facility for dis
covering each others weakest points
and directing an attack against them
as my husband and / possess. Sub
consciously knew that Dicky dtdn' I
mean what he had just said. that his
angry utterarCe had been inspired by
his reference TO Grace Draper With
and that II I could only guard my
ovn speech. the chance Of intense
bitterness following this unpleasant
alteration would be greatly lessened.
But even as Dicky's smoldering
wrath had been famed into flame
bv the mention Of Allen Drake. so
was mine fused into white heat by
his reference 10 race Draper. With
= complete disregard of all sub-con-
scious warnings. I tried with all the
skill developed by our tempestuous
years together TO flick him on the
raw.
Il was not aware that had asked
you for protection against Miss ORA
per. or anything else I said, icily.
please credit me with enough rudi-
mentary intelligence TO realize the
futiIify OF any such expectations.
And I agree with you that she does
need looking after a great deal
more than I do. Pray don't let me
keep YOU from the pleasant task
You will pardon me II I remind you
that am exec edingly tired, and that
the present discussion g neither in
teresting nor restful. And-h you
happen 10 ses Maj. GrantlarAplease
ask him 10 stop at the Srtdge. !
want him TO see father about this
rnelodramatic performance.
It was crude. vulgar. but singu-
larly effective. Dicky whiried toward
the door as If my words had been a
projectiIe sending him in that direc-
ton. But he stopped long enough
10 give vent TO his anger in an eX-
piosive imprecaton.
Take your owned cursed mes
sages." he cried. and shut the door
behind him with emphasis.
Then, woman-ike. my anger and
my tormented jealousy vented them
selves I'm a torrent OF hot, choking
=, Coo hrH~ ~ nd
in my fathers pillows, 1 went wear
fIy up and down the gaEnut OF specu-
Iation as 10 the course Dicky would
pursue toward Grace Draper. After
all that had passed would he actually
dare 10 see her and renew the ole
friendship which had so nearly
driven me mad2
1t was long before my whirlwin6
emotion spent itself, longer still be-
fore my exhausted brain would allow
nv body TO move. I lay supine
quiet. a racking headache paying the
penalty OF my outraged nerves.
think at last 1 dozed. and when
finally found strength 10 rise. battle
my face and arrange my disordereC
hair. ! found that several hours had
PASSED since I had asked my father
10 change rooms with me.
The experience 1 had undergone
had brought back the nervous eN'
haustion srom which 1 had suffered
on the train. Infinitely dreading q
meet any one on the way, conscious
only of desire TO reach. my owl
room and bed. I crept with uucer
tain steps down the hall and knock
cd feebly at the door OF my owl
room.
MY father threw il open. and viii
a shocked exclamation put his arms
around me. Behind him, 10 my cha
grin. lowered the figure of Maj
Grantland.
Daughter. dearl What Is TT
what has happened? ."
Nv fathers arms were around me
his anxious voice was sounding In my
ears with q little culver Of con
tent T realized that I had reached q
refuge which would never fail ms
as long as there was life left in my
fathers body. I clung 20 him des
perately.
1T is uothinE-now. father"
said softly. Everything IS all righ
now"
Maj. Grantland had uttered nj
word as I entered. but his fac,
showed plainly concern. an anN
iotv for me which stabbed me he
cause Of It's contrast TO Dicky's seem.
ing indifference. He uuobtrusivelS
rulled forward big comfortable