South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-25

take your bow gracefully. and let's
have something TO eat. I'll bet these
folks are starving I know I am"
"Oh-h,' the little hostess cried.
II those things are burning, Edith.
VIII you see 70 Leila and help her
with her things?"
She scurried down the stairs as a
cir. Of IS might have done. I looked
at Lillian with admiring eyes. She
had diverted her hostess attention.
had saved situation which might
have become too emotional. and had
disclaimed credit-all in a sentence.
As my eyes met hers. 1 caught a
flash OF commentator in them. and
knew that she recognized and ap-
proved what I had tried 10 do for
Mrs. Durkee.
Well. Leila" Dicky drawled.
Much as I'd Ike 10 stay and explain
20 you which Of these draperies are
cut on the bias and which have curli-
cues up the sides. l suppose I'd bet
ter get out. There's no one else
could do it as we'll. but there's so
much professional jealousy around
here. I'm going to beat it pronto.
Come. Marion. let me give you a
piece Of advice Never. never"
lie rushed Lillian's little daughter
down the stairs as II he had been her
own age. and whatever nonsensical
piece OF advice he was giving her
was lost in the child's peals Of
laughter. Lillian and I, more sedate-
la frTf Cd o. cFh
not so much at the sound OF her
mirth. but at the unconscious hit
Dicky had made IN his nonsensical
adieu.
II think thatu hold dear Edith
for a while" Lillian said with a little
click Of her teeth, which told me that
for some reason or other her dislike
for Edith was as intense as her Xix
ing for Leila was sincere.
was conscious of a definite,
sharpened antagOnism on the part of
Edith Fairfax toward me during the
progress of the welcOme-hOme din
ner TO Alfred Durkee and his bride.
That she strongly resented my cham
pionship OF Alfred's mother. with its
consequent thwarting Of her own
wish TO enlighten Leila as TO the first
plans for the bridal suite OF rooms. 1
knew. and had wondered vaguely in
just what manner she would show
her feeling
She did not leave me long in doubt.
1 never have considered her a par
ticularly catfish woman. but there
was no feline weapon in the feminine
arsenal which she did not use that
evening. properly sharpened. and
with a dizziness which commanded
! my unwilling admiration.
Every opinion l advanced during
the dinner cable conversation she
cleverly tried 20 belittle. Then she
wound up what / can only describe
as a dead set at Dicky. with a humOr-
Gus description of the elaborate
sleuthing Lillian and I were supposed
20 be doing upon the problem Of the
mysterious marauders.
YOU'D better watch your step,
Dicky- bird" she said, with a laugh
ing glance at him. which made me
clench my fingers. although I flatter
myself that my face betrayed no
emotion. You're likely to be de-
duCed as the mysterious gent who
pulled all this stuff yourself in an en-
deavor to hide the evidence of some
crime or other. OF course, 10 the
lay mind it seems perfectly clear that
! only the hOodlumism of Marvin boys
was responsible, but I am properly
chastened on that score and am
eagerly awaiting the findings OF the
great decorative firm"
IF my memory serves me-" Lii
ilian interposed quietly. and with APP
parent good humor II agreed with
your opinion some time ago"
Yes that's what you said" Edith
replied pertly. with a quick down
dropping Of one eyelid, but isn't
that the usual procedure OF all cele-
brated crime investgators-to draw
red herring across the trail ?"
If her purpose was TO hold Lillian
and me UP 10 ridicule I had 10 admit
that she was doing a most clever
piece Of work Her voice held just
the right touch OF good-humored
lcontemptuous raillery. with no slight