The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-01-30
Revelations
of O. Wife
sx ADELE GARRISON.
Why Madge Had to Face the Need OF
Askinu Dr. Pettit's Aid.

But how on earth are we ever go
ing to keep this out of the newspa-
pers? 2"
The thought flashed into my nina
as Lillian so calmly rehearsed to me
the terrible scene of the night oerore'
when Grace Draper had shot Dlcky
and stabbed herself. Lillian had learn
ed the details OF the affair from her
husband, Harry Underwood, but Tor
whose timely aid Dicky might have
been lying dead instead Of being tenn
porarily disabled by a mere flesh
wound. I put the thought into ques-
ton and wondered at Lillian's hesita-
ton in answering.
TT all rests with DR.. Petit, she
said at last. IF he is willing to take
the risk of silence, nothing need be
known"
what risk?' l asked namely ana
stopped, ashamed of my ignorance.
There is a state law" Lillian ex-
planned patiently, that physicians
must report such occurrences to the
proper authorities. OF course, II IL
were Dicky who was so near death.
we should have to report the cohol-
ton of affairs at once, for then II
might develop into a murder case ana
that is nothing to monkey with. But as
long as Dicky is no danger whatever
and the girl seems better, we shall De
able to keep everything quiet if DR..
Petit wishes to do SO. Betty has been
with me years. I can shut her mouth
and I think you ought to be able TO
manage Katie"
'sBl1t Lillian" I persisted, SIS that
fair to DR.. Petit? Are not the penal
ties heavy for disobeying the law ike
that?"
ST don't think I should worry about
that if I were you" she replied dryiy.
IF there is any way Of avoiding the
awful newspaper headlines which this
mess will surely bring forth, once the
police and reporters get hold OF 1t, i
for one will thank providence and ask
no questions"
IT know" I persisted family, but
DR.. Petit is not an old enough frlend
to do this for US. 1t isn't as If he were
a family physician of long standing
or a very dear friend
IT don't know that he is going to
do it," she responded impatiently, but
he hasn't reported anything so faf
AS for his reasons, wouldn't inquire
into them too closely If 1 were you.
Just let things take their course. It's
much the best plan. Now eat your
breakfast. I'll come back for you when
you have finished it.
She left the room abruptly, and /
received the impression that she did
not wish to discuss DR.. Petit any
further. As ate my breakfast, tried
to face squarely the problem whlch
the physicians forbearance in report
ing the case brought to me.
There was no use in doging the is
sue From a hundred trifles 1 knew
that DR.. Petit was more interested
in me than a physician or any other
man had a right to be in another
mans wife If he was deliberately fall
ing to report this case to the proper
authorities, he was doing it for my
sake.
Did I wish him to do so?
It humbled me to find that actu-
allv did not know. I always had prided
myself upon my exactness of con-
science. In the old days of my life, be-
fore met Dicky, right was right and
wrong was wrong, and there was no
convenient middle path between.
But since Dicxy had come into my
life everything had changed. All my
old standards had been swept away.
felt as if I were in a maze of doubt
and bewilderment.
On the one hand I felt. and felt
strongly, that I did not wish to be I'M
der any possible obligation to DR.. Pet
tit. He had shown too strong an in
terest in me for me to wish to be in
debted TO him for any favor. I knew
that before many days I must remove
from his mind the impression he had
obtained that Dicky was the aggressor
and Grace Draper the innocent victim
in the filtration which had ended in
such tragedy.
Continued Tomorrow
The new monster disappearing coast
defense gun of the Z. S. navy requires