South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-19
Revelations Vie &o5 4RS55

ting the code message from Hugh .
Grantland. which demanded that
take the arst train for Cedar Crest. f.
while pretendiug-in order % de-
ceive Grace Draper-that I was be-
ing taken 20 the hospital
MAY have news" As the signif-
canoe OF the words rushed over me
7 sprang 20 my feet as n galvanized.
with the prospect of something for
me 90 do 20 aid IN my child's recov-
cry. / felt strong and courageous. IL
was the deadly inaction that had
made an automatou OF me.
The hospital, How IS Il 20 be
managed I'm afraid the authorl-
ties win balk az the scheme. II only
DR.. Petit were back. He could ar
range &C." I said. and Robert Sa-
warm interposed quietly
CDR. Petit returned this morn
ing"
Then. Robert" made a rapid
calculation. will you find DIT. Petit
AZ once. explain the scheme 10 him,
and ask him 20 engineer it2 j viii
be ready 20 20 I'm the ambulance
long before 20 can get here. And ]
must pretend 20 be lick here so that
Katie and Jim will not suspect where
] have gone. Jim could keep
straight face under Grace Diapers
questioning. III she should grill him,
but Katie would be wax in her
hands. Dicky. IL youU see that the
coast IS clear I'll get TO my room,
and then you can sound the alarm
that I've collapsed. Then send Leila
iu 90 me. She can help me arrange
things"
cor course. I'm going south with
you" Diclly said aggressively.
IT don't think you should, Rich
ard" my father said gravely The
one essential thing IS that Grace
Draper should not suspect anything.
Madge's absence can be explained
under the cover OF illness. but both
OF you suddenly leaving could only
be explained I'm one way-news OF
the child No. she must go alone.
and the rest Of us must play the
game here Richard. 7 wish you 20
be especially attentive TO Miss Ora
per. and make her certain that you
have no suspicion of her"
"I'u be" DiCky began, but under
my fathers steady gaze his protest
died Not IN years had I seen my
father breathing such an atmosphere
OF authority Dicky yielded 20 10 in
Btantly-
Very well. sir" he said quietly,
and went out into the hall return
ing in a moment 20 announce 10 me
that I could have unobserved pas
sage TO my room. Even before he
came back. Robert Savarin had gone
with the assurance TO me that he
would make arrangements with DR..
Petit as soon as IT was humanity
possible TO do so.
what News ?"
From this moment fl seem 20 me
that I was the center OF "a maelstrom,
90 quickly did things move. Safe in
my room. with the help Of Leila
wide-eyCd with excitement at the
plan and her share in II, yet wonder
fully quick and efficient packed
for my journey. taking only the ne
cessary changes for myself, but fill
ing my suitcase and bag with all
sorts Of clothing and toys for my
baby boy. should this journey mean
his restoration 20 me.
/ did not dare permit myself 90
hope. yet the din possibility Of his
recovery gave me unlimited strength.
7 could have gone 20 Africa instead
OF North Carolina II sc had been ne
cessary.
Then 7 dressed, and putting on
limona over my clothing. law down
on the bed ready for the farce OF
being carried TO the ambulance.
In the interval of waiting my
father brought 20 me a message
from Tom Chester that he had es-
tabNshed an effective espionage upon
the man across the road. This
would be Kept up every minute OF
the "a hours until Hugh Grantland
Should return. hut that they would
not arrest him for fear Grace Draper
would suspect something. / wonder
er what Tom Chester had discovered
when hc followed the wife OF the
man across the road down that lone
IS forest drive.
And then DR. Pd0it. stiff. forbid
ding. vet showing his real sympathy
and desire TO serve us IN our awful
emergency, arrived. Assuring me
that no CamouflaEe detail had been
omitted. he brought In the stretch
er-bearers from the hospital, and.
swathing me in "a blanket. directed
my transfer 20 an ambulance as real
4sticalIy as IL 7 were indeed the vic
tim Of a dangerous nervous collapse.
The last sound IN my ears was
Katie's heartfelt wall. and only the
thought Of my baby's danger kept
me from rushing back TO reassure
her.
Ny father and Dicky accompanied
me 10 the hospital, remained there.
correctly anxious, in the waiting
rr-r.r.F mes N-.rs-re sNrv-,
by an unsuspecting attendant that I
was comfortable and that word
would be sent them daily of my con-
dition. Then they left and drove
back home
They knew that by the clever ar
ranEement OF Dr. Petit and the hos
pital authorities. a vacant private
room would be the home for the
ueXt Few days OF "a delightfully."- idle
private nurse. whose only duties
would be 60 report my supposed CON
dt0n from time 10 time. They
knew. also that by another door. I.
in travelling costume with Robert
Savarin bearing my suitcase, had
departed In a waiting taxi for the
railroad station The dreamy artist.
with unsupported energy and eff
cheney. had timed my departure
from the hospital so that / was not
IN evidence upon the railroad plat
form at ALL stepping directly across
10 from the taxi 10 .he train And
his thoughtful parting word was
that from Lillian-stiu woefuly sick
IN the hospitaI-au news OF our trou-
bic hat been kept.
My trip south was like a night
mare I could not sleep or eat. but