New Britain herald., 1922-04-20
The Reason Katie Told Lillian and
 Not Madge.

Not Madge.
 There was such emotional earnest ness in Lilian's tone as she spoke of katies grit and sacrifice that l be- gan to have d dim comprehension ot the reason for my little maids choice of a conAdant
 You mean" questioned, hesitat- log.
 T mean" Lillian answered, that Katie fully expects to have the most awful things imaginable happen to her because she broke her swear and that the reason she wouldn't eontide in you but chose me instead. Is be- cause the abysma brute who made her take the oath extended his male dictions to include the person whom she should tell. And l really believe the old melodrama spiel is true in Katies case She would die before she would let harm come to you, But l never saw such abiect fear, such certainty of evil to come, as that poor girl displayed just now"
 I sat down quickly in the nearest chair, shaken, aghaa at this revela- ton of suffering and sacrifice upon the part of my devoted little maid
 Tt gets you too. doesn't it?" she commented, T don't mind telling you that she pretty nearly bowled me over, and you know I'm not very strong on the teary-lash thing. But there was something mighty admir- able and pitiful in the way she came through with the things wanted to know, and all the time patiently ex- pectng to have flames appear out of the air and consume her. or to un- dergo some other equally pleasant fate"
 "But--but." I stammered, when l talked to her before you took her in hand, she told me that it wasn't either fear of the law or her religion that made her afraid not to keep the oath she was forced to take. I was trying to impress upon her, you know, that it wasn't binding"
 "Thcre's Link"
 "Yes, I know" Lillian returned. "But, while you made her see the necessity for her breaking it, neither you nor any one else in the world  bound to a most devilish compact It's true that she doesn't fear the law or her religion in connection with it It's q far more subtle, more terror inspiring thing with which that man imbued her.
 I only looked my wondering inquiry, refraining from speech, for I saw that Lillian meant to tell me all that she could without breaking her promise to Katie to keep me out of the confi- dence.
 T think I've told you that many of the women and men. too of KatieT ilk still believe in black magic, super natural spirits, the evil eye. devils, and all sorts of horrors which more en- frightened people do not even guess at. In katie's case, I think her belief is particularly strong-she's the queerest com bination of acquired new-world mannerisms and old-world supersti- tions l ever saw. Of course, this man in the hospital is some countryman of hers. but he must have known her very well to be able to play upon her fears and frighten her the way he has OOne. and yet Sne VIII not ddmlt 10 me that she ever saw him before he came to this section, There's a link or two in the chain of her actions that I haven't yet in my hands,
 She paused, looking at me in care- fully casual fashion. I knew that she would not ask me outright whether I | had any knowledge or suspicion of the identity of the man who had so fright ened my little maid. but the question lay between us, nevertheless, and I an swered it as if she had uttered it.
 'I have no real knowledge either'' said though l have 8 theory. But 1t is based upon a confidence which | Katie gave me years ago, and which | do not feel justified in revealing without her consent
 Marking Time.
 T thought as much" Lillian re turned. well, 1t doesn't so much | matter just now, although l shall need the knowledge later. But she told me enough to enable me to get a pretty straight line on the gifted gentleman | It looks right now like a lovely party with plenty of jazz, when things begin to move, as they will when the req dusky gentleman in the wood pile cautiously puts his head out and looks