New Britain herald., 1922-06-29
Why Madge Felt the Impulse to
 Shield Allen Drake.


 The meaning of the trite old phrase walking on air" was revealed to m, as l went out of my fathers room after l had written down the lists O names for which had asked hac no sensation Of solid floor beneath my feet, and l reached my own room ir a rapturous, tremulous excitement which only those can realize who have seen atar off the signs Of long cherished but eminently absurd dream coming true.
 l knew Allen Drake's moods sui ficiently to be susA that he was not speaking lightly-for all his apparent nonchalance--when he had asked me to bring back to him the code which l had long ago worked out for my own amusement, and in which I had just transcribed the names he had dictated to me.
 Could 1t be possible. I asked my self, that Allen Drake was to bring me the realization of the absurd secret ambition l had cherished from early glrlhood, but had put away from me when l married-the am bition to con- struct a workable code, absolutely baffling to any one not familiar with its details, code which should have its foundations in the cuneiform in- scriptions I had studied with old Prof. Severance
 Curiously enough, the fact that the man smith, or some one else for him, already had attempted the same feat, did not dampen my spirits. Instead, it gave the most potent f1lip in the world to a worker--that of competi- ton.
 Is Lillian suspiciouso
 put my hand quickly to my bodice in which I had thrust the transcript tions of the names Allen Drake had given me, and more important still, the copies of the queer characters which had baffled the great expert, and to which felt had the key. It was an instlnctive apprehensive ges- ture, for 1 know that I should have no peace of mind while those scrawls of such vital importance were in my possession. But it was distinctly betraying gesture, as I realized when l saw Lillian standing in the doorway of my room, evidently waiting for me.
 Had she seen that quick, protecting movement? I could not tell, but ] fervently hoped she had not. Witt resolution I put aside for future ex animation the instinctive feeling l had that Lillian must not gain from me any possible hint of the aid l was attempting to give Allen Drake. If she ever learned it, the knowledge must come from the government agent himself. And yet the necessity of keping so vital a secret from Lillian, of all people in the world, weighed me down with a feeling of actual guilt.
 T was just about to send out an $. 0. s. for you" she said gaily, as came up to her, when saw you coming down the corridor
 Yes, I've been playing the role of model daughter" I returned fippant- ly, grasping, namely enough, at the first words which came to me.
 You're always that, I think" she returned warmly. Who's the bene- fciary Dickys parent or yours?'
 Father wanted to dictate some let ters to me-" I prevaricated. Come on in."
 Father Spencer Helps.
 Sorry, but I can't" she returned. T want your permission to burglarize Dicky's room. My crayons have gone fooey, and he has some peaches in there that I'm going to annex if you don't mind.'
 
 Tt annoys me terribly I scoffed. Heres the key-get whatever you want"
 "Merci, Madame" She bobbed me | graceful little curtsey, and depart ed for Dicky's room.
 AS soon as she was out of sight locked my door in feverish haste, and hid the papers from my dress in secret receptacle in my trunk. Then I unlocked my door again and threw it open, almost upsetting my father. A glance along the corridor revealed if still empty, and I drew my father inside the room and put my lips to his ear.
 Mrs. Underwood was just here" whispered, T told her you had been dictating letter to me. Don't say any thing different. IT don't think MT. Drake would like her to know l was helping him"
 Mv father looked at me oddly was