New Britain herald., 1922-02-03
What Happened Before the Fire


 Lillian walked to the library door, slipped the catch, to insure no one in- terrupting us, came back to the hre- place, and looked down al the back log and sticks laid ready for lighting |. anyone wished a ire.
 'I'm afraid Jerry Ticer won't be as efficient a fireman as Jlm," she said contempIatively, and promptly took the cue,
 "There is no use saving this as souvenir" l observed. And I'm bit chilly after out little outing, aren't you? Let's have one last fire on Jim
 "I couldn't help hinting," she said with little moue, My feet are cold, j'Guratively and literally. and ] can think better if look at blaze
 "A blaze 1t shall be then" said ap- plying a match to the carcfnly-laid fire, and in a minute or two the flames were leaping around the back log, and Lillian, chin cupped in palms--how many times l had seen her thus!-- was gazing into the blaze with in- scrutable eyes.
 drew my own chair close beside her. leaned my head against it's com fortable back and gazed with half-shut eyes at the leaping flames.
 Its a pity to wake you" With start I became conscious of Lillian's hand jogging my shoulder. of her eyes. merry, yet compassionate, looking down at me.
 I'm so sorry," stammered, asham- ed.
 No apologies needed or accepted" she said, but it's nearly time for the moonlight jewellers to return, and want to spiel a few before they ar rive"
 T am all ears" said, wasting no more time in excuses.
 Tn the first place." she began slow ly, T don't mind telling you that not in years has anybody set my plans 50 awry as that driver did tonight when he crashed into that bicycle. had counted a good deal on hearing the conversation between Katie and that mysterious cyclist. Of course, he had frightened the eye-teeth out of her head Shewas afraid to do the slightest thing against his orders, but what gets me is how he got such hold over her. She's fighty but not in that di- rection."
 "How to Find Out?'
 I felt her eyes upon me, and tried my best to keep a poker face. had theory as to katie's actions, which I did not feel l could share with Lil- Han without betraying confidence of my little maids. made to me long ago. Lillian waited for long minute be- fore speaking again.
 Tt involves a confidence, see," she said understandingly, and l realized that my poker face has been dismal fizzle, that by my confusion l had con- firmed Lillian in some theory which she had made before she spoke to me.
 I made no answer--indeed, there was nothing for me to say, and she went on:
 Can you tell me this?" she asked "Is there anything to be gotten out of Katie? Can find out anything of the conversations she had with that fel- lowo"
 l shook my head.
 She swore her swear" l said with wry smile, and it evidently was a. most impressive oath, for she IS frightened to death by the fear of breaking it."
 'I thought that would be it." she commented, then more briskly: Didn't Mother Graham write that Katie seemed to be hunting all over the house for something?"
 "Yes."
 Yet nothing of value had disap- peared?"
 "II-m" She started into the fire again for a long minute-then threw out her hands with sudden decision.
 'If that fellow lives I must have him watched like a hawk" she said. If he dies, which I'm afraid he'll do. the world will be rid of despicable rascal, and katies mind will be at ease, but shall not have lost most valuable and necessary link in the chain. But how to find out about him these first few days? Depend upon it, there'll be careful, quiet Inquiries made for him. There are people back of that lad"
 AoThanks Re to Allah!"
 Would pr. Pettit?" I began tenta- lively.