The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-11-09
New Revelations of
a Wife
what Happened When Lillian Faced
Harry UnderWohd.
BY ADELE GARRISON

me. I'm the boy that's in bad. Here
I've been dreaming and thinking about
you every hour of the "a for days and
days, and when do run across YOU, and
am able to save you unpleasantness, you
call me down for trying to take care of
you and get you something to eat! And
the Lord only knows what I've let my
self in fort"
His tone was rueful and for a mo-
ment felt a twinge of conjunction be-
cause the truth of his words was unde-
niable; he had saved me unpleasantness
and more-at a decided risk to him
self. But a quick glance at him ban
iShed all thought of conjunction. He
had almost reached the stage of intoxi
cation dubbed "maudlin''-this self-pity
was evidently preliminary symptom
and I must get rid of him at the earliest
possible moment.
My feeling was complicated by very
real alarm for Lillian. 1t wasn't like
her to delay in keeping any engagement
and 1 knew that she considered this ap-
pointment with me of the most vital i'm
portance. And 1 holly resented the care
less assurance concerning her safety
just expressed by the man to whom she
had been loyal wife for so many years
I realized. however. that 1 must con-
ceal my resentment, must manage to
mislead the irresponsible man beside me
in Dicky's parlance, string him along
and keep him guessing "-until could
manage to elude him.
I took a step toward him as if i'm
pulsively, and spoke with a cajoling in
Election for which 1 hated myself.
.'I did not mean to offend you," I said
will, Of
pentance. "And-I have changed my
mind. I will be glad to go with you and
get something to eat. But L
but me not buts',' he quoted, the
gayety returning to his eyes, and I saw,
with a little spasm of anger at my
stupidity, that his maudlin self-pity and
sentimentality had been assumed, that
his mood was mockingly mischieYous-
and dangerous. Just lay your hand in
mine, lady fair, and We'll one-step to the
nearest restaurant"
I retreated a pace just in time to
avoid his gaining possession of my hand,
resisting with all my might the impulse
to leave the scarlet print of my palm
upon his cheek.
eff you're going to act like an idiot I
shall change my mind" I said sharply.
And I'm going to telephone to Lillian
first You may come with me to the
nearest telephone booth if you like"
"Gramercy for your courtesy, my
dear" he Knocked, but nix on that lit
tie scheme. It's too transparent. Stall
me along till we get into the telephone
room, then Madge disappears into a tele-
phone booth and comes out later with
the cheering information that Lii thinks
the night air is bad for her, or some
other line of"
His teeth closed with a snap, and 1
saw a look of CONSERVATION flash into
his face, then flee again. I followed
his eyes to the corridor behind me, and
saw Lillian, breathless and pale, fairly
running down it, accompanied by a mid
dle-aged man in a chauffeur's uniform.
"Madge! Thank heaven!' Lillian ejacu-
lated as she came up to me, and as she
put out her hands and grasped mine i'm
puIsively I felt them tremble. 1 realized
that her anxiety for me must have been
something unusual, for visible emotion
is a rare thing with her.
What happened? Quick" she de-
manded the next moment, all her usual
poise and briskness of manner re-
stored
BEG pardon, Harry, for interrupting,
but I've got to get to the bottom of
this, pronto, so I'll know what to do"
The words were tossed at him as cas-
ualIy as if the husband and wife had
lust met after no longer a separation
than an hour or two. I saw touch of
scarlet come into Harry Underwood's
bronzed cheeks, and rejoiced-although
surprised-that his nerves were sensitive
enough to be thus flicked upon the raw
by LiIlian's casualness. Perhaps. L re-
Elected, he really had the grace to be
ashamed of himself.
Either 1 was mistaken, however, or
else he masked his real sentiments most
cleyerly, for the drawl with which he
answered. her was, I imagined, intention
ally provocative.
"Oh, I'll forgive you!" he said. cal
ways glad to do anything I can for the
ladies'"
There wasn't even a culver of Lii
lian's eyelashes to indicate that she had
heard him. She had turned to me ex
nectantly even as he began speaking,
and I hardly waited for him to finish
before beginning the tale of the strange
chauffeur who had represented himself
to be her messenger.
A Point Withheld.
carefully related my story, avoiding
however, any betrayal of Lillian's secret
i
wood had told me he knew of it, but
discussion of that incident was for Lii
HANS ear alone.
Lillian listened with concentrated at
tention to my low, rapid words in the
recessed window of the corridor to which
,ve had walked. Mr.. Underwood twirled
his walking stick and gazed into space
with an air of infinite boredom. Yet I
was sure that in reality his attention
was as absorbed as Lillian's. Although
wasn't looking directly at him, yet l
was psychically conscious that his care
fullv masked, shrewd glances shot rapier-
like at both of US whenever he was sure
he was unobserved.
It was characteristic of Lillian that she
should not interrupt me with single
question. When I had finished with the
simple words, And then I met Mr.. I'm
derwood and the men were frightened
away" she looked me square in the eyes,
and 1 saw that she knew 1 had pur-