Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-09
Why IL Lillian So Sure Katie Has
Hidden Somethingl

By the time Katie reached Lilllsn's
room. aud the co, ! had prepared ior
her by my friends directions. the
poor girl was trembling so violently
that she was incapable OF any action
unaided. practically undfessed her,
sponssd her hot. ,ear,wet face
helped her braid her long hair aud
tucked her into bed. She seized my
hand Al drew the eoyeFlet over her
shoulders.
"fou not goin' leave your poor
Katiei" she said hoarsely. her eyes
wild with terror,
mo. dear" | sal down IN a low
chair by the side OF the cost and COW
cred the trembling ioil-maFked hand
elinging to mine With my diseneaged
one. I'm going 10 stay right here"
II hoped feryently that Katie would
not guess my mental reservation
until you're asleep" and hurried
on that she nigh, have no chance TO
think OF il.
you know nothing can happen
TO you when I'm here. But YOU
must 90 TO sleep. now. Shut your
eyes and"
"Oh. Missis Graham Her hoarse
voice rose 10 a wall. "Missis Under
wood she iink keeping something
back. dot ! hiding me something"
There was an appeal IN her voice
which could not disregard, a
mounting hysteria which knew ]
must quiet even at the COS, OF tell
ing her something untrue.
"Never mind VIVA, Mrs. Under
wood thinks" ] said with pretended
impotence. Its what ] think tina,
ought TO count with you, and ] don't
think anything OF the kind. Now
go TO sleep, or shall be angry with
you" :.
Into her eyes flashed such look
OF JOY and relief that felt my
doubts OF her vanish. And then with
a childlikc sign my little maid ODE
dicntly closed her eyes.
II go sleep now" she said, putting
her cheek down upon my hand. -.
But il was not until almost half
an hour later that the htful doze into
which she at first fell became the
deep. heavy slumber from which
nothing short of cannon shot or a
fire bell can rouse Katie. Then |
drew my cramped hands away, went
swiftly 10 the door and locked it after
me. knowing that in all probability
she would not waken until morning.
Lillian was pacing the living room
floor when | rejoined her, moving
with the long. 1.-the steps which al
ways characterize her when she is
puzzled. paused in the doorway,
unwilling to disturb her, remember
ing how many times l had watched
that swift, pantherlike movement in
the days gone by.
Lillian's Suspicion.
As she turned at the farther end
OF the room she saw me, paused an
instant and then swept down the
room to me.
"She's asleep, and locked in"-the
words were ali assertion, not ques-
ton. 1t is never Lillian's way to
admit any doubt of her orders hav-
ing been carried out. "Then come
with me- want to get this job over
with"
She moved toward the rear stairs
which led to Katie's quarters, and l
followed her, every nerve protest
against this search of Katie's room
which we were about to make. But
/ had the common sense to know
that any protest Of mine would be
as futile as nonsensical. 1t was Lii
lian's right and duty to do this
thing, mine to aid her in every way
possible. My private feelings and
scruples, right and vital in ordinary
times, were as nothing in this time
of stress.
We found the condition of Katie's
room marked contrast to the scru-
pulous order in which she usually