South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-21
WHY MADGE SUDDENLY RE
ME.MBERED DIR. PETTIT'S
QUESTION ABOUT DICKY.

I When Mother Graham decides 70
descend from the high horse OF her
arrogance she does il with d speed
and thorougnness which daze one
not used TO her little ways. One
would never have guessed that
minute before LAllian's revelation
she had been trying her best to goad
me into an explosion Of temper by
her carping criticism of what she
dubbed my neglect of Katie.
4 'I am very proud OF you, my
daughter" she said when she had
exhausted her first emotional ex-
CARNATIONS, and the unusual tribute
from her lips was likt an accolade
70 me. "But you should have let
I DR.. Drake go with you" she aided
reproachfully. What would Richard
! say II hs knew that you Went on
such an GRAND alone?"
\ Haunting Question.
I reflected whlmsically that my
husband would in all probability
| prefer a solitary trip for me, even
! il accompanied by danger TO having
me escorted by Allen Drake. Then
with a sudden dash OF bitterness L
decided modify that Dicky's worry
ing about any action OF mine was
| exceedingly prOblematical His trip
/ 10 the luxurious Adirondack camp Of
/ the famous author whose new book
he is TO illustrate had vaguely an
noyed me because OF the eagerness
with which he left Us. and his con-
tinued silence since his departure
had intensified the feeling.
/ But # had been left for Or. Petit
with his STRAIGHTFORWARD query as
to Dicky's whereabouts 20 change
annoyance TO another emotion,
/ neither fear not anger. nor yet anx-
/ ietv. but having in it elements Of all
/ three. I had had no time as yet and
would have none for hours TO come
\ in which I could speculate upon
/ the true meaning Of the phys clans
/ odd question. But the remembrance
/ OF Il colored my answer 10 my moth
/ er-in-laws reproachful query.
! ct don't believe he would worry
very much. Mother. I said lightly.
And. after all. I'm perfectly all
right not even nervous. Feel my
pulse"
I laughingly held out my wrist 90
/ her. and she pushed 81 aside pettish-
I ~. Evidently she was regaining the
poise lost at hearing OF my narrow
escape. and I mentally rejO.ced.
( Mother Graham. arrogant and dlcta-
| torial can comprehend and cope
"a til. but when she becomes dccile
land emotional am a. a loss how
Ito deal with her.
"Oh. Madge, TO Think
I'm glad you can joke about it,
she said acidiy, but If you think
Richard Is going TO take It that way
when I tell him about It you'n ind
yourself very much mistaken"
With which dark threat che turn
/ Cd her back upon me and addressed
/ herself 10 Lillian.
"I wash NV hands Of her" she
said "But YOU ought 20 KEEP her
from doing fool things like that"
/ "Tu do my little best Lillian
+ promised. "but she's 4 wilful piece.
And now II you'u excuse me, We
I really must 90 down 20 the library.
VIII YOU lock your door again.
please? Wen come and let YOU know
D tho minute II 8 raAAt 10 ullOEh IL
| What do you think I'm going 20
do?" demanded Mother Graham
tartly. Parade up and down the
corridor with that devil OF a Smith
I n the house, I've been Gagged up
/ here ike a Wild hyena"-she brought
ont the comparison with a ludicrous
I hesitatiOn-"aH the evening. guess
can stay behind the bars the rest
OF the night II want to-"
1t won't be THAI long" Lillian re-
turned sOothingly. Come. Madge"
I followed her into the hall. heard
my mother-ln-law locking the door
ben nd me. and echoed LAllian's sigh
OF relief
I'm glad 20 get out uneatsn.
aren't your ?" she whispered as we
walked Down the hall.
Il feel as though she had partial
~ digezed me-" replied, then with
. quick oontr4tion but I ought not
10 say that She was really con-
! cerned for me-
she 10 genuinely fond OF you"