New Britain herald., 1922-05-18
The Way "The Roof Adventure
 Was Started.


 Several minutes licked themselves away upon the old clock sitting or the firenlace mantel before Lillian spoke again As if the mention Of Allen Drake had set her planning the encounter she meant to stage between the man Smith and the brilliant mem Der Of the secret diplomatic service, she bent toward the fire, her elbows on her knees, her "lin cupped in her palms, and Ito whom the attitude was most familiar and a sgnificant-- gestured softly to Tom Chester for silence,
 The expression on his open, hoyish face brought a smile to mine, for II held admiration and hewilderment in about equal proportions. l guessed that he never had seen woman like Lillian before. and that he was losing no opportunity of studying her. At any rate. he was watching her as narrow ly as l, and when she finally relaxed, sank back in her chair and closed her eyes for second, l heard him give an unconscious little sigh of relief and knew that in his boyish enthus- iasm for her work he had shared Ter tension in the unknown problem, and welcomed it's apparent solving.
 Now for the roof :" Lillian opened her eyes, gave herself q tiny shake, and rose from her chair, alert, cap able, resourccful. Come outside, anG let's see whether there's stli light m the Ticer farmhouse. Throw some thing around you. Madge. The air will be chilly after this fire
 We followed her swift footsteps in to the hall. At the door l caught her by the shoulders, turned her around and gave her little shake
 Madge Orders Wraps.
 "The air uiH be chilly after this fire, will it, oh, inconsistent Bander :" l laughed. This particular goose is going to see that you are served inc same sauce you mete out. MT. Ches- fer. please toss me the two motor coats from the first hoop in the hall closet. ...
 Lillian made a wry face as young Chester brought the coats, and l, tax ing hers from him, quickly wrapped her in it.
 You have all the makins' of political boss in you, Madse. she sdia' sNr. Chester. l warn you that in this aroused mood she's capable of making you nut on gooshes before you Nen- ture out
 Tom Chester laughed boyishly
 ,I eniov being bossed," he said, and held my coat for me.
 AS I slipped my arms into it was conscious of a touch on my halr' as of fingers lightly putting into place misplaced lock. Ii was so evanescent a thing that the next instant l ended myself for the fancy. Surely, my common sense was fast departing, told myself grimly, when my magma ton could find nothing better with which to busy itself than a rldlcul ous notion like that. I sternly re- nressed 8 desire to steal glance al the youth behind me, and the next second we were outside with Lillian scanning that part of the horizon In which lay the Ticer cottage
 Did You Stumble?"
 At this distance we could see no outline of the house, but we could not see a glimmer of light either and we were reasonably sure that all the members of the 'ricer family were safely asleep.
 Twelve o'clock and alls well, lll- ! Han chanted softly. All right my hea.rties. We'll heaye ho, or to and fro. for the roof. Snap on your flash l light Mir Chester, we'll stroll around beneath Katie's window, and you can figure what you need for the climb
 The flashlights gleam on the be- dewed path which we followed to the rear of the house seemed eerle, ghostly, to my excited imagination. ! The darkness on all sides was pail like, and pressed upon us smotherlna- l Iy Involuntarily I put out my hand, | caught Tom Chesters arm and re- leased it the next second with burn ing face at my own cowardice. The fashlight in his hand wavered, and l he stopped abruptly,
 Did you stumble" he asked solicit ously.
 Yes" I returned laconically.
 Better hold on to me then. Hsw about you, Mrs, Underwood? Don't you need an arm?'
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