South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-07
THE REASON MADGE LEAPED
TO KATIES AID.


Smiths voice when he next spoke
20 Katie. held a more conciliatory
note. Either he was molIihed by
his discovery that his papers had
not been disturbed and his code was
Still a secret permitted myself a
tiny sardonic smile in the darkness
at the trick played upon him-or
he thought It wise not 20 push her
too far. At any rate. while his voice
was loftily condescending. II was
gruffly good-natured.
You have not done badly, my
good girl, after ALL" he said, land
you shall have your reward. Now
one task IS done. but one more re-
mains. Tell me. Is that swine hound
your master, home YETI"
( There was something 80 sinister
80 threatening in his voice that I felt
an icy SILVER go over me. Thank
full indeed. was / that Dicky was
safely away from home. The absence
which I had resented became a
! cherished boon in that instant.
I NO, he not home" Katie evident
" was clinging fast to her determina-
ton to be n 'goCt actress" for
? there was no suspicion OF resent
ment or sulIenness in her voice.
"But your mistress is" The
words came out with the suggestion
OF a sinking, hungry animal fail
ling for a meal-or 30 they seem
ed 10 my heated Imagination.
yes. she home"
"Show me her room"
"She not in her room"
/ He whirled on her, and I guess
ed that he gripped her arm cruelty.
for again she gave a little moan of
pain.
"Devil-spawn" he growled. ''You
said everybody was asleep"
/ "She ees asleep" Katie whined.
! 'ewhere7 Use your tongue or I'll
pull II outi'
Katie Acts Her Part.
''She always sleep in couch ham
mock on veranda."
aha! The beautiful lady IS what
you call a fresh-air fiend." he sheer
ed. We'll, she'll need lots OF fresh
air when I get through with herr"
II hope you wiring her neck
vunce." Katie Kissed, so realistically
that for a second I wondered II
were listening TO my little maids
real opinion of me. Then I mental
4 " applauded her. Katie certainly
was winning her spurs as IAN &C
| tress."
You hate her so much" Smith
I asked curiously. ''Why?"
1t was no idle question. I decided.
! With characteristic thoroughness
he meant 10 go TO the bottom of
Katie's motives.
Because she no goot, Katie an
swered promptly. she 50 stuck
oop, tink herself so smart, und she
always no nice und sweet 20 me
outside, und den she always play me
sooch mean tricks, keep out my
money ven I break dish und tings
like dot, und she always make me
I tag dot brat around NIT me. How
I hate dot kid! She nevaire take
care OF heem herself. always put eet
on me- I nevaire have yum meenit
to myself"
cit is a Trap"
| 7 listened apprehensively. In her
appreciation Of her own histrionic
ability, Katie was piling it on al
together too thickly. I feared. But
Smith evidently had no suspicion OF
her sincerity. He chuckled appre-
ciatively.
''Tu tell you" he said. You de
serve an extra good turn for what
you've done. Show me where the
brat sleeps, and I'll rid you OF both
of 'em."
Despite my knowledge that my
little lad was safely beyond HIS
reach. his threat turned me TO Zee
for an instant before I could pull
myself together.
81 no care vot you do Katie's
tone was appropriately devil-may-
care. But you can no get at Kid.
Old grandmother. she have heem
und Meesis Underwood's leetle girl
IN her room tonight, dosr locked
fast"
NV pulses almost stopped. Would
he see the thing Katie had betrayed
80 innocently? No one had fOrseen
/ that he would ask about the child.
/ She had not been drilled on that
point and she had revealed
5000"
The monosyliable was az once an
| affirmation and IN exclamation But
his voice was silkily soft when he
spoke next.
And why does the old grand
mother take two children IN her
room tonight and lock her door fast?
K All, You devils pig. I see! 1t Is
trap. Well. II go, I send you first.
Ah-h!"
The lust Of killing was in his
voice. and Eatie's frightened hands
caught her throat. I knew that he
wss choking the life from her. and
with a Wild scream for help, dash
"a through the heavy draperie.s to-
ward nv little maid. my only wea-
non a pocket fiashlight, which
dressed into illumination as ran.
RI. CLEAN OF my fashhght show,
Cd me a terrifying picture. Katie
was living a crumpled heap, with
head sickeningly twisted. where the
man Smith had flung her behind
Rim AZ nv scream. But she was
nooanlnS family and al the knowl-
edge that she was not dead. I check
ed myself in my rush toward her and
tried 20 dodge the leap which the
enranged Smith made at me.
such luck!" he said with hor-
rible glee. "I Will have lots OF beau