The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-29
Why Madge Smiled at Dicky's Cues

Why Madge Smiled at Dicky's Cues
tioning.
we won't have to see him at all,
William" 1 said earnestly, IF you'll
only hurry with these things. Jim is
coming back for one more load, and
Katie will give him all the kitchen
things. And Katie will ride over with
me in the taxi. / must stay to give
the key to Mr.. Brennan. The taxi will
be here before noon, and everything
will be out easily.
'T1 go down with you now and help
you take the things from my room off
your cart and then you can load UP
with these boxes"
Williams protest was siIenced by the
-. sudden and insistent ringing of the
telephone. AS I FASTENED to answer
it l shrank nervously apprehensivcly,
from the message it might be bringing.
DiclSy's voice came over the wire
sharply. He was evidently agitated
over something, and I gathered from
his manner that he wished anyone
rather than l had answered the tele-
phone.
Where's Jim?" he demanded, with
out waiting to ask how things were
progressing with US. 4 must speak to
him directly"
Jim is over at the other house with
L load Of furniture" l returned COM
posedly. Hell be back here shortly
for the last load of kitchen things, but
he will hardly have time to call you
for it's getting near noon, and I have
no desire to be here at that time, you
know
4>icgy ovldeDt.n-new to what I re-
lerred tbs .Sftimatum of our disagree
able landlord, Mr.. Brennan. that the
last one of our possessions must be
out of his gate by the stroke Of noon.
He knew, also, that it was his own
cavalier treatment Of Mr. Brennan that
had Infatuated the man, but the know
ledge didn't make his voice or manner
any less acrid as he answered:
", ats up to you to be out of
there at noon, that's all. Where's that
other idiot, that William Trumbml?"
fright here" My own voice was
none too sweet. His manner irritated
me, and 1 had still before my eyes the
photograph of Grace Draper which II
had just discovered in the box William
Trumbull had found pushed back be-
hind the rafters in the attic.
Tell him to come to the phone then.
Oh lave to do
A sudden light broke upon me. Heed
less Dicky has just remembered the
box with its contents OF letters, pho
tographs and mementoes of Grace
Draper and other feminine friends,
which ne had put behind the rafters
for safe keeping. 1t was box he did
not wish me TO see, and it was out of
the question for him to leave it to the
casual inquisitiveness of the Brennan
II lily. And If it were not away from
Inc Brennan home before noon he
wouldn't be able 20 get it. Dicky was
in a dilemma perplexing indeed. With
a sudden malicious little impulse I
spoke sWeetly over the phone
Couldn't I attend to anything you
want done, Dicky? You know how err
,atic our CalibAn is"
1 knew William wouldn't understand
my aIlusion. so felt safe in making it. |
Dicky's voice vas embarrassed as he
answered:
NO. it's SOMETHING you wouldn't un-
derstand. Only man could GO II. Let
me have William, please, and will you
ask hattie WheEleF she got my SnGlS
from the Laundry"
It was upon ny lips to say. Yea. |
understand onlr TOO well" but ! |
rlnothered it. sett William TO the tele- |
phone, and stared in search OF Katie, !
although knew the message was only |
a subterfuge to get me away from the
telephone. As I vent I heard William s |
voice in earnest reinsurance:
ON, yes. I got hat box. I hunted ali /
over behind everything to sec uothin' |
MS left behind. No, sir, don think |