New Britain herald., 1922-12-30
How Madge Valiantiy Faced
 Mrs. Barker

HOW Mauge VaI1antIy Faced
 Mrs. Barker
 Even as rushed back to the Barke
 house after the receipt of the tele
 gram from Lillian was swiftly mar
 shaling in my mind tho things would
 have to do in order to elude Dr. Pet
 tit, who--half-insane with anger ant
 wounded affection for Claire Foster
 was drawing nearer to us with every
 throb of his swift motor.
 must telephone to Dicky. I must
 get a motor car to take us to some point upon which Dicky and should agree. I must waken Claire Foster have her ready to leave in record breaking time, and I must plan our road home so that there should be no danger of Dr. Pettit's finding our route. Last, but by no means least, I must enlist Mrs. Barker's aid in placating the irate physician, or at least throwing him off the track when he should arrive.
 By the time I had reached the door way I realized that I must tackle Mrs. Barker first. She could give mt the information I sorely neded con- cerning telephones, motor cars and routes. She was nowhere to be seen, although I knew she was busy some- where about the house, because the old man who had brought me the telegram had said she had sent him to me. I made my way down thu hall to the empty dining room, and crossed 1t to the kitchen door, where knocked deprecatingly.
 "Oh, It's You !"
 Come in." Mrs. Barkers voice, while pleasant enough, was crisp, and I guessed that she did not relish in- terruptions to her work. pushed open the door, and found myself in a big, immediately clean kitchen, with Towering plants at the windows, and brilliant parti-colored rag rugs softening the severe linoleum floor covering. Mrs. Barker, erect, efficient and wholesome in spotless gingham costume, was putting mullins into pan, while rather sulky-look- ing girl was attending to the frying of potatoes.
 "Oh, it's you 70 Mrs. Barkcr dropped the last spoonful of soft, al- most batterlike dough into the muffin | ins, dusted her hands together-al- .hough I could see no flour on them popped the pans into the oven be- ore she spoke again.
 Her air of absorption was such that
 did not feel like speaking until she hould have finished, and when she urned from the oven she quickly orestalled any speech on my part.
 Watch those mullins better than 'ou did yesterday, Jennie," she said urtly. T don't want to have an- ther scorched batch on my hands. 'ome into the dining room, Mrs. Gra- am."
 What Madge Feared She led the way out of the kitchen, oftily ignoring the sulky muttering mich the girl at the stove sent after CT. T count the days in the fall until { " boarders go," she said when the GOT had closed, mot because I don't { njoy them, but because can't abide le help you get nowadays. I'd much ( ather do the work myself, but I s mt cook and wait on table at the ( lme time, with all these boarders, ) when they're here I have to put D with a specimen like that one in n le kitchen. But that's neither here or there. Whats on your mind r ad news in your telegram ?" Not bad, but upsetting news," I turned, 'and I need your help very uch. I know it's not necessary to 'k you to respect the confidence I n going to give you. know you Ill do that without asking I've been considered pretty close- outhed ever since I was a child" e returned with note of pride in ], 1T voice, and I knew that I had U -uck the right key. 2 2 When Miss Foster was in our - wn." I began, ''she was engaged to who, while he is our family has no love for my hus- :" nd because of old differences, :. ,ich, however, have nothing to do e' tn Miss Foster. He is peculiar q, in, and, believe, is dangerous o len angered. The engagement no ,ger exists and he is very bitter to- q, .rd Miss Foster"
 drew a deep breath and went on: f, Then he read the newspaper &C., lnts of performance, he was Id with rage-absurdly and un- m tly-against Mir. Graham. I have t learned that he started for here .1 three o'clock this morning. At any D t, he and MT. Graham must nof (( ct, for MT. Graham is as fiery-tem- ed as Dr. Petit.
 Now, I want telephone at once" hurried on, motor car in half ID hour, breakfast in between, and ~ ere can find out about trains to W York on some other road than
 one going through Baldwin, and tor roads which will connect me h such route? And will you ca Q Dr. Petit a note from me if he