New Britain herald., 1922-07-03
The One Person Allen Drake Wanted
 to Have ''in" at the Finish.

Allen prakes long slender fingers preceptbly trembled as he took the completed code from my hands
 The action, hetraying an agitation so foreign to his usual demeanor. told me how shaken were his nerves, to which iron" has always seemed a most appropriate appellation l knew that he had recovered but recently from a long and severe illness, real ized that he had taxed his strength almost 10 the breaking point in his forty-eight hour vigil. and was more glad than I cared to admit even to myself that I had been able to tighten his burden
 watched him closely. though fur lively. as he moved toward the table, and spread out in orderly fashion upon its surface the papers I had returned to him. There was. of course, anx- iety as to his verdict in my mind. but there was something else also, a vi- brant question which I knew the next few seconds would answer How would those tangled nerves of his re- act to the fact that, thanks to an old hobby and my freallish memory, I had been able 10 solve the problem which had baffled his skill Would he take 1t in a big way or would he be petty and show chagrin?
 "She's Done It. Chief"
 He seated himself at the table took up the paper on which I had in- scribed the results of my work, and scanned it closely. In the silence could hear the ticking of my watch. and the seconds seemed interminable until Allen Drake struck his closed hand violently on the table.
 She's done it. Chief - he cried. These names and dates fit in like a mosaic"
 He turned to me with shining eyes in which I saw no trace of anything save exultation.
 ''Now, show me how you did it. No wait a minute. Mrs. Underwood must be in on this
 And I had thought he would not wish Lillian to know I had helped him. l kept my eyes rigidly avArted from him for fear he should read in them how had misiudged him.
 My father rose with alaertty Il wondered if he. also, had doubted AL len Drake's reaction to my success.
 Ill bring her here at once" he said, and left the room flurriedly.
 I heard the papers rustline in Nr. Drake's hands, and thought that he was absorbed in them. so ventured a curious glance at him, and found that he was staring hxedly at me, while the rustling Of the papers was evidently due to the unsteadiness of his hands
 "Ihe Little Variation"
 T wonder if you can ever realize =" he began with an impetuosity which I never had seen in indolent. self-centered Allen Drake. but I threw up my hand with an involuntary pro testing gesture. while my eyes turned toward the door.
 l had heard far down the corridor the sound of I.illian's voice. That Mir. Drake heard it the next instant I knew by the transformation in his manner It was as if had seen him draw over his faze the old lazy, bore4 expression. I found myself wonder ing, not for the first time, which was the pose and which was his true self, { if beneath the hard worldly surface there might not be the enthusiasm and warm -heartedness of boy.
 Lillian came into the room hreezily and looked at Mir. Drake intently for a second without speaking.
 You may feel like conference, | Allen" she drawled. "but you look like
 Please I'm church member !" he interrupted with d grin.
 Hike a hospital case she fn- ished, calmly "But. of course. you're a wilful man and must have your way"
 Tt wasn't hospital but an under takers shop I was headed for" he re- | torted, until Mrs Graham saved my life Now, I'm fit for hundred years or more. Remember the little varia- tion in the code you gaze me-"
 Perfectly" Lillian shot a quick in scrutable look at me.
 "Well, I don't mind telling you that it, together with a missing special | code contained in tho papers in MT. f Smiths eyeglass case, nearly sent your old friend to a eibbering finish. And i then Mrs. Graham saunters in, non