New Britain herald., 1922-03-13
Does Dicky JAold the Key to This
 Strange situation?

StTNuSt INItuutiOus
 Dicky turned from the telephno' and came back to the chair where 1 sat racking my hewildcrcd brain foi tho solution of the problem his ac' count of his mysterious summons had given me.
 Now, there's q simple query I'd like 10 put to you, old dear he said sitting on the arm of the chair and slipping his arm around my shoulders Hut there was hint of stcrnncss in his voice that warned me something q bil unpleasant was coming, and I could very well guess what it was.
 Will you kindly tell me why in blazes you registered as Mrs. Black at this hotel? or all the fool stunts Of course, you never can tell what | woman will do. but l did give you credit for at least one fourth of an idea rattling around in your bean"
 l drew away slightly, but decidedly from his encircling arm.
 T infer then that under no circum- stances does a man ever register under q name not his own" My tone was as frigid as my mental temperature, Dicky frightened the grasp of his arm and compelled my return to it's shelter.
 ''But Go On !"
 "At least he has a legtimate--or ilegitimate reason for so doing" he said with grin. And nothing doing, old dear in the high and mighty of fended dignity pose. You've got us both in a devil of mess, and I'd like to know how we're going to get out Of if. But that can wait, although not very long, for can't finger around here many minutes So get busy, old your excuse. You couldn't have had anything that could be dubbed req son."
 My mental thermometer took a bound from subnormal to typhoid fever height.
 You have no righsto say anything like that !" l sputtered. You have no more idea what I have gone through than the-than the-'
 Babe unborn," put in Dicky with a provoking grin. That's a good, time honored simile. Amt l the nifty lit- tie thesaurus You never ought to travel without me. But go on. This is just what I want to know, what have you gone through? Your tone hints at things unreveaed by my mys- terous dulcet-voiced woman telephone correspondent"
 Your woman telephone cores pondent was a" I began hotly.
 Dicky put his hand over my mouth in exaggerated burlesque.
 Don't say it. he begged. Don't utter the awful swear words that are trembling on your pure young lips. Count five and twenty, Tattycoram."
 A Surprising Question.
 The reference to the absurd little discipline so picturesquely portrayed by Dickens, and which Dicky and often had nsed as a catch word, com rietcd the rout of my ill temper. l eicr'cd outright, and he removed his nilnG from my lips with an exagger- ated sigh of relief.
 "aNow you're shouting" he said. GO on. spill the beans and be quick about it. Who were the friends that picked you up and brought you here?"
 was malicious enough to wish to mystify him just a little.
 T didn't see soul l knew from the time ] left Bridgehampton until you walked into the room a few min utes ago." I said emphatically.
 Dicky dropped his arm and stared at me.
 Well, I'll be d---d !" he said. "I am sure that I understood the woma. perfectly over the telephone"
 'No doubt you did" I returned. "She simply wasn't telling the truth. And l am a great deal more mystified than you can possibly be. Now, if you'll promise not to interrupt, nor to scold until you've heard the whole story, I'll tell you all about it.
 "A clam or an oyster would be d talkative guy beside me" he promised. GO ahead !''
 l settled myself more comfortably against his arm. and related every in- cident of my journey with it's irritating delay upon the stalled train, and the accident which had made me lose con sciousness for minute or two. I omitted no detail in my description of the mysterious foreigner who had forced his attention upon me with the story of his being a friend of my father and wishing to find out his ad dress. And l laid particular stress upon the pains l had taken to elude | the mysterious stranger, including my registration under the name of Mrs. Black at the hotel At the end of the | recital Dicky gazed at me with quizzi cal eyes.
 And you pretend to have been something of government sleuth," he