New Britain herald., 1922-08-21
The Way Katie Lcaped At Her
 Chance to Serve Madge,

Lock the door behind you, Madge" Lillian admonished as l re-entered the library after seeing Tom Chester out, I've only a little hit more 10 spiel before Katie comes, but I don't care to have her stumble in here be- fore I finish"
 l did as she hade me, and Lillian went on in rapid staccato fashion,
 "Of course. hen come up across lots, but fl 1 figure his mental pro cesses aright, he won't try the route he did before, l fancy he has very distinct memory of what happened 10 him then, and there's only one other way for him to approach the house that Is along the road till he reaches some sufficiently secluded spot in the hedge where he can hide his bicycle and steal the rest of the way through the shadows Of the or chard.
 "A Guileless Hint"
 I've been over the road" she smiled, and there's just one place cal culated to appeal 10 him. I'm going to have Katie there all primed for stunt that I think he'll fall for, if she does what I tell her to, and I think she will. Then he'll sneak along in katle's wake till he gets into the yard She'll leave the door unlocked for him and lead him to the library where the eyeglass case is hidden.
 Katie will drop a guileless hint that Madge is asleep on the veranda opening off the library she went on rapidly, "and I count on Smith at tempting to get in a stray shot or stab on his way out. The rest, Allen. will be up to you
 For a dismayed second I wondered If Lillian really meant to station me in that dark veranda Then, as neith- any demur. I realized that the plan did not include my presence.
 With a dummy in the couch ham mock, and a couple of men in the shadows of the veranda. we might be able to do a neat little job" Allen Drake said languidly. .
 Exactly" Lillian answered ap- provingly And then, Allen, when you heat the mental gridiron. and proceed to stretch Mir. Smith upon it boy, I wouldn't miss it for words You have rare gift on the mental rack, ladde, a rare gift"
 A tilnid knock on the door-Katie's knock-startled us all, I think, even though we had been expecting it. AS Lillian moved toward the door my father spoke softly:
 You don't need us for your in- struction to Katie
 One Shrewd Question.
 But I do" Lillian replied as soft ly. The more of an audience Katie | has the better she will remember her tructions-and-carry them out | Now, Allen, remember, none of your usually brilliant persihase.'
 She was at the door as she fin- l ished, and as she unlocked the door and threw it open. Katie came buoy with excitement. her person arrayed | in her very best dress, flamboyant affair of pink and purple, calculated to set on edge the most unimagina- tive teeth.
 The mention of something better than the movies which Lillian can nily had held out to her, evidently had sent her spirits soaring But as she caught sight of Allen Drake, whom she detests, she appeared to shrink into herself A toy balloon with a pin prick could not have changed it's appearance more quickly than did my little maid
 You no tell me lots people here"  reached my side-she had walked straight to me as soon as she came through the door.
 There aren't.' Lillian assured her cheerfully. There are only four of us, and as we're all going to be in this thing tomorrow night. we have to be here to plan it.
 "Vot tings?" Katie's tone was dis tinctly Missourian.
 Lillian shrewdly countered with question:
 You don't want any harm to come to Mrs. Graham, do you, from a man who is friend of Joe's in the hos pita?" ?"
 Katie started violently, and put her hand protectingly upon mine.
 "Eef anybody try eet,' she said ex- citedly, T keel. I-''
 You won't have to do anything desperate,' Lillian returned practical ly. You'll just have to do what I tell you now, and not forget a single word.'
 Katie took her hand from mine and folded her arms as If she were film Ing Fitz James against Rhoderick