The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-25
CHAPTER SIS
Copyright. 1920, King Features. Shy

Copyright, 1920, King Features, Shy
 dicate. Inc.
 When Bertha revealed that Hedwig had discovered us on that long ago morning at DreamwoId, my mind formed one of those sudden flash backs'& which sometimes surge up from memory in vivid picture form. Clearly I saw myself waiting all night in the tce-cold garage for Ly- ons to return from driving away with the man who had skulked under our drawing room wtndows-the man I was fairly sure must be Dick West I saw myself hiding in the house at dawn watching the garage from which I'd fled when I discovered that Lyons wasn't returning alone. Then came Bertha, with her revelations that the man accompanying Lyons was "Slim Darrow," her husband s pal in the old days of thievery. I heard my own words ringing out as they had done on that morning at Dreamwold$
 Bertha, I'm going straight down to the garage and face those two men. I'll let Slim Darrow realize that Lyons has one friend who trusts him in spite of appearances. and in turn I'll expect Lyons to stand by-ny husband
 Then came a confused memory of an ache that shook and tortured my | weak body-and rasping breath tear | ing through my chattering teeth. But now I realized something of which I | hadn't been conscious in that long ago time. As Bertha half-led, half | carried my fainting body toward the | stirway, I'd seen a figure hatten itself | against the hnte1s of the porch door. | I'd thought then it was a, figure of my l feverish imagination. I knew now | that it had been Hedwig-spying. | With my mouth and throat very dry, I put a question to Bertha:
 Did you lose your p1ace-because 1 of Hedwig' g's-reve1ation? 2"
 1 Bertha stared at me, fairly blink 1 ing in astonishment.
 Its me you're asking about" she l gasped.
 "Who else?" smiled. Not He'd wig, surely. 'T once felt that I had reason to like the woman in spite of her sur1y, sour-faced manner of | creeping around on rubber-so1ed shoes. But now that's cancelled. don't like spying even in a vital cause But just to sneak around and watch people and carry tales is despicable So in this situation, I couldn't possi- l;bly be considering Hedwig."
 l 'Iyons always said you're thor oughbredi" commented Bertha with seeming irrelevance but no lack ot l reverence kAHy JULIET Iddy III yOuk fix would be thinking of herself. But you go to worrying about me-
 Why not" I asked. There's nc one else to worry about-
 There's yourself, ma'am,t asking your pardon for making so bold, cried Berhta again on the note o4 mounting shysteria. And I mean only the best But couldn't give my Lyons away for you-and I couldn' give you away for anyone else. More over, I didn't know what else you'6 want told and what kept silent. St shut my mouth and said nothing a' all ma'am."
 That was quite right I agreed "On1y I am sorry it cost you youl place and sent you packing without g. reference. Of course I can make that part right"
 l Listen to me, ma'an,' imploG>ed Bertha. ''This is hard for me to tell seeing that I've always had respec
 for the quality and never took LII
 none with carrying tales by way O.
 back stairs gossip. Not that thinl you'd be the one to listen to servant. tattle-tattle. But this I've got to say ] meaning no lack of respect at all