South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-09
THE WISH LILLIAN VOICED.

her threat 10 leave our home i'm
mediately because Of her mothers
ultimatum 10 her concerning her
punishment methods. Instead, with
provoking llteralness. she obeyed
Mother Graham's command 10 lie
down in her own room. remaining
there invisible TO everybody save her
mother and Mary. for two days.
Mary. with unfailing cheerfulness,
trudged up and downstairs carrying
her mothers food trays, and waiting
upon her other whims. OF course,
this Performance put more house
hold work upon the shoulders OF
Mother Graham, Lillian and me, but
from the fact that my martinez
mother-in-law did not compel her
share of the household burdens. 1
argued that the sudden tumbling Of
Mrs Harrison's house of cards about
her ears had affected her nerves
more or less seriously.
For myself. I would willingly have
worked three times as hard for the
privilege Of having her invisible. 1
always had disliked Elizabeth, but
the incident Of the necklace intensi-
fed my feeling to positive loathing.
and 1 was glad. indeed. when at the
end of her two days seclusion, she
departed. with children and bag
gage, for her own home.
Not About Him."
When Elizabeth had gone, every
z d rc In
physical, seemed to settle down to a
monOtonOus tranquility most refresh
ing after the strenuous days follow
ing our homecoming from the
mountains Lillians mind was at
ease. temporarily. at least, about the
man in the hospital, whose myster-
ious persecution of Katie had caus-
ed so much trouble. DIR. Petit gave
her a dandy report upon his ccndi-
ton. which varied from the first day
when he was pronounced barely
/ breathing. and unconscious" to the
/ tenth. when the physician said caut-
/ iously that eft now seems as If the
miracle OF ultimate recovery might
be looked for"
Has he talked?" Lillian demand
! ed sharply.
mo. ne is too week 10 do more
! than whisper a request for a drink
| of water or to answer some necessary
question from the nurse"
DR.. Petit hesitated perceptibly at
the end Of his answer, and looked
at Lillian doubtfully.
But think he is worrying vauge-
( ~ about something" he said. And
that worry will no doubt find express
I sion sooner or later"
Il know" Lillian returned. cuppei
her chin in her hands for a few sec
! onds, then asked briskly: Have
there been any inquiries concerning
/ him at the hospital today?"
She had asked the same question
\ every day that DR.. Petit had report
ed 10 her, and he had given her the
same answer. a laconic NO" But
| today he added a cryptic, mot about
him." stressing the pronoun ever so
slightly.
What do you mean?" Her tone
was tense. alert. and 1 knew that she
| sensed danger in his answer
Just Read This Letter"
There was a report asked for to-
| day" the physician said slowly, "of
all mortality and accidental injury
cases occurring in the hospital dur
/ ing the last month. Of course. that
covers a much longer time than the
duration Of this mans injuries,
I but"
Where cid it come FROM" Lii
Ian demanded, and there was that
in her infection which told me how
impatient she was OF the physician
pOnderous periods.
1T apparently was a simple re-
quest from the police department OF
New York City," DR.. Petit answer
ed.
"Of course" Lillian retorted
That's an old and effective dodge
1t was answered. I suppose"
1T had to be-" the physician re.
turned.
There's one thing certain" Lillian
said decidedly. and this is that I've
got to plan some way 10 keep tracB
Of that fellow when he gets out OF
the hospital. How long can you ex-
ercise your authority TO keep him alb
solutely incommunicado?
Without any stretching OF the
truth, I can forbid any one save his
nurse speaking TO him for two
weeks TO come. Any physician would
bear me out in this action"
Good" Lillian rose, and DR.