Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-27

mounted the stairs 20 plekY's
room With q queer little mlsgising
lugglng al my heart, something
which Mas neither piaus, loneliness
nor disappointment, but which held
elements OF all three emotions,
II Lillian's interpretation ai his
telegram we're ,fue-and ! had no
idea Oi doubling il, iar she knew 80
much more than ! OF the artistic
world IN which pieky weFked-then
he was going into an atmosphere OF
beauty. luxury and eafetfee gayely,
in which | had no part, indeed. which
| had never seen,
For | knew OF Atkins. Dleky'f
prospective host. according 10 Lil+
lian's guess, the man who made such
a success ia writing fiction with It's
hypfnduets OF drama aud cinema
productions, that he was able 10 III.
dulee his tattes TO the limit IN any
direction he chose. A man OF gentle
breeding, wide culture, and possessed
OF restless energy, he had made OF
the camp IN the Adirondaeks which
he had purchased in the first flush
oi his success, a iairylard Of luxury
as we'll As a spoftsmans paradise.
Madge Begins to Pack.
Here in the solitude he wrote the
novels which enabled him 10 live the
life he loved. Here, when one novel
was completed. he invited hip eron'es,
and celebrated splendidly. had
heard Dieky speak, with as near envy
as his sunny. generous nature ever
displayed. of the fact that Whichever
artist the caprieious Atkins selected
10 illustrate the novel was always
one OF the guests at these eelehfa-
tions. and that the favored one might
almost name his own price with the
publishers, Tor Atkins selection was
law.
And now Dicky was to draw the
prize. True. he had not said so,
bu, Lillian appeared to be sure that
was what he meant. II would have
taken but half dozen more words
thought resentiuliy, fof Dicky TO
have told me his, destination. and. old
and tried a friend as Lillian is. !
could not help little feeling OF
piaue that | should be compelled
TO learn my husbands whereabouts
from her.
Have written" he had said in the
telegram. but | very well knew what
that meant-only that he intended to
write. | might not hear from him
again until on the eve of his depar-
ture from Atkins camp. he would
send ME a rcmorseiul wire or spc-
cial delivery letter.
With Lillian's assistance ! dragged
Dicky's pet trunk. modish-look-
ing affair. from the corner Of his
room to the center. opened it, and
stared aghast at the Heterogeneous
collection of sketches and magazines
which filled it.
A Problem Solved.
This must be his junk overflow
Lillian commented practically "I'll
warrant you that you'll find the real
ly important things in his files. all
correctly arranged. Here! Wait a
| iillilulS till 1 SCt you suCSt. Hat
will be the best way, don't you think,
to cover the bed completely? That's
where we'll have to dump this if we
don't want to break our necks after
ward in. picking things up"
I'll get the sheet" l said, moy-
ing rapidly toward the linen closet
| knew that for the next few seconds
| did not wish to discuss this trip oi
Dicky's. even with Lillian. A swif,
illogical vision had come to me oi
the charming, beautifully-gowned, &C.
complished women whom Dicky
would meet at this house party, and
there was tiny poignant pang oi
jealousy in my heart which I was
afraid Lillian would suspect.
l pushed the unworthy feeling
down with grim determination as
selected an old sheet, hurried back
with it to Dicky's room and spread
it on the bed. .r
That's the ticket!" Lillian already
had her arms full of sketches, de-