Evening star., 1922-01-14
A LITTLE WIDOW IS A DANGER
Gus THING.
Y YHEN Merriam Lindsay open
~ ed her eyes after the motor
" " accident she found herself
IN haI unit

M ed her eyes after the motor
" " accident she found herself
in her own bed with an
agonized group about her.
Her cousin, Cecily, ghastly pale.
with her arm in sling, was at the
foot of the bed; Susan Sue, the house
keeper. was in the doorway, weeping.
She became vaguely aware of a
strange doctor. a nurse, young Prof.
Sheldon. and that her cold little hand
was growing slowly warm within
Johns frenzied clasp. His big blonde
head was close to her. He was kneel-
ing beside her bed.
She tried to lift her head. but
couldn't. She found that she was
curiously numb. But when she spoke
they all smiled.
"Cecily said batting wasn't batting
without limousine, but 1 think that
was an awfully battered batting"
she had narrowly escaped a con-
cussion of the brain, but, thanks to
Cecily's strong, sheltering arms, Mer-
! rtam had not broken bone.
1t was long after midnight. She
had been unconscious for many hours.
where's Putnam Graham she
| asked languidly.
There was a long silence None had
the courage to tell her that their host
had been killed.
Home" Prof. Sheldon answered
truthfully
| Merriam closed her eyes.
Silly old Putt she murmured. "He
was SO unhappy about Leila's leaving
him that he wasn't thinking a bi,
| about driving. 1t was Leila's fault"
| None of them answered her. They
were too frightened to try to talk.
! 1t was not until several days later
! when she was. convalescent in heI
big wicker chais~ lounge, that Cecily
i told her Of Putnam's death.
! Merriam sat up suddenly. her brown
eyes blazing. She looked very tiny in
her orchid neglige. Her bronze curls
were tumbleo from her pillows, heI
| cheeks flushed.
And Leila's coming back from
/ keno""
cecily nodded. She was stretched
! on the foot of Merriam's bed. Her
| broken arm was distinctly uncom-
! Portable. and she was restless.
Sure" she answered. I'm deep
! mourning, I'll bet. There were only
| three or four of US who knew she
| was suing him for divorce. and I'll
| bet you anything you like she'll come
| it."
/ ''Oh, OH" Merry rocked her folded
! arms. shell come here first. and
she'll try to firt with my john
Cecily shifted.
Don't be silly. I mean don't be
W ouldn't have anything to do with
anybody as poor as your beloved
john"
! "Leil will have so much money
inow''-Merriam's voice was positively
tragic-"that she won't care whether
a man has penny or not. Leip has
always had her eyes on my John
Buck up. snorted Cecily. You
| think you're still at the matinee or
! the movie. Even if she did. it
! wouldn't do her any good. Your John
is pretty much nuts about you, and
Leil' Graham"
Now I an"-Merriam spoke with
sort Of fatality-"but next summer,
when I'm waiting for my baby to
come. I won't be. And Leil' looks so
cool and lovely in summer things.
Merry. you're a little idiot! Stop
it. No man in his right senses would
ever bother to look at Leil' twice."
But they aren't in their right
senses after they look at her" Mer-
riam clenched her little fists. Hon
estly, Cissie. don't you look at her a
10. yourself? She's so very. very
white, and her hair all smooth and
honey color and her eyes SO long and
slanty up, and her lips SO awfully
red-she's-why. she's just provo
cative looking person. I do hate her
awfully," she ended desperately. Il
always did hate her. even in school.
when We were little. And she knows
it,"
Susan Sue came in with the tea
tray. She put it down with a thump.
"A lady who says she's Mrs. Putnam
Graham was on the telephone. I told
her you were both too banged up to
saa anvhodv said She had to see