New Britain herald., 1922-01-20
The Welcome Madge Found in Her
 Living Room,


 At Lillian's query as to which ot us should enlist Mother Graham's aid In keeping Dicky out of the way oi our nocturnal excursion with Katie l threw out my hands with gesture that confided to her my augus, mothor-in-law, body and son'.
 You, by all means" l said em- phaticaly. "You know that by tho time Mother Graham gets through stirring up things to make room fot us tonight, she'll be ht to be tied And she'll hold me directly resnon- siblc. I feel It in my bones. couldn't impress her with even the idea of foilinG a plot 10 blow up the Panama canal. If you can get her attention and divert her mind from me you'l not only be accomplishing your own purpose, but saving my life and reason"
 There's q soupcon of sense In your rawlings" Lillian retorted maliciousy. "All right, m tackle her as well as Jim. Katie said we'd start out al 10 o'clock, didn't she? Wed bet ter be ready at half after nine, to be on the safe side. Wear that long, dark cloak of yours--the one that covers you completely-and tie dark veil around your head. We want to be able to merge with the landscape whenever we wish to. And, my dear, If that marvellous memory of yours needs any fve-hnger exercises-or whatever you give if to keep 1t fleX- ible, be sure to practice your trills tonight before we go"
 "I'll Oil Every Joint"
 q couldn't help an inquiring glance at her.
 "Yes," she said. answering my look with q smile, T sure need to have that memory of yours in working order tonight. l want you to memor- ize every syllable you hear, as we'll as the infections of the person speaking. the person spoken to and even the person spoken of, if necessary"
 Her voice was so emphatic, her face so expressive of something out-of- the- ordinary in hand, that again there swept through me an apprehensive little thrill as to the outcome of this secret night excursion which Lillian appeared to consider so momentous. But it was no part of mine to quail or to question, and l answered her promptly, even merrily.
 "Ill oil every joint" I promised, land there shall be no creaking.'
 T know that" she said wormly And now, let's essay an entrance into the castle. Do you suppose Mother Graham will throw us into the moat?" M Ea
 She drew me toward the door as she spoke, and I closed it after us before l answered in the same tone. T can feel myself dangling from the yard-arm this minnte.'
 But when we entered the house Mother Graham was nowhere to be seen, and l gasped in dismay at the picture my living room presented. An antique sofa, which hlg'h" nriged, was overturned in the middle of the floor. and sprawed at full length on the floor beside it was a thin angular little girl, who would be A beauty some day, but whose sole claim to pulchritude now lay in pair of big brown eyes set in sal low face with an elfn expression. She was clinging to one leg of the sofa, and screaming at the top of her voice.
 Save me. Save me. I'm drown ing."
 9t A Clean of Wrath.
 Perched upon the sofa were three boys, two larger and one smaller than the girl. The two older boys were casting supposed life-ropes into the sea surrounding their sofa ship, and in the makeup of the ropes l was sure I recognized my best guest towels knotted out of all shape The boy was staring at his sister with frightened face, which changed