South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-14
THE QUESTION DICKY ASKED
MADGE TO ANSWER.
lost at seal The man

Bess Dean achieved a most credit
able laugh at the end OF Dicky's
speech, and fascinating pout. I
made "A mental bow TO her pluck
and poise. for it took both TO re-
main calm in the face Of so humil-
iating a failure as was hers in her
attempt TO make me jealous of her.
Whether or not Dicky had faith
omed her scheme 1 did not know,
but If he had carefully planned to
thwart il and humiliate her he could
not have gone about it in more eff
fective fashion than he had just
used. My heart was singing with
cruel elation as I listened to BesS
Deans retort, elation that was aug
mented by the knowledge which /
knew she also possessed. that both
Mr.. Cosgrove and Fred had heard
every word Of Dicky's speech be-
fore departing on their trip TO the
shore for the fish and tackle.
How we'll you tell IT, she laugh
ed. "Madge, don't you believe a
word he's sayingl / would be no
'troo lady friend to you If l didn't
tell YOU that he's simply trying 10
square himself with you I didn't
mean 10 give him away. but since
he's so ungallant I'm going 10 spill
the beans. He was trying 10 hold
my hand all the way. but I thought
Of you, dearie. and repeu-ll-ed him.
But he needs disciplining. and a
stern eve kept on him"
Niadge Rejoices.
I'll discipline him." I promised
laughing. when I get him home"
Yes. I'll bet she'll put salt on my
broken head. just on account OF you.
Bess Dean Dicky groaned in mock
terror say. I'll wait a hundred
years 10 get even with you for stir
ring up Madge's awful jealousy like
thisw
Then we all laughed. and IL there
was a slightly hollow sound to our
mirth there was no one but our
selves 10 hear il. AS if by psychic
unspoken consent. we stopped the
badinage and talked OF the care
fully imFersonal things which are
always such a refuge in a strained
situation until Fred and his father
came back with the fish and the
poles
BY the time we reached home we
were all so physically weary that
do not think any mental emotion
mattered 10 any OF US. And then
Dicky and I were in our own shack.
and 1 gently pushed him into a big
chair and brought a pillow for his
head
Il didn't fuss when there were
people around" I said determined
~, but you may as well submit with
a good grace now. I'm going 70 take
care Of that head II I have 20 tie
YOU hand and foot u do It,"
"All right" he growled. yet there
was tenderness in his voice. But II
fall asleep while you're fussing and
you wake me up. the angels in their
infinite mercy help you"
Pooh. who's afraid?" I Knocked
as I lighted my canned heat stove,
put on my tiny tea-kettle OF water
and prepared basin and gauze and
dressings. And. indeed, my heart
was lighter than IL had been since
Bess Dean appeared at the board
AA4= AlNAsrE- new lldA nNFM a.
j. jealous Of her. never really fear
ed her. but she had made me most
uncomfortable, and l rejoiced at her
discontinue. and at my own sur
mise that she would find some ruse
10 advance the date OF her derar-
ture
While I waited for the water 20
boil and then cool again. DicIIy told
me OF the information Kronish had
given him.
Does Lillian Know"
"KronLsh didn't know Smiths
plans. I am certain OF that. But he
was the Man Friday who did what
ever ne was told Smith told him
tonight 10 swear that he had been
in the inn since before dinner when
in reality Kronish knew that he
was gone for two hours before the
trooper was brought in. and that
when &c did come back. secretly by