South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-23
Revelations "a Vile s1oA aRH5

you that she pretty nearly bowled
me over. and you know I'm not.
very strong on the teary-lash thing
But there was something mighty ad-
mirable and pitiful in the way she
came through with the things I
wanted % know. and all the time
patiently expecting 20 have flames
appear out OF the aid and consume
her. or to undergo some other equal
- pleasant fate"
''But-but.' I stammered, when I
talked 20 her before you took her IN
hand, she told me that it wasn't
either fear Of the law or her religion
that made her afraid not to keep
the oath she was forced to take.
was trying 20 impress upon her. you
know. that it wasn't binding"
There's a link"
yes. 7 know" Lillian returned.
But, while you made her zee the
necessity for her breaking ii, neither
you nor any one else IN the world
could convince her that she isn't
bound 20 a most deviiish compact.
It's true that she doesn't fear the
law or her religion in connection
with IT, It's a far more subtle. more
terror-inspiring thing with which
nat man imbued her"
only looked my wondering in
Qury, refraining from speech, for
saw that Lillian meant 10 tell me ali
tha1 she could without breaking her
promise 10 Katie TO keep me out Of
the confidence.
i think I've told you that many OF
the women and men. Of Katre-s Tx
still believe In black magic, superna-
tural spirits, the evil eye. devils. and
all sorts OF horrors which more en-
lightened people do not even guess
at In Katie's case, think her be-
lief IS particularly strOng-she's the
queerest combination OF acquired
new-world mannerisms and old
world superstitiOns I ever saw. Of
course. this man in the hospital IS
some cOuntryman Of hers. but he
must have known her very wen 20
be able TO play upon her fears and
frighten her the way he has done.
And yet she will not admit 10 me
that she ever saw him before he
came TO this section. There's a link
or two in the chain of her actions
that 1 haven't yet in my hands"
She paused. looking at me in
carefully-casual fashion 1 knew
that she would not ask me outright
whether I had any knowledge or
suspicion of the identity Of the man
who had so frightened my little
maid. but the question lay between
us, nevertheless, and l answered II
as if she had uttred it.
Fl have no real knowledge ether"
l said. though l have a theory But
it Is based upon a confidence which
Katie gave me years ago. and which
do not feel justified in revealing
without her consent"
Marking Time
I thought as much" Lillian re-
turned. We'll, il doesn't so much
matter just now. although I shall
need the knowledge later. But she
told me enough 10 enable me 10. get
a pretty straight line on the gifted
gentleman. 1t looks right now like
a lovely party with plenty of jazz.
when things begin 10 move as they
" Al W AAttA NlAt AtdA uuShN gentleman
In the woOd-pile cautiously puts his
head out and looks over the pros.
pect"
She put her lovely arms above her
head stretching herself as might
a weary tigress. 1t was not the first
time had marked Just a suggestion
OF the Jungle feline in my friend
when she Is engaged in solving a
problem for the government Ordi~
narily the most frank. open-hearted
and generous OF women, Lillian be-
comes transformed into something
powerful. cunning. relentless when
she is working for the downfall Of
those who mean harm 10 the coun-
try she wOrships
And then. with the swift relaxa-
ton, the letting down which always
bewilders me. she lowered her arms,