New Britain herald., 1922-06-27
The Admiring Admission That Came
 From Allen Drake

For swift resentful second after Allen Drake's query l felt like pick ing up the papers on which were the cuneform characters--or, rather, por- tions of them--which I had reeogn- ized, and fineing them at his head, with a passionate refusal to do any thing more concerning the matter. Then, as I noticed the expression of his tired eyes. I realized that the em- phasis which had offended me was unintentonal.
 Will you tell me" he had asked ''how in the name of all that's won derful you are able to recognize thenl?"
 But though the words and emphasis were slurring. I saw in his face and eyes that he had no thought of be Hitting me There was a very natural astonishment. of course. but besides that, I saw distinct admiration and something more, a swift, revivng hope which. it was plain, depended upon me alone.
 There was something unusually pathetic, appealing in the aspect of this man whom I had never seen in any other guise than that of a bril- liant rather lordly man. of the world. He was now, I told myslf. with whimsical recollection of my teaching days, very much like child who faces failure in his final examinations, and then sees faint hope of the catastrophe being averted. And there was no nistaking the need in the eyes looking into rhine.
 Always had regarded Allen Drake as being so wrapped in his own self esteem that most human contacts bored him But all at once I saw that beneath his blase, indolent mask, he was like most other men. craving the aid the sympathy of a woman near to him in ltlnship or affection when a crisis came.
 A Little Explanation.
 believe If men would tell the truth the hardest of them never get over the instinctive longing hsura- lively to run to mother" when they are hurt And I am very certain that the surest way to secure q woman's interest is to arouse her maternal in stinct. At any rate, Wien I saw that appealing look in Allen Drake's eyes, l reflected that according to my fathers statement, there was no woman alive of his blood, none to whom he was linked by any ties of affection. And I felt q thrill of pity fer his lonei ness, a sudden fierce desire to aid him which surprised my usually placid pulses.
 M fof 1N T r eI n explanation.
 Tn her girlhood," he said. my daughter took q great interest in the study of these early inscriptions, and she had the advantage of being asso- ciated for a time with d man who was a master in that line. Prof, Sever ance-"
 severance! Allen Drake interrupt ed, and I was feminine enough to en- joy the somewhat awed look he gave me. Why, he was one of the big sharks in the sea ~
 Madee Is Embarrassed
 Exactly so," my father returned ''and he gave Margaret much valuable aid, as well as bequeathlng her some of his notebooks and part of his IcCAQlCal llDldIy.
 Then, Mir. Drake turned to me eagerly, and before my eyes he was 9 man transformed, his fatigue ralracu- lously vanished, his eyes gleanlng the grayish pallor of his face chang ing to healthy flush, you will be able to straighten this out"
 His words were an assertion rather than a question, and he laid his hand confidently upon the pile Of papers holding the marks which had eluded him.
 That I cannot tell you, I said cautiously. If what I conjecture be true, and they have used half of these characters, the code is a very arbitrary one There will be great difficulties. I shall want these to compare with my notebooks, and you say these undeciphered characters probably apply only to name and tlg- ures, probably dates?"
 That is the inference I draw from the words I did decipher," he sn swered. still looking at me in a curi ous respectful fashion, which much em barrassed me.
 Could you, from your knowledge All ,1r ryr,t1 ei.r