New Britain herald., 1922-03-22
The News That Dicky Brought
 to Madgc.

"Dd you find her2"
 ] sprang up from my easy chair in the sitting-room of the hotel suite as Dicky opened the door and came in. To me, chating under the inaction which my black eye and discolored forehead had imposed upon mo, the hours intervening since picky's dopar- ture in search of Katie's present whereabouts had seemed an eternity
 Constantly before my eyes was the vision of Lillian contepdinG with the combination of my mother-in-laW'G broken arm inc conciliation of Mrs, Ticer- whose methods Of housekeep- Ing Mother Graham outspokenly dis. Approved-and the care of Junior, the while her own work loomed noun tain-like in the background, I had expected 10 be gone but 3 few hours overnight at the most. and that Dicky would be at Iilian's right hand dur. ing my absence But my bizarre ac. cident had delayed my errand almost twenty-four hours, and had brought Dicky to my side. Every nerve was tingling as l awaited the answer to Dicky's question
 Dieky grinncd tantalizingly, and puffed his chest ont and thumpcd it approvingly.
 "Behod the man who should have taken the message to Garcia if he had been out of the cradle at the time, ." he said. "yes, l have found our miss ing handmaipen. that is. 1 have dis covered wheNe she is at the present moment and will be for the next two or three hours at least
 "Where?" I sprarg up with the tense monosyllable, snatched up my hat, and moved toward the bedroom and the morror.
 Tn cheap restaurant in Brooklyn, near the Long Island station, where she is cooking, l believe. Whats the big idea of the quick costume change?"
 "Have It Your Own Way"
 "Beca use said. adjusting my heavy veil so that if fell over ny face. If we hurry. we may be able to catch that 4 o'clock train back home. We ought not 10 be away from Mother and Junior another night"l-
 Granted" Dicky replied with mad ening masculine mperturhability But that's no reason why we shouldn't lunch comfortably hero We'll have plenty of time"
 f"Dicky '" All the exasperation which his attitude justly demanded was in my tone. You know better than that Plenty of time, indeed When nobody knows where Katie E her to get ready. or-anything. finished lamely.
 May l ask Dicky inquired with heavy sarcasm. just what you do ex. pect to do-lunch at the hash housc where Katie is2"
 l threw up the smothering veil and faced him determinedly.
 That is exactly what 1 mean to do if T~have time to eat lunch at all. If not. it won't kill either you or me to fast awhile. And as for the hash house, if Katie is cooking there, fancy we can stand it."
 Dicky spread his hands resgnedly
 What was it. that old guy said about ducking into a corner of q housetop rather than sharing a big house with a crawling woman?" he said. 'I'll inform the universe he said a whole bill of fare. But have the bags all packed, so I'll go dowr and pay the bill. and come back fo, you. But let me tell you something I won't do. and that is--go out witf you with that veil swathing your face Show your black eye, if you have 10 but nix on the mysterious veiled- -fe. male disguise"
 An Uncomfortable Trip.
 He swung out of the door, and was glad enough, of my victory in the larger matter to yield to him in the smaller But I dreaded infinitely the curious glancos which would be my portion when l should again face the outside world.
 Dicky returned in a few minutes and glanced at my arranged wei with approval.
 That's about a good draping al can be managed" he said. But no bodyll llidnap you today for youl beauty. And if the cruelty society doesn't nab me before the day is over I'll be truly thankful. I've got a tax