New Britain herald., 1922-05-29
How Lillian Gave Madge
 a Timely Tip.


 I stared at Lillian bit resentfullS as she voiced her iubilation over the luck" of Dicky's trip being so time. ly in view of Allen Drakes fortheom. ing arrival to consider the problem, presented by the man Smith,
 She was uncanny, almost inhuman told myself, in her subordination of every interest 10 her work She must know that the presence of Allen Drake as a guest in my house, even though he would be there strictly on professional business, would be a source of distinct mbarrassment to me. yet she had given no hint of the knowledge, beyond her joyous asser- tion that her lucky star had inter vened to keep Dicky and Allen Drake apart.
 She clapped her hand on my shoulder as she passed me with pile of Dicky's shirts on one arM.
 "Perhsps She Can't"
 Honestly, there is little flesh and blood left in me- she laughed ban teringly. I'm not wholly q machine if I do appear like one to you. But
  that I can't let anybody's prejud:ces or husband, stand in the way of getting to the bottom of it as soon as possible, And Allen Drake is the one ingredient needful for the pudding just now. Don't worry. Leave the Dicky- bird 10 me. I'll attend to him. If you like. I'll give you a written guarantee that he'll not utter a single peevish chirp upon the subject of Al len Drake. Want one"
 Her face was so laughter provoking in it's gamin-lille impishness that felt my rancor melt away.
 No, l think I'll struggle along on your word of honor,'' I said, laugh ing. But you might at least tell me when you expect Allen Drake. You know Mother Graham will want to clean house before Dad and he get here"
 That's just the reason why I'm not going to tell you" she retorted They're going to drop down on us with but an hours warning if I can manage it. Then your mother -in-law won't have any time to stage her well known stunt of turning the house upside down. and as you will be in complete ignorance of the hour of their arrival, she can't possibly blame you.
 Perhaps she can't. but she will I murmured.
 'No for I shall lay my devoted | head upon her choppins block before | she has time to catch you. But I'll | give you one tip if your housewifely l soul desires it. I'm just honing for one of katie's broiled guinea hen dinners about tomorrow night. Tell | me, which of these shirts do you think the Dicky- bird will want"
 I knew that there would be no use in asking her another question. so I | returned to the important matter of | deciding which Of my husbands sar- torial possessions should be packed in the trunk for which he had asked. With Lillian's invaluable aid. and ire duent reference to Dicky's voluminous telegram. the trunk was finally packed. locked and strapped, and Jerry Ticer summoned to convey it to the station and express it to Dicky's studio.
 Mother Graham Aids
 Not until then did l give myself time to plan for the coming of my father and his brilliant companion, whom I had found at once fascinat- ing and antagonistic at the rare in- tervas when I had seen him.
 Not even a hint did I dare give Katie that we expected guests, and my housewifely stars that the day of the trunk packing was that of the girls weekly cleaning. Unob- trusively I followed her about, giving the finishing touches to my fathers room and the guest room, which l expected to assign to Allen Drake.
 I did not dare to put flowers in either room, for fear of my mother in-laws Argus eyes, but I saw to it that all my vases and baskets below stairs were filled with the late autumn blossoms, a custom of mine which occasions no comment. And I counted upon Lillians promise of an hours warning to make attractive with vel coming blossoms thf rooms of the travellers.
 My crowning triumph of Machiavel- lianism, however, was in regard to the dinner. The morning of the next day ] sat down in Mother Graham s room