The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-02
New Revelations of
a Wife
What Happened When Betty Faced
Harry Underwood, Then Left Him
With Madge.
BY ADELE GARRISON


My suspicion-born of our telephone
conVersation-that Harry Underwood
had been drinking was confirmed when,
! In exactly the quarter of an hour he
had named, Betty ushered him into the
| living room
| His face was flushed his eyes brilliant
| with excitement, his gait the deliberately
careful one which he always adopts TO
conceal the unsteadiness he prides him
self upon never betraying. AS Betty, her
head held high, announced stifly and
| icily. Mr. Underwood, Mis- Madge,"
and turned to go, he stepped ponder
ously in front of her, barring her path,
and made a low, hooking obeisance.
| Betty, Betty" he chided. why this
cruelty to one of your most ardent ad-
mrers?'
The old colored woman put her hands
on her hips and regarded him steadily
for long moment before answering
him.
"NIistah Harry Underwood, she said
at last rolling each word out to its
full utterance, while you lived in 1fis
house I stood for your fool talk 50 as
not to hurt Mis- Lilliar's feelin's,
though my tongue just used to ache
to tell her you wasn't fit for her to
wipe her shoes on. But praise de Lawd
you hain't here no more, you hain't got
no right here, an just let me tell you,
man, don't you provoke me none. Is
got some tempah when Is riled, be
lieve me, an the way L feels just now
I'd just admire to put my initials right
on your bad black heart
She turned her back upon him ard
spoke to me proteCtingly:
Mis- Madge, honey, yor keep an eye
on that man. An if you needs me, just
you let out one yelp. I'll be right on
the job. believe me-
She stalked out of the room, her head
held high. I didn't dare look ut Mr..
Underwood, for while the old woman's
whole TRADE had been laugh provoking,
yet I knew she had said things which
couldn't help but sting the man opFo-
site NE.
Underwood's Pain Is Plain
That they had stung MIN, even
though only the moutbings Of an old
colored servant, I realized when J
heard the laughter in which he INDUCED
as soon as Betty had left the room.
Once he would have gr 'eted che of the
old woman's Outbursts with hearty
laughter genuine amusement but the
sounds that came from his lips were
raucous, unmi1thful. They would have
deceived no one.
Betty certainly has 1t in for yours
and then he added with ALI uneasy note
in his voice, 81 hope she hesn made You
hate me moro than ever, Lady Far.
I smothered the quick !m:uSe to tell
him exactly what 1 thought of him. re-
membering that Lillian counted upon
my obtaining from him All information
possible concerning the plans Of the
gang headed by Grace Draper,
why should you think that hate you
at alI?" I asked, softly. and hated
myself Tor the hypocrisy Of the tone
and the question. But knew this was
no time fer quaims.
I heard 4 quick, sibidnt breath, then
he stepped TO my side, and before 1
could fathom his intention, put his hand
under my chin, and lifting my face,
stared down at me quizzically, lurking
devil of sceptical laughter in his eyes.
al Don't Hate You.''
His skeptical mirthful cocksureness
piuucd me- If I had needed any spur
to play the game Lillian had outlined
he had just provided It. l twisted my
face out of his hand, walked cody to
the nearest chair, and sat down in it.
Mr.. Underwood, will you let me tell
you something without interruptions" l
asked quietly. He had advanced a step
toward me- a mischievous teasing light
in his eyes. But at my question he
stopped short, looked at me, then bowed