New Britain herald., 1922-03-27
What Dieky Did to Help Madge and
 Yet SOrcIy Distress Her.


 We had quiet. uneventful jour ney' home, picky. Katie and Ia journey which I could not help con trasting 10 my trip into the city, with Its bizarre incidents.
 The memory of the mysterious for eigner, with his knowledge of mo and mine, haunted me niore than l would have been willing to admit 10 any one, l was not just sure of my reason for wishing that l had not described him to Dicky so infinitely, and when l though of repeating that description to Lillian-the conviction came to me suddenly that l must do nothing of the kind.
 "Dicky," l said suddenly, just what did you tell Lillian about that un- known womans telephone to you con corning me? I have reason for asking"
 Just what I told you" he an- swered, initiating my low tones, for though Katie was three seats off, inn mersed in her favorite movie mag azine," we both had reason to know the keenness of her ears, especially which something was discussed which she had no business to hear. Not that Katie knowingly would ever betray knowledge so gained, but her loyalty and truth were counter balanced by her volatile indiscretion, so that we gave her no chance to reveal our secrets. innocently or otherwise.
 Docs Lillian know that I registered as Mrs. Black at the hotel ?'
 Naturally not '" Dicky retorted a bit savagely. Tt wasn't anything I would have been particularly anxious to spill, and as it happened, I didn't really grasp the delectable fact my self until was on the train. So Lil- lian simply got my first impression that you were at the hotel under the care of some woman named Black"
 II see," and then for a long five minutes while the scenery slipped by, l went over the story Dicky had told Lillian, planned what to add to it, tested it from every angle, and at last looked up to find Dicky's eyes quizzically fixed upon me.
 Dicky Makes Suggestion.
 What the big idea?" he asked, You look as if- you might be Wells or Galsworthy on the throes of com position"
 "I'd like either one of them to tackle the job of fooling Lillian ] returned pettishly
 "Oh-h :" Dicky whistled. That's the trick, is it? What is it you don't want her to know?"
 Anything about that man on the train.' I rejoined. I'll tell you why sometime, please don't ask me now"
 Have it your own way Dicky agreed indifferently. But why all the mental strain to fix up a story for old Lil? Simply tell her these facts, part of which she already knows. Train delayed-you caught in mob at station-felled by swinging door stunned-picked up and carried to waiting room. Recovered conscious ness-here comes invention-kindly woman named Black helping you. When able to navigate she assisted you to get taxi and go to hotel. you gave her money to telephone me. Then she went away. and in confusion you didn't get her address. She might
  all you know How's that?"
 I stared at him in frank admiration. On the spur of the moment, without 8 seconds hesitation, Dicky had in vented a tale absolutely plausible, and which I compared with my own toisome and undeniably clumsy in- vention with little feeling of chagrin.
 Its simply wonderful. Dicky," 1 said heartily. "and it solves my prob- lem completely. Even Lillian, shrewd as she is, can have no suspicion that I am holding anything back. And then, most of it is truth, anyway" | added with a little sigh of satisfac ton, for I hated the deception that little tale involved.
 Dicky laughed provokingly.
 Anything that aids your Puritan conscience to whip the devil around the stump, eh?" he asked teasingly. You see, there's where l have the advantage. I'm just a natural liar, and I have no scruples or conscience to hamper me. so l can do an artistic job on occasion. I've often thought I'd put up a sign: Plain and fancy ones concocted for every possible oc casion. Special attention paid to those required by gentlemen who wish to keep wives happy and unsuspicious. y
 NIadge Is Troubled.
 To laugh naturally and lightly at this sally, to keep my face from reg istering the thought which had flashed | to my brain that Dicky's proficiency =,