The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-06-28
The Delicate Way Madge Had to
Handle Allen Drake.

Allen brakes pointed tribute made
me flush in embarrassed fashion.
Then palcd in the anger at myself
which the foolish schoolgirl trick al
ways rouscs III me. can control my
features, my eyes, my expression, but
n personal reference. especially II II
be complimentary, almost invariably
sends the blood to my checks.
For a wrathful second or two,
told myself that | would prefer the
slur | imagined in Mr.. brakes
voice when he learned Of my recog-
milton OF the cuneiform characters in
the code, to the hearty admiration he
had just voiced.
As forced myself to meet his
eyes. and found that the indolent
smiling hint of condescension which
/ so detcsted had gone from them.
that instead there was in them a
distinctly new expression, OF CANA
raderie, OF intellectual equality, my
petty embarrassment faded. 1t was
replaced by a resolve to meet this
new demeanor more than half way
and to justify his faith by the most
earnest endeavor that was in. me.
That he saw my embarrassment
and took the surest way to Danish
it, I realized when directly after his
flattcring little speech, he turned to
my father with the most matter-oi-
fact air possible.
"Chief," he said, will you check
me up while l dictate these names to
Mrs. Graham
II Warn YOU"
My father put up protesting hand.
Indeed we will do no such thing"
he said authoritatively. you must
get some rest before you exercise
your brain any more. The morning
will do for this. I would not have
brought my daughter here, save for
the fact that I thought it would be a
relief to you to know"
Relief Allen Drake exploded.
"She's just naturally saved my life,
that's all. And as for the rest, | can't
close an eye until I've provided her
with every last molecule of help
there's in me. And that you know
very well"
There was a boyishness in his
micn which l never had seen be-
fore, but there was also in his voice
an intonation that betrayed the in
exorable will beneath the careless
manner. My father yielded at once.
II suppose I shall have to let you
have your way" he said resignedly,
at least as far as debating the names
goes. But l warn you-"
A "Nonsensical" Code.
Pardon, chief. I know I'm an
impertient oaf, but my course after
debating the names is distinctly up
to Mrs. Graham. If she needs my
help-further-" he paused, looked
at me hopefully.
"But l don't" I interposed quick
ly, warned by the real anxiety in
my fathers eyes, that the brilliant
government agent was in danger of
seriously injuring his health by his
persistence in working beyond his
strength. THAT u.s." amended,
sensing suddenly that I was On deli
cate ground, II don't need anything
but the names until l have a chance
to 60 over my old notebooks and
those Prof, Severance gave me. to
eliminate the things I don't need.
Then ! am afraid l shall be at
standstill without your aid. But I
won't be abe to get that preliminary
work finished tomorrow. 1t will be
at least the day after before I am
ready to report to YOU"
| tried to make my tone properly
humble and named as long an in
terval as I dared in order tina. he
might have the :est he so sorely
needed. But the sardonic little
laugh which he gave when. J. some
what breathlessly finished my little
speech, told me that I had not de-
ceived him in the least.
"Very-clever,", he drawled, land
I promise you the original Seven
will hav. nothing on me as far as
sleep is concerned in the time for
which you ask. l am very glad to
shift the burden to your shoulders,
and now III give you those lists OF