New Britain herald., 1922-07-01
The Way MAdge Contrived to Win .
 Much Needed Rest

Into my fathers face flashed a ool outside his door. l reached up swift ly, covered his lips with my hand and stihed the exclamation upon them Then I slipped past him into his roonA while he closed the door behind me
 Nothing Is the matter, Father dear" I said reassurngly. "On the contrary, l think I have solved the problem MT. Drake gave me"
 He stopped and kissed me warmly
 My darling girl ,'' he said tender ly. and there was in his voice the pride of parenthood. Then he looked at me keeny.
 You must have worked all night, he said with quick concern.
 T have, T returned smiling, and that is the reason for my early call. l want you to tell a mild falsehood for me. Otherwise I would not have reused you"
 T fancy I can stretch my con- science that far" he returned. What is 1t you wish me to say?"
 Father Spencer Stands By.
 
 by one Of my headaches. that I am better now and am going to sleep un- til noon. Lillian will look after things. She will probably offer to type for you the letters with which last night we camoufaged Mir. Drake's work You remember you said you might have others for me to type" I paused un- certainly.
 T will have some ready for her if she does" he replied. smiling "and I shall see that you are not disturbed. But" anxiously. have you had any thing to eat?''
 Some hot milk and sandwiches" I returned, "all I needed or wished. And can go to sleep now with a clear conscience. Please call me at noon if I shouldn't waken before then"
 No" he said decidedly. T shall not do that. You must sleep until you awaken by yourself insist upon that. You have accomplished a wonderful feat, my child and you are more exhausted than you think You will obey me?'
 His question was a demand.
 Of course, Father" l said T am really very glad to obey you, and when I had returned to my own room and was drifting into the sleep I sore ,y needed. the memory of his tender insistence was like a warm cloak wrapping me. protecting me.
 A Moment of Regret.
 It was early dusk when I finally awoke, and when I had dressed and come downstairs, I found that my father had made every one believe firmly in the fiction of my headache I felt like an impostor when Lillian. Marion, my mother-in-law and Katie, made solicitous inquiries about my feelings, but when Junior climbed into my lap, and with bis. awed eyes looked up into my face and said anxiously:
 Mammals head feel SO bad. Dooner rub it." I snatched the little out my face in his curls for a poignant, reproachful instant. All my pleasur- able triumph in the successful solv- ing of the thing which had baffled Allen Drake fed away for the in- stant, as I saw, murky against the pellucid light of my baby's innocence, the ruse l had thought SO necessary
 But l knew I must let no hint of my oualms appear, so I hugged Junior tightly, assured him that my head was ''all we'll" persuaded Katie with diff culty to change the hearty meal she wished to cook for me to some coffee and toast, and welcomed with glad re- lief my fathers low-toned request to come to his room when I had fin iehed eating
 Bring your completed work with you" he said, so when I entered his room I was not surprised to see AL len Drake again ensconced in the easy chair by the fire. despite my fathers dictum of the day before that he should rest longer before taking up the matter of the code again. That he was in far better shape, however, than on the day before, l could see readily. He sprang to his feet when I entered, the room in quite his old fashion, but the haste with which he crossed the room to me and held out his hand betrayed the fev erish excitement which was his over the task I had undertaken for him. Your father tells me you have | solved it '" he cried. and for answer. |