South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-28
THE CAREFULLY-PLA
QUESTIONS ALLEN DRAKE
ASKED MADGE

AS if a sudden disturbing thought
had struck them, both Lillian and
Allen Drake turned to me and drew
me aside a little way.
What about that trap door," Mr..
Drake asked with a note of appre-
hensive disapprovai in his low tones.
THAT Will never do. There is a way
OUT from underneath, isn't there,
Mrs. Graham ?'
Lillians hand was pressing my
arm in a code signal which meant
Don't speak. Just nod your head"
l gave the silent affirmative with a
sudden terrifying, Notwithstanding re-
membrane of my having had con-
structed an outer entrance to the
place beneath the old cornCrib
transformed by Dicky into a studio.
Under the floor of that building my
baby boy had been held a prisoner
while L frantically searched wood
land and meadow for him. When
he finally had been restored to me,
with an illogical, unreasOning, truly
feminine obscessiOn, l had felt that
1 could not endure the knowledge
of there being no way out from be
meath the house. Dicky had hui
mored me in the absurd notion, and
a primitive exit from beneath the
old structure had been devised by
inventive sam TIGER.
Perfectly safe" Lillian said, re-
assuringly. Hell be too we'll tied
up. Don't worry"
\ Rehearsed Conversation.
That Smith was straining his ears
10 hear their low. almost whispered
tones, 1 was as sure as I was that
there were certain words of the col
loqUy which had been intended for
his hearing. "Trap-door," "way
out" underneath" and too well
tied up" certainly had been uttered
in just enough louder accents than
the rest of the conversation, to en-
able. keen-eared listener to catch
them. 1 acquitted either Lillian or
Allen D~3ke of Carelessness, and
therefore knew that the man Smith
purpose!y had been given the i'm
preston that If he could free him
self from the ropes tying him, he
might find q way of escape.
Allen Drake spoke next, in casual
accents
"Everyth,ng's all right then. IL
just step over with the boys and
attend 20 tying MIN up myself.
don't trust their brand Of ropinE
Mrs. Graham. do YOU suppose you
could rustic a couple OF sandwiches
and a glass of milk. or a cup of
coffee. if Katie had left any. for this
gifted gentleman? There's no use
starving. even the devil. II isn't
exactly cricket"
7 caught his meaning. Of course
He wished me To give Smith the
the escape which he and Lillian
planned that the man should make.
With an apparent sulky reluctance.
for was afraid Smith might
suspect any eager ecquiscence or
my part. I starred toward the door
- Must Co"
Katie is 100 good n housekeeper
90 leave coffee in the pot overnight.
and I happen 10 know there Is no
milk. But. if YOU have 20 have It.
I can make a pot of fresh coffee in
a very view minutes, and there is
,ream."
If YOU viii be so kind" Mr.
Drake returned s.iffy. as If he We're
offended at my reluctance.
I'll so with you, Madge." Lillian
said. Perhaps 7 car rustic an
extra cup for myself. Do YOU want
the grub broUEht outdoors"
"No. I'll send one Of the men II
for it," Mr.. Drake replied. Would
YOU mind asking them 10 come in as
you 20 past the veranda2"
III send them right in" Lillian
promised and attended 10 TIE
errc nd forthwith.
She did not speak again until the
kitchen door had closed upon US
and then she punctuatcd her.words
with a little imprompu dance step
I .surmised that Identification OF
smith was "a distinctly personal
triumph. and that she was giving