The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-11-27
New Revelations of
a Wife
Why Did Lillian Keep Madge Fer Her
ali
BY ADELE GARRISON

why Did Lillian Keep Madge Fer Her
Talk With Jack?
Lillian didn't have to wait long to aG
minister the tongue lashing' to Jack
Beckett, which she had so vehemently
promised in her loyal championship of
Katherine.
On the morning Of the second day aftcr
we had followed old Mrs. Morton to he"
last resting place, Lillian and ] were sit
ting in the big. white and crimson living
room, the coolest room in the house.
quietly knitting. Katherine hadn't come
down. for Lillian. with impejious kind
ness. had commanded her to stay in bei
, and herself had carried a breakfast tray
to her.
We both started perceptihly when the
doorbeu rang, sure proof that we were
both nervous, for the peal of a bell was
Il common thing in the Underwood home.
by the prickling of my thumbs"
quoted Lillian, laying down her knitting
eNpectantly. and then as We heard Bet
! ~ voice in the hall. evidently usheT1ng
in some one familiar with the house
for Betty was under orders to admit no
one except a few intimates unless Lillian
We're first summoned to the door-she
stood up impatiently.
My prophetic SOUL" she murmured to
me as we both heard and recognized Jack
Bic!Iett's deep tones. II had bunch
that lad would come today.
/ rose hastily. calculating my chance OF
getting out of the room before Jack
should enter it. 1 had no desire to share
in the scene Lillian was evidently bent
upon staging.
But Lillian willed otherwise. AS she
passed me, she put me back in my chair
with dexterous turn of her arm.
To Anger Jack?
'DOn't YOU dare so away. she wis
pered, and the next moment she was
greeting Jack cordially enough at Betty's
announcement.
We've been trying to get hold of YOU
for days. she said as they came down
the room toward me. when poor Mrs. (
Morton died We needed a man to see toE
things, and I tried to get hold of you, |
but You weren't at your apartment"
II the subject of Lillians conversation |
had been other than what it was I would
have laughed outright at the idea OF her
needing a man to attend to anything IN
the world. think Jack had the same !
thought, for he offered no explanation
or regret at being away, only Ieplled IN
a shocked tone:
Mrs Morton dead? I am sorry, in !
deed, to hear it. deeply shocked"
Lillian looked at him quizzically
I'll isn't necessary to do the conven-
tional trick with me, she said in her
most irritating manner. You know
you're neither sorry nor shocked. You
never saw Mrs Morton. and her death
only means to you a release for kath- !
crime. But We're going to thrash that
out, you and l."
II by her unusual rudeness Lillian |
meant to anger Jack and disturb his
pose, she didn't succeed, at least az far
as his outward appearance went, He
bowed to her gravely.
What Detalns Dicky?
I'm at your service at any time he |
said. Then he turned to me.
How do you do, Margaret" I thought |
detected an unwonted tremor in my |
brother cousins voice. and when he bent |
and kissed me-something he rarely did
realized that for some reason he was |
deeply moved beneath his calm exterior. 4,
Very well. indeed. thank you, Jack |
I returned. looking at him anXiously. |
And you?'
Mighty fit" he answered laconically. |
And how is old Dick? Katherine said |
he was at an aviation camp. How is he !
making it? Does he like flying"
The old feeling OF humiliation swept
over me. felt a savage distaste for the !
words of explanation 1 must utter. The |
feeling made my voice frigid.
Katherine was mistaken" sadi.I
'Dicky isn't flying. He's making illus
trations for a new aviation serial for one
of the magazines"
oh" Jack said lamely, evidently COM
pretending my embarrassment. There
was something else in his tone, also.
someth +; which I saw reflected in Lii
lian's eyes, when L involuntarily glanced
at her, without knowing why L did so.
The next instant Lillian had swept from
her face and eyes every vestige Of ex-
preston. But I couldn't forget what T!
had surprised in her eyes. 1t was a look