South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-27
Revelations "a Vile s2o5 a2a5

been self-conscious. nervous. almost
tremulaus az The prospect Of again
being thrown into association with
this fascinating man. But bis banal
compliment was Ike a tlngung dash
Of ice water IN my face.
lie had not changed He was the
old Allen Drake. so certain that ev-
e-T woman he met was so anxious
for his attention that he did not
trouble himself even 20 originate a
new bit Of fattery. was as certain
chat he had said exactly The same
thing % a dozen different women as
was that MS utterance Of the plati-
-uie affected me IN no way but an
inclination 20 laughter
tilted my head "a trifle and look
ed az him 7s he had requested. with
-auEEter-dlled eyes. Eur I had to
grip my deterr nation hard % keep
ju- that laughing Indifferent pose.
For in his eyes looking at me. indol-
eut no longer. I saw the answer TO
the question I had asked OF myself
in the mirror.
Either Lillian possesses the "eyes
in the back Of her head" supposed
10 be the Inevitable adjunct Of spin
s,er school teachers. and knew that
7 needed her, or else she realized the
impossibiUty Of longer keeping
Mother Graham's attention diverted
from my direction.
At any rate. just as Allan brakes
intent gaze became unbearably en-
barrasslng. I heard my friends
laughing voice behind me and felt a
surge Of grateful relief which I had
hard work TO keep from betraying
in my face.
II trust the well-known bean Is
freshly oiled and the engine turning
over smoothly Allan" Lillian said
smiHngIy although ! knew only too
we'll what deadly earnestness lay be-
hind the frivolous words.
Don't tell me that you're contem-
plating any toll or even talk Of il,
this evening" Mr.. Drake protested.
\ Conference Called.
Executive conference called for
10 o'clock" Lillian retorted inexor-
ably. "all hands on deck" She low
cred her voice as she spoke, with an
almost impercepuble movement of
her head toward my mother-in-law,
still deep in conversation with my
father, and L cOmprehended the rea-
son for her naming Of 10 o'clock.
This is almost invariably Mother
Graham's bedtime hour and 1 knew
that Lillian wished the older safely
asleep before she took up with Allan
4 Il, D..
problem o. the man Smith
Il knew this evening was too per-
feet for permanency." Allan Drake
drawled, but I detected an infection
IN his lazy tone which told me that
underneath HIS affected Incidence he
was as eager for the work before
him as Lillian herself. "But il must
be something unusual to awaken me
from the dream"
1T IS" Lillian returned cryptic
ally, "and I want you well-fed and
consequently in a good humOr when
YOU hear it, so you and Mr. Spencer
had better go to your rooms and get
ready for Kate's dinner. I think it's
scheduled for Is minutes from now"
III obey without question, but
doesn't Mother wish to see that my
hair is brushed right and my necktie
tied straight before 1 appear at the
table 2"
Marching Orders"
Allan Drake opened his eyes wide
~ at her as he spoke. saw that
they held a Querulous CLEAN and
guessed that back of the gibe was a
tiny stab of resentment at LilAan's
manner. which some men find a bit
too dictatorial for them. That Lii
lian's keen perceptions must have
guessed his feeling, I was sure. but
she was too game mental sports
man either TO betray her knowledge
or to yfeld a point Her wide grin
at him was as imp!sh as the CLINT in
his own eyes. and her voice was
clear. inC.slve.
Yes. do, and Allan. dear. don't
forget TO wash your ears
Her tone was perfect. 1 have heard
harassed mothers of small boys use
exactly the same worried infection
and words For the life OF me.
could not control an amused giggle,
and for the fleeing fraction of a
second. / caught the glimpse OF
something In the eyes of the elegant