Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-07-05
is MADGE NOT DESIRED
AT THE COME RENEE?

Lillian saved the day for me, as
always.
With her quick perceptions, she
had seen no W my enthusiastic response
TO Allen brakes request that help him
in his code work had been chilled by the
sudden thought of Dickys certain re-
action to such proposition. And she
knew, of course, that | did not wish
Allen Drake 10 see my dismay. III l
wished later to rcscind my promise
could have n plausible excuse ready.
All these things, ! was sure, were back
of her drawing comment
"Just-a-moment. Allen, dear. I'm
this prima donna's manager, II anybody
should happen to ask you, and she haint
goin' in no new profesh unless l say
so. And you'll have to come across
handsome with my bit first. So we'll
sign no contract today. Besides we
haven't any time for dating up new
stars. Do YOU realize that we We got a
stlflish bit of work cut out for us IN
the next few days getting line on some
of the names Madge has decoded for us?
This chap, Warden, for instance. Isn't
he the onc?-"
A knock on the door startled us all.
II was a majestic knock, a knock that
plainly meant business with not the
slightest nonsense about it, knock
which We all knew could come only from
my august mother-in-law.
you re right" Mr.. Drake said IN
low tone, with a deft movement gather
ing up the papers on the table and de-
posting them in his breast pocket.
When can we confer? Tomorrow morn
ing, Chief?'
Have You For gotten?"
My father had moved toward the door
and had his hand on the knob. =
Yes" he said laconically. Then he
threw open the door, and my mother
ln-law-majcstic, but for wonder,
good-natured-con us.
Have YOU all forgotten it's dinner
time?" she demanded. Dinners been
ready a quarter of an hour. told that
ape OF Katie to call you, and supposed
| she had. But when | went into the
kitchen just now she was sitting with her
apron over her head and said she was
afraid 10 come up here for fear some
one'd say she was listening at doors.
I'm glad somebody's put the proper fear
Nothing will he 6t 10 eat.
She turned, swept majestically away,
and Lillian called after her reassurinlv
Call the roll in three minutes,and we j
all answer present"
VERY well, came the dignihed an
swer. and Lillian turned 70 us.
That gives us two minutes for prlnk-
ing" she es timated. Come along
Madge'
Spurred by the thought of Mother Gra'
ham being kept waiting for her dinner
with the awful congealing OF her mooo
which such catastrophe inevitably en-.
tails, we were downstairs in second
or two less than the appointed time, ano
met nv father and Allen Drake at the
| dlning-room door.
| Madge is Disappointed.
Pipe Katie" Lillian whispered, ano
the sight of my temperamental httlt
maid was one calculated TO bring smile
20 the most serious face. She evldentl,
had decided that our hardness was
deliberate insult 10 her dinner, an'
katles offended dignity Is something
marvellous 10 behold. StatueSque ant
iorbidding. she stood in the door leading
70 the kitchen with the manner OF
prison warder watching the inmates nit
into supper And when we were seate'
she moved around the table With statel,
mien. passing the dishes as If they were
warrants for our execution.
! felt an almost irresistible desire {
giggle. and in subdulng II was force
70 adopt an unusually sombre expres
sion That the Others shared my dllem
ma, I knew from their own solemn be
havlor and the result was an almos
silent meal. from which we escaped wit
universal sigh OF relief 10 the living
room, where the indispensable Jerr.
ncer had built a blazing wood fire.
What have YOU planned todo tomoI
row. Aiargaret?' my mother-ln-la'
asked
Ny heart descended rapidly in the gen
eral direction OF nv walking shoes.
next morning would see the conierenc
] OF my father Lillian and Allen Drak
? over the names which | had decided.
: guessed that there would be set IN INC
? ton system of espionage upon the pei
sons whose names ! had learned, an
: everything inquisltive and adventurou
within me longed 70 be present 70 sc
, the setting in motion of the machine
/ But | did not know that | was expected
b 70 be present There had been man,
! other conferences Of these three I
which | had not been invited.
e cast a furtive look around the circl
20 see # my motheri-n-law' quesuo
: had aroused any mental protest. Bu
) each Of the three was looking IN som
] direction other than mine, whether II
: tentonally or not, could not, OF cours
say, but the conviction nevertheless wa
: borne in upon ire that my presence
4 the next mornings conference was, ic
( some reason, not desired.
! TO be contInued.)
) DENTAL CLINICS OPEN.