New Britain herald., 1922-04-01
The "Iew Words" Dicky Had to
 to Say to Madgc
Turn down the wood road"

Turn down the wood road" pieky's phrasing was q request, his
 tone a command, and l obcyed both
 as l swung the car into the wood
 road" thoroughfarc beloved by all of us for Its winding curves, each dis playing new vista of forest bcaut, to our woodland-loying eyes. In mid
 summer one frequently met motors
 upon 1t, but in the late autumn it was
 almost deserted, the natives" pre-
 ferring the straight roads as the short
 est distances between their start and
 their destination.
 l knew without Dicky telling me
 where he wanted me to stop the car,
 A half mile down the road there is
 an opening in the woods always re-
 minding me irresistibly of cove in q stream, where one can draw q car ont Of the narrow road and avoid any danger of some other motorist ram
 ming ones car.
 Dicky Is Emphatic.
 It Is an ideal spot for confidential talk, and during the summer mo~-hs have seen many car parked there with its occupants, almost always young couples, absorbed in each others society. And when, as had often happened since we came 10 the east end of the island, Dicky and Found ourselves bit crowded out by the number of the people in our home, we had escaped to this delight ful spot and sat there talking until we had strengthened out whatever domestic tangle needed our attention.
 "One hundred per cent intelligent" Dicky commented, as l turned the car into the little glade and stopped. Now, shut off your engine, for you and l are in for a conference with the office boy instructed to admit mo- body less than the President of the United States
 Why all the high tragedy" I asked saucily, as I stopped obedient- ly to the switch key.
 Dicky grinned reluctantly.
 You'll think it's battle, murder and sudden death before I get through" he said in pretended buresque, but l thought l detected more than a trace of seriousness beneath his raillery. and l was correspondingy uneasy and warily silent.
 "In the first place." Dicky began didacticaly, just get one thing through your bean. I'm not asking any questions about this performance with Katherine, but don't you and Lii think for one little fraction of a sec ond that you're putting anything over on me l! l probably rank in your lists of male intelligentsia as twentieth or some such rank, the high places beinsI by deah Majah Grantland long eyelashes. But limited as my i'm telligence is, I'm still able to put two and two together without making it over four and one eighth !''
 He paused for breath, and I drew a long one of decided apprehension as to his reaction when he should learn that Lillian had sent for Allen Drake, whom he had so contemptuously characterized, and whom l knew, he detested whole -heartedly. That Dicky was determined to keep me from aid- ing Lillian I feared, and I began to search wildly in my mind for some expedient by which I could com promise Lillian's need of me and Dickys prejudices.
 ''I'll admit you did fool me for a few bours," he went on more slowly. T really did think Katherine was coming on for rest and visit while | Jack was gone to South America And when you said that she would | like to do some nursing while she was | here I was tickled to death on account 1 of Mother.
 But the mater informed me a lit- | tle while ago." Dicky continued, that | she doesn't need or want a nurse, and | that Mrs. Biekett is going over to the hospital on an important case Of course, I can't guess what case she's yoing on, can't coordinate katie's brain storms. Jims abrupt leave .aking, and the confabs you and Lii md fessilized old Petit have been having. But that's neither here nor here Keep your little secrets if you want to, but just remember this--no detecting, plain or fancy, or any other 'tunts this time for you The sea Ipn is closed for you, old top, and ,ou'll just get back nicely in your title cave, for nothing d-ing-ad- !"
 I spared for time.