South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-17
THE WAY NIADGE COJCHI1B
HER REQUEST OF GRACE
DRAPER.
My Dear Miss Draper:-

Back in my room at Mrs. TIGERS.
with Dicky purposely payins such
asiduous attention to his mother
and Junior that 1 feared no inter
rupt.on from my doughty mother
in-law. l sat before an improvised
desk. cudgelling my brain FOR fit
tings words with which 10 clothe
my request to her that she pose
again for Dicky's illustrations.
l stared at the formal salutation
with eyes that looked backward
down o vista of trouble and tragedy,
Of which Grace Draper had been the
storm center, and wondered TO what
/ must look forward little pre-
monitory shiver swept me. OF my
own voiition, was bringing her in
10 my life again. convinced that by
50 doing 1 was saving Dicky from
threatened professional ruin, but l
could not escape the fear that some
way, somehow, she would bring
ruth to me and mine again.
But having once set my feet up
on this thorny path l could not go
back. Sc with a desperation born
Of the impotence 1 felt, l dipped my
pen afresh in the ink and rapidly
wrote:
IF you remember our converse
ton at the house in Hampstead.
you will know that this letter is
written in all friendliness and sin
cerity. Mr.. Graham mas been in
ignorance of your whereabouts and
Of TIT
when 1 discovered that he needs
your particular type for some illus
tr3ti0ns he is to make for a novel.
lie had no idea that he could Sc
cure you, simply expressing the
wish that YOU were available. 1 at
once informed him Of our interview,
and expressed the belief that YOU
might be willing 10 work with him
again. AZ his request Z am writing
you TO ascertain whether or rot you
would be willing TO undertake the
work.
cot course your whereabouts
would have TO be kept secret
from the people OF whom you spoke
IN our interview, and we think we
have evolved d plan which will
combine secrecy and safety with
convenience. IL you can manage 10
get a train fo- Greenport unob-
served take the ferry at that point
for Shelter Island. Mr.. Graham
and I will motor over from sag
Harbor through North Haven. and
meet you on the Shelter Island
dock. and motor you 20 a quiet.
comfortable. little hotel I'm the heart
OF the island woods. where we an
make plans for the posing. All the
expenses OF your journey we will, Of
course. repay. Cordially yours.
"NIARGARET GRAHAM"
7 read this over several times
when / had finished feeling more
and more dissatisfied with It each
time. It sounded stiff. stilted, and
wondered f ] had not ObtrudCd my
self too much In writing of the ar
engagements Yet Dicky had insist
ed upon my writing the letter, ana
upon my being present at al, inter-
views with her. and I would have
been something more than human
il 1 had not yielded to the tempta-
tion-which the letter plainly be-
trayed-to let her see how COM
pletely the situation was in my
hands.
Careful Plans.
folded the letter and put it into
an envelope. addressed simply
Grace Draper" directed a larger
one 20 the cousin OF Linda She'll
ford-who was the FIRST in the chain
OF the girls clever illusions OF the
espionage kept upon her-and slip
ped both into my bag. 20 wait for
an opportunity 10 show them 20
Dicky. Then I went down 20 the
sitting room where Dicky was en-
tetraining his small son 10 the little
lads delight, and Mother Graham's
sinking approval.
AIy mother-in-law' face changed
as she saw me. and 1 realized that
she had not vet forgiven me for
Dicky's slur OF the morning upon
her weight. She has an annoying
little habit Of forgetting that her
son is at fault. and shifting her re-
sentiment for his errors upon my
shoulders
cit seems to me Margaret" she
said loftily. that il I had a house
like this Dacey on my hands
would be over there secing 20 10 in
stead Of resting comfortably IN my
room But, OF course. times are
different"
Nadgc's RuSc.
seized the opportunity she gave
me swiftly.
II vas just going over there,