South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-14
THE SUGGESTION DICKY MADE
CLEAR TO MADGE.

CLEAR TO MADGE.
Lillians suggestion that I wear
her secret service badge had sur
prised me, as had her knowledge OF
Dickys attitude toward Bess Dean.
But her request to let her go home
with me and see for herself what
Katie's queer behavior meant
startled me into an apprehensive
my little maids actions.
1 know that Lillian never does
anything lightly. and that she is the
last woman in the world TO interfere
by so much as the fitting Of a finger
in another woman's household af-
fairs. That she saw something in
Mother Graham's report of Katie's
odd actions which I did not, 1 was
certain. and guessed. also, that
what she saw or suspected had it's
roots in some secret knowledge Of
her own which she had not shared
with me.
knew something else, also
which Lillian appeared to have for
gotten-that she was in no condition.
bodily or nervOusly to undertake the
journey to the eastern end of Long
Island, or TO exert her mental pow
ers as she was wont to do when any
important problem confronted her.
Yet how TO stop her!
looked at my friends face. from
which illness had drained the color
and etched deeper the lines at her
eyes. still Swallowed with the after
effects of her collapse, and I said to
myself with sudden determination
that il was high time 1 dealt with
my own problems without assistance
from Lillian. 1 knew that I could
stop her from going with me by Civ
ing her a hint that I would prefer 10
deal with Katie without her. Yet
what a falsehood that would be, for
shrank from the subtle unknown
menace which I had felt in my heart
and had secuted in my brain since
my. receipt Of Mother Graham's let
ter.
With a nervous fear that Lillian
might be reading my face and inter
preting the thoughts mirrored there.
l snatched at the first excuse I could
think Of TO parry her query.
Linian's Command.
"Bess won't go home for four or
five days vet" I said. so we wont
have TO consider Katie before then.
And I'm perfectly willing to post
pone her. Eve had such a restful
wonderful time up here that 1 hate
10 think of getting into the routine
of the house AGAIN"
Lillian gave me a keen glance.
Katie usually can be counted on
to enliven the routine" she said
dryly. Then she unpinued from a
hidden portion OF her bodice the
tiny metal badge / knew so well, and
held IT out TO me.
IF you feel half as foolish about
taking it as do about Offering II.
you're a Tit candidate for a sanitar-
um." she smiled. But old women
must be humored in their little
whims YOU know"
Yes, YOU deCrepit nonogenarian."
retorted. "TH throw some salt
over my left shoulder for YOU II you
demand it, But. joking aside. Lii
YOU know how T."
II knOW-eVerythlng YOU WOULD
like 20 say TO me-" she interrupted
CryptiCally. But don't waste your
time or mine saying it. Instead let
Us talk Of something worth while
didn't YOU tell me Junior was out
growing his rompers? I saw the
most fascinating illustrations Of a
new style romper today. and brought
10 along 20 show YOU"
fastened the badge I had taken
from her into my blouse beneath my
tie, arranging 10 so that it could not
ae seen unless I chose. Then I bent
eagerly over the illustrations she
had brought (. and we gave ourselves
up 10 that most delightful OF domes-
cie occupations planning children's
clothes. Not tin Dicky breezed in
with the news that dinner was al
most res dy did we realize how much
ume We had consumed
\ Plain Statc-u.nt.
We found Bess Dean already
dressed for the trip In the natty coat
and trinity fitting knickerbockers she
had worn for the Rip Van Wrinkle
mountain descent But her feet were
encased In wooden hose. and her