New Britain herald., 1923-05-01
why sIsdge Fell she Must Hide
Mrs. MARKS from Diesg


MFs MARKS opened mY bathroom
door promptly ami nsisslsssiEs ana
after drawing me inside, shut and
locked IL again as silently Looked
a. her In establishment and no little
anger, for despite the pain ] was sAfr
feFlng, ! vas beginning % Feall1f the
auaaeity Of the woman in hiding n
my kitchen. and fFiEhitnirg me N
the way she had done
Rnt one look al the strained, iTlghi'
ened expression IN her enina hlue
eyes. and the gFasish naliaF when
showed wherever her mask Of rouge
ana powder would permit H. han'
ishea my anger. Here was a soul IN
sore straits Of some kind and II did
net hshooVe me 20 add 20 her burden
Say, you're white, deaFie, I'll say
that for you" Her voice was sllll
subdusd 20 the low whisper she had
ussd IN the kitchen. ana noticed
that her eyes ard ears were strained
In that direction. Il never vas 20
near passing out in my life az when ]
saw you headed for your kitchen, and
knew you'd scream II you saw me
say"-wiih a sudden Jerk OF her
head toward the bedroom IN our
apartment-"ean your husband hear
me? He Amt like you, dearie, he
don't like yours truly one--little-hit'
and he'll raise the old Harry n he
knows I'm IN here"
"Hc won't hear YOU n you keep
your voice low" ! Whispered back
steadily. "but--I am 81, and I must
get back TO bed as quickly as | can
You poor kid :" Her eyes took in
for the first time my hot water bottle
What's the tronble?'
Nervous Indigestion" ! replied
shortly.
"You'rc Awful Good"
Amt that fieree?" she responded,
"You can't tell me nothing about that
thing. i've had II. You ought TO
have a mustard poultice."
II have one and have taken all the
remedies" ! returned.
Wen, she returned competently,
you don't want 10 listen 10 no spiel
OF mine now. But when your hus-
band and mine are gone tomorrow
III come in and explain everything.
But, please. will you let me stay in
your kitchen while longer? ! won't
hurt nothing. and you don't know
what il means TO me"
The mustard poultice was beginning
to draw, and the pain in my chest
was not yet conquered. Between the
two, think ] would have assented to
almost any request Of Mrs. Marks in
order TO get rid Of her.
yes, yes" / said. do whatever
you like. but ! must so at once
You're awful good" she said hum
bly,, and | won't forget it. I'll turn
out this light now, and the second
you're inside your door and shut it,
III beat it TO the kitchen"
She fitted the action to the word,
but as ] advanced toward my vide
open living room door. with its light
streaming out into the hall, Dichy's
tall 1.-THE figure. bath robed and slip
pered, advanced to meet me.
Dicky Is Solicitous
What the" he began angriiy,
but a thought Of the woman trapped
in our bathroom behind me COM
PEELED me to the confession l never
would have made for myself, with the
remembrance of Dicky's anger vivid
before me.
"Oh, Dicky 70 said appealingly. Il
am so ILL.,"
What !" The anger left his eyes,
and anxiety, affectionate but irritated,
flashed into them.
His arm went round me, and he
drew me through the living room
door, mechanically closing 1t after
him, to my great relief, ] could visual
lie Mrs. Marks slipping fearfnlly and
noiselessly down the hall to hide her.
self in our little kitchen.
Dicky put his hand under my chin
and turned my face UP to the light.
II should say you are ILL.," he said
"What is it," He wrinkled UP his
nose shifting in disgust "Oh
see. Nervous Indigestion. / can smell
the mustard. Now, why in the name
of Moses and all the patriarchs, didn't
you call me?"
/ suppose something involuntary
came into my eyes, for shame-faced
expression flashed into those Of my
husband.
"Oh I know. ! know" he said