New Britain herald., 1923-03-13
What Dicky Did to Give vph to His
 Rage Over Tom Chester


 How much had Dicky heard and seen?
 This was my first panic stricken thought as l encountered him in the doorway of my fathers room where young Tom Chester was conyalescing.
 acquitted myself of any fault=-l could not have foreseen the sick boys hysterical outhurst, nor could have stopped 1t, but if Dicky had heard the young mans feryid. incoheront fare- wcll--aboye all, if he had seen the boy kiss my hands
 My brain swirled with the necessity of getting him noiselcssly out of the room before his wrath should vent it. self in an explosion which would al- ways be shameful memory. to Dicky to me and to the sick boy. to whom. indeed, just now, 1t might prove q dangerous shock. ...."-.
 In my panic. I did the most infuriat- ing thing possible, as l walked swiftly to my lips in warning to silence.
 I saw Dicky's lips open wrathfully, and shivered in anticipation of the violent exclamation which was trembling upon them. But even be- fore the first syllable left his lips, Lillian's hand upon his arm literally jerked him away from the door, and her gesture to mo brought mo rush. ing noiselessly through the door into the corridor.
 "Now, You Crazy Idiot ["
 Lillian closed the door after me, still silently. and with a nod to mo to fol- low, drew Dieky masterfully down the corridor. to the door of my room. No other person on earth could have kept his temper from exploding for those few seconds save the woman to whom Dicky feels he owes so great debt of gratitude for the sacrifice she made for him so many years ago.
 Now you crazy idiot 7" Lillian ad- monished. releasing his coat-seeve and giving him little push into my room, keep 'em inside this room I'm policing the halls today, and if hear a peep to disturb your mother or that sick boy wonder, whom I'm going to look after now, I'll make you wish you never had been born. And Madge--I've made it my boast that l never meddle with other peoples busi- ness. but I should advise boiling tar, applied literally"
 She shut the door upon us, and heard her hurrying towah Tom Ches- ters, room and knew that whatever his necessity it would be attended to. Then I faced my husband with al courage stiffened by Lillian's last mocking words.
 Madgc Pulls Herself Together
 You are home carly" said with an attempt as casualness.
 "Yes you evidently didn't expect me so soon," lie sneered. "A for tunate thing fok me that I motored down with friend this morning in stead of waiting for the train"
 His words came slowly, with q cufi- ous stiffness. l glanced furtively at him and saw with a wave of anger, not wholly free from uneasness, that his rage was hindering his articula- tion. l have seen Dicky angry many times, but never before have I wit messed such white-hot wrath in him.
 And a fortunate thing for us," l returned lightly. Your mother will be delighted. Have you-''
 The oath with which Dicky inter- rupted my attempt at the common place was like the snarl of an en- ragged animal.
 What are you trying to do. any way" he shouted. Throw dust in my eyes. with all this la-de-da pal aver? Just cut it out, now. I don't want another word of it. What l want, and cursed quick, too. is an ex- planation of that exquisite little Romeo and Juliet farewell I just heard pulled off down the hall"
 So he had heard and seen every thing pulled myself together, with the resolve to say nothing in answer to his angry tirades. l reckoned, however, without Dicky's ability for blstering words. He paused for a second or two after his utimatum, then rushed into hot angry speech again.
 T don't wonder you haven't word to say !" he shouted. I'm glad you have that much sense of decency at least. For there isn't any expiana- ton you could give if you hunted for one for year. But, by the Eternal. I gave you credit for better taste . Iii