New Britain herald., 1923-04-07
The Way Madge and Katherine
 Swiftly Met


 The news from Grace Drapcr's lips that Harry Underwood himself was the Big Tangerine, coupled with the knowledge of his perfidy. to which had listened unseen by either him or the woman in whose power was. gave me the feeling Of having been suddenly drawn down into swirling ocean waves.
 Once I had that experience in real ity. when--in the first year of my marriage and of my acquaintance with Grace Draper-she had clutched my foot one day when we were swim ming, and had drawn me underneath the water in mad attempt to drown mo. Then not yet hardened to mur- der, she had brought me to the sur face again after hard battle.
 That she had regretted her weak ness as she termed 1t, many times, ! knew, and had no misstvings as to her curse now that she had me in her power. But to know that my only hope Of rescue, Harry Underwood's intervention with the Big Tangerine. of whom he had spoken so confidently. had been but a mockery. this welt nigh plotted out consciousness from me.
 It was only. the blind struggle for life till the last breath, which brought me up from the abyss of unconscious ness which yearned for me. and gave me strength to listen longer.
 Tt is nothing to you" Harry un- derwood was saying, what the Big Tangerine does or does not do. But do you imagine" there was sudden ferocity in his voice-"that I have waited years for the chance to tame that proud, sneering, little devil, to pay her back for affronts you know nothing of, and then let you snatch the opportunity away from me? Not in million years Give me the key to that room this instant, and don't you dare to show your face there un- til I came back again l can't wait to go up there now" An Effective Threat.
 II will not give you the key" Grace Draper returned steadily, and l am going to headquarters with your in- reference and with the real name of the nurse you byought in here yes tcrday. I don't know what your try ing to do--"
 Perhaps the same stunt you're planning" the man replied, slowly, significantly. For the last time, will you hand over that key and keep away from that room until I give you permission? Or will you compel me to inform the Prince of few other keys which are in your possession, and the little fact that the Inner Presence
 You devil" Grace Draper said faintly.
 II though you'd see reason," he said after second. But keep up your spirits,'' he added with a. return to his old bantering manner. Per haps neither of us will be compelled to use our emergency plans. If get back with the old man all right, the whole program ought to go through with bang, and you can have whats left of both the nurse and the dame behind this key for rag rug. So long !''
 "Who It It?"
 
 heard his footsteps across the floor of the room below, and when the door had closed a tearing. hysteri- gal but low-muttered curse from Grace Draper's lips. Then I carefully aid the rug over the jagged hole again and noiselessly crammed one ,f the pillows around the radiator pipe to deaden any sound of my n movements.
 Z With the desperation Of trapped at meant to make an effort to get ut of my prison room. Z Linda lay deep in drunken slum- , ,er.
 Grace Draper would not come near ne until Harry Underwood's return. If I made any attempt at all, i must not wait.
 Hidden in the lining of my mani I ure case were a couple of finely empered tools which Lillian had r iven me in the days of our govern nent work for just such predica- a nent as the one in which I found ayself. With infiniteS caution I rose l rom the couch and took the tiny but d owerful things from the case. g [ Then l went swiftly to the bath p oom, rejoicing in Lindas stertorous Y