New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-04-30
The Strange Thing Mrs, Marks
Begged Madge 10 DO,

That my nervous sleeplessness and
my imagination were playing bizarre
tricks upon me, was the conclusion TO
which ! came after minutes OF con-
sderation Of the heavy breathing and
the stealthy footballs leading away
from my door.
Mrs. Marks must have gone out OF
the outer hall door when IL slammed,
] was certain of that and must have
imagined the rest. Whether or not
my decision brought the slumber
which had been wooing unsuccess-
fully for so long, do not know. At
any rate, ! slept fitfully. it Is true.
for perhaps Is minutes, when ! was
awakened by sharp stabbing pain in
my chest.
] knew II instantly for the uncom-
Portable thing IL was, My old enemy
nervous indigestion. had its grip on
me. The exciting. pleasurable evening.
the rich food. the annoying con-
troversy with Dcky after arriving
home-all these had contributed to
the unpleasant result which / now
faced.
From experience of similar attacks
In the past. I knew that l must take
prompt measures, or / would be real
ly Ill. Hot water ! must have as soon
as possible, l must prepare a mus
tard poultice. and get from the medi-
cine-chest in the bathroom the old
fashioned, time honored remedies
which ! always carry with me. Re-
pressing a little groan, for the pain
was acute. slipped out of bed. pulled
down the window and the curtain,
switched on the light, and put on my
slippers and my warm bath-robe.
Then | remembered--with a sud-
den sharing of Dicky's antipathy to
our little apartment--that l would be
compelled to go out into the common
entrance hall to get to the bathroom
for my medicines and hot-water bag.
and to the kitchen for the heating of
hot water over my three-hole gas
plate.
AIalge Is Timorous.
For pusillanmous minute, | was
tempted to waken Dicky and ask him
to go out into the dark hall with me.
Then, at the remem brance of his flu
rious exit from the living room, my
pride stiffened my cowardice, and
leaving the living room door open be-
hind me. so that the light would
stream out into the dark corridor, l
hurriedly traversed the few steps to
the bathroom door. Switching on
the light. secured my remedies and
q small roll of muslin pieces from the |
medicine chest, and started timorously |
down the hall toward my dark little
kitchen. the last Of our rooms. and |
separated only by a thin door from |
one of the rooms of the Marks apart
ment.
knew the location o. every article
in 1t, so put down the articles car
red upon the table before raised |
my arm to grope for the chain of the
electric light suspended from the CELL
Ing. But before l could reach it.
hand went over my lips, effectually I
preventing my screaming, and an arm
was thrown around my waist. sup
porting me, while close to my ear
Mrs Marks voice sounded in whs-
per- effectually low this time:
Make Lot OF Noise"
Excuse me, dearie, I amt goin' to
hurt you, hut ] knew you'd scream If
you saw me unexpected like and that
would mean the end of me, maybe.
Listen. Will you let me hide in your
bathroom till you get through here?
swear I hain't touched one of your
things. or won't. Shake my hand if
you will"
| had almost swooned when in the
darkness her hand had gone over my
lips. but the relief at her whisper had
brought me back to composure and
complied with her absurd request
promptly,
She took her hand from my mouth
and bent to my ear again.
Wait till l get to the bathroom
before you turn on the light. III lock
the door, and you Just scratch on
the door like a cat when you come.
I'll explain then, And, for the love
of Mike, make a lot of noise in here,
clatter the dishes or something, Petey
may stick his nose out in the hall to
see who's in here, but nohody'll dis