New Britain herald., 1923-03-17
What Madgc Saw On the Long
 Deserted Road.

Deserted Road. My small son drew back from m,
 embrace. and looked at me with tn,
 wide-eyed adorable gaze which Is hi
 when he wishes to establish some fac firmly in his mind.
 Mama tum back today?" he de- manded.
 Perhaps" answered with hopelessly perjured feeling, If car .find something pretty for you" Don't want somefing pretty. Wan,
 ~ mamma" he returned with an ob. !, stinacy which thrilled me. and made my flight donbly difficult. Every sec. ond was precious, however, if l mean, ! 10 get away, and I sent an appealing glance at Katie across his curly head She seized the cue promptly.
 70 Ba-bee !" she shrilled in ap. parent excitement. Lillian declares Katie will call Junior ''Ba-bee" on his wedding day. T see Jeem going by schicken house. bet he going feed does leetle schickens. Let's run qveeck."
 Even a mothers going away or re- turn was not proof against that lure. Junior joyously allowed himself to be lifted out of the car to the ground, and the only glance l permitted my suddenly wet eyes showed him trot- ting across the pasture with his hand tucked confidingly in Katie's.
 "Mrs. Durkec, Marvin"
 With fingers that trembled, but did not impede my movements, I took off the old sweater in which I had driven out of the farm gate, and quickly donned my hat, coat and heavy driv- Ing coat. Then I sent my car racing down the road, finding the first relief from the tension of the last hour in the swift rush of cold air against my face. and the sensation of flying through space which fast motoring al- ways gives me.
 There had been no opportunity for me to make any plan as to my flu. ture movemets, when Dicky's out rageous taunts concerning Tom Ches- ter had driven me, raging, into flight. In the envelope addressed to Lillian which l had left with Katie I had scrawled but few words.
 Must get away. Don't waste
 tune looking for me. Will get in
 touch with you as soon as pos-
 sible, and will be caretu,
 Niadge."
 Tn katie's envelope there was but single line of three words:
 Mrs. Durkee, Marvin"
 For my little friend and former neighbor was the only person I could call to mind whom could trust with the secret of my address. Garrulous. like a charming child in many ways. vet she is the most loyal person in the world, and a secret entrusted to her IS safer than the grave.
 Madgc is Terrifidl.
 I did not intend to stay with .Mrs Durker longer than the night, which would be almost upon me at the end Of my present ride. And if Edith Fair fax had been a member of her house. hoid could not have availed myself even of that shelter.
 But when had unexpectedly met |, Mrs. Durkee in Hambels grill room. she had said that Edith expected to gos to Aunt Dora Paige's southern home very soon," and later had de- fined that time as the next day. There fore. I felt safe in throwing myself upon the hospitality of my little friend, and I meant to send her the address by which she could reach me as soon as I knew it myself.
 What should do when on the ne.t morning should leave her friendly roof, what course I should pursue in carrying out my angry determination to shut out Dicky from my future life, had no more idea than had the rabbit which scurried across the road just missing destruction.
 Resolutely tried to put all such consideration aside until my journeys end. knowing that my first job was to drive my car as fast as was consis- tent with safety, and I tried to think of some other, and yet not so ob- sessing as to take my mind from the wheel.
 The thought of Mrs. Durkee sup piled it. With quick awakening of interest I remembered the allusions she had made to Bess Dean, and the she was causing gentle Leila. Durkee. I was glad that my own emergency would give me ali X, evening in the same house with AL fred and Leila Durkee. !,