New Britain herald., 1924-04-25
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The Reason Ma1gc Was Sorcly PerpleNed About Dicky

Q sooner had l hung up the re-
 CT after talking 10 Dicky than l
 tened 1t down again.
 had suddenly recoliectcd what l entirely slipped my mind in my
 ms for the morrow-that my car
 s still at Mrs. Birds home in
 ushing, and that l must go there Id get it before calling at the Dur ces' or going to the farm. But l lad acquiesced in Dicky's announce nent that he would meet me at l5ridgehampton when the late train got in. l must try to get him back on the wire if possible and tell him of the change in my plans.
 But getting Dicky back was a task more easily conceived than executed. l did not know the number from which he had telephoned--he had rot given the name of the hotel from which he was 'phoning, and had been too proud 10 remind him of the argued futilely first with a sleepy operator and then with q bored su- per,isor, only to be told with final iiy at last that it is impossible, Mad nm, to trace your can.'
 Why Madgc Hesitated
 Fatigued and irritated, l hung up the receiver, and then turned my anger on myself as l realized that my effort had been 2 needless one. With any luck at all, could get to Flushing on an carly train, drive across the island to the Durkees' at Marvin. lunch comfortably there and drive out to the farm in the after noon. arriving there good hour be- Tor Dicky should start for the train.
 Deep in my heart, however, l ac- knowledged that the reason l had given to myself for trying to get Dicky on the telephone again was the sheerest camouhage. The mem ory of the queer little sound in the telephone which had followed his good-by still ,ingled in my conscous- ness. Had he really sent kiss to me across the wire as he often had done before?
 With the idiotic inconsistency Of womanhood, I suddenly felt as if the answer 10 that question was the most important thing in the world to me. that if it were affirmative II dwarfed to comparative insigniflca nee the incidents in which Molie faw- cett had figured, and which had caused me such mental anguish.
 could never know, now, told myself with a sure knowledge of my Peter Pans ps. chology born of eS. perlence of his varying moods and lenses. If l could have caught him back upon the telephone, while still lis repentant fit was upon him he might have repeated the boyish en' doarment. But by the morroN-witll a selr-ridiculing little shiver I wis uai2cd possible question, "Dickr did you send mo kiss over the tele' phone last night?" and tho incredul' ous. annoyed stare which, in all prob abi ty. would be my answer.
 "Enicicncy Euphemia ~
 Suddenly felt chill and fatigue srnsations I had forgotten for the fcw exalted moments my romantic imagination had given me. Prosaic' ally I brought water from the kitchen and put out the loapine littlo flames in tho srate that there might be no dan' edr of escaping predatory sparks Then hurriedly undressed and shir- eringiy crept in beside Lillian, hud' dlins close to hcr for warmth.
 without awakening. she threw onf arm protectiecly over mo with q lrowsy, "There--there, dear" and knew that unconsciously she was soothing teh restless slunlbers Of th' daughter she idolized. and who had been lost 10 her during the years oi