Great Falls Tribune

New Phase of...
REVELATIONS
OF A WIFE

What Lillian told Madge About Katherine

"Joe's mysterious friends!"

I repeated Lillian's words mechanically. Indeed, for a second or two I did not grasp what she meant. The knowledge that she had recognized Harry Underwood after all the care I had taken to keep her from it, together with the startling revelation Mr. Underwood had given me, made a combination upsetting to connected thought.

"Yes, yes! Wake up!" Lillian retorted. "They have actually materialized at last, and, better still, they have fallen for Katherine. She is to go with them as Joe's nurse when they take him from the hospital."

Her voice was filled with an elation which I could not share. I saw that her mind was completely taken up with the triumph of a difficult task accomplished. But mine was obsessed with fear for my brother-cousin's gentle wife.

"Won't there be danger for her if she goes?" I asked anxiously.

Two tiny white lines etched themselves at each side of Lillian's upper lip—a signal in those who have studied her face that she is strongly moved.

"Of course there is danger for her," she said slowly. "But if I know Katherine, she is not the woman to hesitate on that account."

That there was a subtle rebuke for me in her answer I was well aware. I knew that she acquitted me of personal cowardice, but I was sure that she subconsciously at least—resented my putting my fear for Katherine's safety before the patriotic flaming zeal for our enterprise which consumed her own soul.

A Special Duty

And then, as is ever her way, she shut off the emotional possibilities of the moment with a barrier of the practical.

"Besides, our organization will see that she is well watched and guarded," she said. "Can you pack a steamer trunk for Katherine, being sure that every article of clothing you put in has no betraying mark of her real name?"

With an effort I put away the anxiety for my little friend which I knew would haunt me until her safe return to us, and answered with cheery readiness.

"Of course I can and will. Shall I have an opportunity to see her and find out what she wishes to take, or must guess at her selection?"

"We can see her only once before she goes," she responded, and that will be a distinctly risky proceeding, although I have a plan which I think will work out without any danger of Joe's friends discovering her identity. But Katherine has thought of everything. Dr. Pettit brought me a memorandum from her, containing concise and practical directions for everything she wished done. I'll just turn it over to you now, and you can get busy on it after you've rested a bit."

"Very Strictly Watched"

"I don't need any rest," I retorted, striving to keep any hint of pettishness from my voice. "When does she go?"

"Whenever Dr. Pettit gives his consent to Joe's being taken away."

Her significant smile pointed her meaning, and I interrupted it hastily.

"You mean, when you say the word."

"Oh! Wise young dame!" she paraphrased, and then immediately struck a more serious note.

"Yes. Dr. Pettit will not give his consent to Joe's removal until I give him permission," she said. "But that permission depends upon the actions of another gifted gentleman in our neighborhood."

"Smith!" I ejaculated involuntarily.

She nodded.

"The same, alias Anton, alias goodness alone how many other names. I'm expecting every minute to get a report from Tom Chester or Mr. Briggs that Mr. Smith has taken his foot in his hand and departed for a stroll in our direction. He apparently has accepted Dr. Pettit's dictum that his wrenched ankle cannot be used, and he is such a foxy customer that nobody knows what's running through his noodle. However, he's being very strictly watched. we'll know when anything does break. Here is this memorandum of Katherine's. If you need any help, call on me.

"Don't you think you have enough on hand?" I asked.

"I suppose you're perfectly carefree yourself," she retorted; then she dropped her hand in comradely fashion on my shoulder.

"Whatever should I do without you, Madge!" she exclaimed, and was out of the room before I could reply.

But I went at the task of packing for Katherine with a heart from which she had deftly extracted every bit of the petty soreness I had felt.