The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-12-20

greatest or girls, Tor you nave my
own ideasi Our invincible young
orator here has been telling me sou
That was a grand speech; many
happy returns of the dayf' was
AIarian's greeting TO Dan.
You certainly have a great voice,
Daniel" remarked Mrs. Owen. and
YOU had your nerve with you"
You were effective from the first
moment, Mr.. HARDWOOD. You ought to
consider going on the lecture plat
FORM" said Mrs. Bassett.
"Oh, Dan hasn't come to that yet:
it's only defeated statesmen who
spout in the Chautauquas, Bassett
remarked.
You have devoted adnirer in Mr..
Thatcher. He must be a difficult
friend to satisfy" said Sylvia
Then do you think I don't satisfy
him?"
'Oh. perfectly! He's a combination
of optimist and fatalist. I judge. He
thinks nothing matters much, for
everything s coming out all right in
the end"
Then where do you place me in
his scheme Of things?"
That depends, doesn't IT," she re-
piled Carelessly, ION whether you are
the master Of the ship or only a. pris-
Oner under the hatches.''
He Redeemed, and she added nothing
to relieve his embarrassment
You think. them" And he
stopped, uneasy under her gaze.
Some Of the time don't think; I
just wonder. And that's very differ
ent, isn't it7"
He realized now how much he had
counted on the kind things he had ex-
pected her TO say. He had plainly
lost ground with her since their talk
on the Madison campus, and he wanted
to justify himself. to convince her OF
his rectitude, and Of her failure to
understand his part in the convention.
but the time and place were unpropi-
tious.
Allen was calling attention to the
moonlight and proposing an automo-
bile flight into the country. His car
would hold them all, and he an
nounced himself the safest of chauf-
feurs. Mrs. owen declined, on the
double plea that she had business to
attend to and did not ride IN motor
cars even 70 please Allen Thatcher;
Bassett also excused himself; so the
rest set off presently under Mrs. Bas-
sett's chaperonage.
Are YOU going downtown, Morton?"
asked Mrs. Owen. as they watched the
motor roll away.
NO: I'd like to see you or a bust
give me a few minutes"
Certainly. Morton: come right in
She flashed on the lights in her
office where Thomas 4. Hendricks
still gazed benevolentIy at Maud 5.
breaking her record.
4 owe you an apology, Aunt Sally, -
Bassett began at once. I'm sorry I
sot you into 4 lawsuit. but things
moved so fast that 1 didn't have a
chance to pull you out OF the way.
Thatcher and I have agreed to dis
agree. as you doubtless know"
Mrs. Owen drew her spectacle case
from her pocket there were pockets
and deep ones in all her gowns. wiped
her glasses and put them on.
You and Edward do seem to be
GlLh4lA q ALAAE LEUuDA6- " Ltn SOE
home I found that summons the sher-
if left here. Let me see; 1t was away
hack in 80 that I was sued the last
lime. Agent for corn-planter sued
me for a machine I never ordered
and IL wasn't worth a farthing any
how. That was on my Greene County
Place. Just for that I had him ar
rested for trespass for going on the
farm to take away the machine. He
paid the costs all right. and I hope
he learned better manners
This Renaissance, recalled with evil
dent enjoyment, was not wholly en-.
couraging. It seemed darkly possible
that she had cited a precedent appu-
able to every case where she was
hailed before a court. The chairs in
Mrs. Ovens office were decidedly IN
comfortable; Bassett crossed and re-
crossed his legs, and pressed his hand
uervOusly to his pocket to make sure
Of his check book; for he was prepared
to pay his wife's aunt for her shares
in the Courier newspaper to facili-
tate her elimination as a cO-defendant
in the suit at bar.
TT was contemplate of Thatcher to
drag you into this, for he knew you
took those shares merely to help me
out. I'm sorry it has turned out this
way, but I'm anxious to make it
right with you, and I'm ready to buy
your shares-at your own price, of
course"
She chose a letter from the after
moons mail. and opened it with a
horn handed paper cutter. Crumpling
the envelope and dropping It over her
shoulder into a big waste paper
basket. She was not apparently over
come by his magnanimity.
We'll, we'll" she said. clancins
over the letter; that man I've got at
Waupegan is turning out better than
I expected when I put him there; or
else he's the greatest living liar. You
never can tell about these people.
Well, Well,-Oh. yes. Morton; about
that lawsuit. I saw Edward this aft
ernoon and had a little talk with him
about Il"
You saw Thatcher about the suitr
Il most certainly did, Morton.
had him go down to the bank to talk
to me-"
I'm sorry you took the trouble to
do that. II you'd told me"
"Oh, I'm not afraid of Edward
Thatcher. II a man brings a lawsuit
AGAINST me, the sooner see him the
better. I sent word to Edward and
he was waiting at the bank when l
got there"
srTs5 --f,-av, Thatcher credit for he.