The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-01-19

never thought anything about it
at ALL"
We'll, wellp' he said, and looked at
her languidly. Whats the use of
being cross with this old man? He al
ways means we'll" And, extending
his arm, he would have given her a
friendly pat upon the shoulder. but
she evaded 1t. well, wellg' he said.
Seems to me you're getting awful |
tetchy! Don't you like your old
friends any more?"
mot all of them
who's the new one?'' he asked,
teasingly. Come on and tell us. Alice.
Who is 1t you were holding this
chair for?"
Never mind"
We'll. all I've got to do is to sit
here till he comes back; then III see
who it is.''
He may not come back before you
have to CO."
Guess you got me that time" Ma
lone admitted, laughing as he rose.
They're tuning up, and I've got this
dance. I am coming around to see
you some evening"" He moved away,
calling back over his shoulder, Hon
estly, ann
Alice did not look at him.
She had held her tabIeau as long
as she could; it was time for her to
abandon the box-trees; and she
stepped forth frowning, as If a little
annoyed with the absentee for being
such a time upon her errand; where
upon the two chairs were instantly
seized by a coquetting pair who In
tended to "slt out" the dance. She
walked quickly down the broad cor
ridOr. turned into the broader hall,
and hurriedly entered the dressing
room where she had left her wraps.
She stayed here as long as she
could, pretending to arrange her hair
at mirror, then ffdgeting with one
Of her slipper-buckles but the inteln-
gent elderly woman in charge Of the
room made an indefinite sojourn i'm
practicable. Perhaps 1 could help
you with that buckle. miss" she
suggested, approaching. Has It
come loose?" Alice wrenched des-
perately; then it was loose. The com
petent woman. producing needle and
thread, deftly made the buckle fast,
and there was nothing for Alice to do
but express her gratitude and go.
She went to the door of the cloak
room opposite, where a colored man
stood watchfully in the doorway. u
wonder If you know which of the
gentlemen is my brother, Mr.. Walter
Adams" she said.
''Yes'm; I know him."
Could you tell me where he tsp
Nom; couldn't say"
We'll, If you see him, would you
please tell him that his sister. Miss
Adams, is looking for him and very
anxious to speak to him?"
''Yes'm. Sho1y, sho1yr'
As she went away ne stared after
her and seemed to swell with some
too mu1h for him, and he suddenly
retired within the room, releasing
strangulated laughter.
Walter demonstrated. Behind an
excellent screen of coats and hats,
in a remote part Of the room. he
was kneeling on the floor, engaged
in a game Of chance with a second
colored attendant; and the laughter
became so vehement that 1t not only
interfered with the pastine in hand
but threatened to attract frozen-f
attention.
It can't hep 1t, man." the laughter
explained. Il cain hep It! You
sut'n'y the beatin'es' white boy'n is
cityg'
The dancers were swinging into an
encore" as Alice halted for an ir-
resolute moment in a doorway. Across
the room, a cluster Of matrons sat
chatting absently, their eyes on their
dancing daughters; and Alice, finding
a refugees courage, lodged through
the sourrying couples, seated herself
in A chair on the outskirts Of this
colony Of elders, and began to talk
eagerly to the matron nearest her.
The matron seemed unaccustomed to
so much vivacity, and responded but
dryly, whereupon Alice was moro vi
vacious than ever; for she meant now
TO present the picture Of a jolly girl
too much interested in these wise
older women co bother about every
foolish young man who asked her for
a dance
Her matron was constrained to go
so far as to supply tolerant nod, now
and then, in complement to the girls
animation, and Alice was grateful
for the mods. In this fashion she sup
plemented the exhausted resources Of
the dining-room and the boxtree nook,
and lived through two more dances,
when again Mr.. Frank Bowling pre-
scented himself as a partner.
She needed no pretense to seek the
dressing-roOm for repairs after that
number; this time they were necessary
and genuine. Bowling waited for her
and when she came out he explained
for the fourth or fifth time how the
accident had happened. 1T was en-
tirely those other peoples fault" he
said. They got me in a kind Of
corner, because neither Of those fell
lows knows the least thing about guild
ing; they just jam ahead and expect
everybody to get out of their way. It
was Charlotte Thom's diamond cres-
cent pin that got caught on your dress
N the back and made such "a"
Never mind" Alice said in a. tired
voice. THE maid fixed 1t so that she
says it isn't very noticeable"
We'll, It isn't" he returned. You
could hardly tell there'd been any
thing the matter. Where DO you want
to go? Mothers been interfering in
my affairs some more and I've got
the neNt taken"
Il was sitting with Mrs. George
Dresser. You might take me back