The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-29
THE POISONED GIRL

| is a bad place for a meeting, except
perhaps for a housemaid The house.
maids mistress, equally adventurous,
but more prudent. would hardly make
an appointment against the ratings
ri Grosvenor Square. I watched the
woman for at least two minutes,
during which she did not move at all.
Then L observed that she was not
alone; that is to say, five or six yards
away stood a man in evening dress,
a light coat over his arm, a gibus on
his head. My interest became keen.
Who were these partners in a silent
drama?
AS [ crossed the square the WON
ans attitude did not change. She
hung on to the ratings, one arm out
stretched, her body erect. Her head
was Il little inclined but I was struck
by her beauty. She was tall. very slim.
the outstretched arm was dead white;
Il bistre shadow lay in the hollow.
Upon the slender neck sat a neat
round head, closely coiffed with
smooth black hair, upon which in day
light must run blue lights. The eyes
threw shadowy crescents upon the
pale cheeks. Straight nose, and a
mouth made redder by her whiteness.
Her garment, some colt white silk
trimmed with silver, her filmy stock
lngs. the small shoes. all this was in
tense V delicate. Then l perceived
that her shoes We're made of white
feathers. I was amazed. for l knew
that this suggested extreme luxury.
What was such a girl. for that is
what she was, doing like this. grip
ping ratings of Grosvenor Square?
And why, also, did that man stand by
her silently?
Il say 1 remarked to the girl.
then broke off, feeling that I ought
to address the man first. I turned 20
him: Anything the natter" I
asked.
Il don't know he replied
The answer was surprising. but I
was preoccupied with the girl. so now
it was to her I spoke: What's the
matter? Are you all right" She
did not answer. Are you fee ing ill?"
asked. She made not a single move.
ment. 1t was as if she did not hear
me, as if her spirit were removed into
another realm. felt indiscreet, but
her attitude was so strained that 1
knew l could not leave her like this.
So again [ begged her to say what
was the matter, asked whether any
thing was wrong. She filled me with
nervous excitement, so that at last l
took the small hand tried to remove
1t from the ratings to dhich it chung.
Then she spoke. In a muffled, low
/ tone she said: Let me alone"
I'm sorry [ said. Il don't want
to butt in, but I'm sure there's some
thing wrong"
Let me alone "
In despair I looked to the man:
What's the natter" I asked I'm
sure there's something the matter"
I expect there is" he replied. I
stared at him. surprised. He was
about forty. rather fat. well dressed:
he was one of those rather red. google
eyed men. Yes, goggle-eyed: they lust
well, google. How do you mean?"
l asked. Don't YOU know the LADY,"
Never saw her before in my life.
1 Just noticed her standing there and
came across, just as you did"
Completely fiabbergasted, I turned
to the girl again. Look here" l said.
4 can't leave you here all night. Don't
you see I've got to do something?
What's your name? Where do you
live?"
Let me alone she replied again.
Il don't want anything" Her utter.
ance was thick, so dreamy that l won
dered whether she were sleep-walking.
Well" I said, I must do some
thing. Anyhow. you can't stand here.
Come with me; Wen find a policeman
and see what can be done" While so
speaking ] managed with an effort TO
unclasp her fingers from the railing.
She struggled with me then and sud-
denly said: Go away. 1 want to die.
I've taken poison
Poison I cried What poison?''
She did not reply, but now T could
connect her dreamy state with one
of soporifics: laudanum, or cocaine.
mOrphia perhaps. Quick | said to
the man. hurry up. We've got to
find cab and get her to a hospital -
The girl no SOnger struggled. but had
fallen back against me, obviously stu
pefied. After a moments hesitation,
the man numbered across the square.
I followed him, holding up the girl.
The man hailed passing taxi, feebly
and in vain. Finally another taxi
took pity on us and stopped.
''Middlesex Hospitalr' / said to the
driver. The fat man was quite close
to us, and as I helped the girl in I
could not help saying to him:
Look here, you We're there before 1
was. Why didn't you do anything?"
'Oh, well" said the man, goggling
a last look at my burden, "one doesn't
want to get mixed up"
Well, I was properly mixed up,
/ speeding in a taxi toward a hospital
with an entirely unknown, beautiful
girl, attempting to sleep. I fought for
her life, shouted to her, shook her,
pinched her, to shake her out of her
fatal lethargy. And I succeeded, for
Nshe cried out, struggled, tried to jump
out of the cab. She was very close
to me, and in my arms. I
am ashamed to own it, but at that mo-
ment, pity her as 1 might, fear for her
as 1 did, 1 could not help being affect
ed by her grace; l could not resist the
delicate charm of her suave scented
ness. I am not given to deeds of hero
ism, but I say that it was heroic of
me not to kiss the sweet red lips which
lay so close to mine. And yet g.
human nature is merely human
l. it is a good thing that from
GrOsNenoI. Snnare to the Middlesex