The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-06-05
BY Gilmore Meherin
, CHAPTER XC.

III fully set head lowered. He
III raised 1t slowly. Chickie saw
mis- eyes baffled. Her heart quick
enod and was hot.
But she smiled. She looked up
of trust, expecting his hands to
fold on hers; expecting the flush
across his cheeks.
He said uneasily, holding chair
tCc her: IT got your message today,
Chickie. 1t followed me here"
"Only one, Barry?"
'Yes-did you send others?"
"Oh--I did"
II got the one saying I must
come. A week more would be too
late. What does it mean?"
She bit her lips, feeling an in
tensity, almost an anger in the low
throb of his voice She remained
still-very still, drinking back tears
from her eyes. They went down
and burned terribly at her heart.
He said more softly: What did
you mean by that, CHECKER"
But she could feel his eyes hot
and demanding. She raised hers,
inplofing not knowing what to say:
You know! Oh, Barry-don't you
know. It's SOP
Know what?"
She turned her head sharply
nodding: "Yes-yes-that--"
The image Of his face, suddenly
white, like a dead thing, his lips
shaking flushed with a mortal pain
across her eyes. She repeated half
moaning. "Oh-you know-it's So"
He wouldn't understand. He made
her say it. Then he sat there rigid
and staring as though some inner
poison sucked the blood, even the
life from his face. He spoke me-
Chemically 1T can't be. I don't
understand. You must be mis-
taken"
Tn not! It's So"
He went on, driven. "It can't be.
It's nearly four months since 1 left.
Your mistaken. Chickie. You must
me"
Then with a still, frightful cold.
ness: ''Why didn't you send me
word sooner? Why did you wait SO
long?"
II sent word-months ago"
II never got 1t! Where did you
send it? How can it be, CHECKER
ri HICKIE covered against as
U sault Of his denials, shutting
her eyes because the blanched
misery of his look unnerved her.
She tried to speak; her mouth drew
and drew 1t got SO tight she
couldn't form the faintest sound.
After a little she put up her hand:
"Barry-don't-oh, don't! Why
you think I want this? Ho-want
you back now? Oh, no! What else
am 1 to do?"
When he only sat moveless like
thing Of stone, except that his
hands shook, she covered her face
He got up quickly, steadying him.
self. Cod never dreamed of such
a thing. I can't-Lord, Chickie, why
didn't you reach me? If I'd known
He said abruptly: "Hurry-lets get
put of here. We have to settle this
meet it. Not tonight. I'm late
Chicllie. l have to go"
She didn't stir. She felt that she
was dying. In vague, detached
way she wondered why alarm pos
sessed him so; wondered why he
didn't say in the quiet way she hac
expected: "Awful-awful-b dom
feel so. All right, now, Chickie!''
He waited, STOPPING a little, his
hands gripped on chair. Presently
she stood up, fighting against the
pulsing heat that pressed about hel
like waters of suffocation.
She glanced at him with white
beseeching prayer. Her eyelids flick
cred. She touched his arm. "Wait
Barry,
Moments passed. In these mo
ments there bore upon her the death
less agonies she had endured. They
made her strong, made her calm
She said, with a touch of proud no
bility that stirred along his nerves
You have to go, Barry? Oh, do you
really? You want to get away? oh
yes Do you mean to leave me alone
then? What am I to do? I car
meet 1t alone. Oh-you can't do this
can you? After all-after all tina
was? I don't want you now"
He said quickly: "Chickie-listen
I'm not running away! OF course
not. A shock like this-we'll NEE
it--of coursev'
She said in q low, aching breath
when, Barry? Well meet it? Blu
can't wait much longer. Every on
will know Barry-you mean tina
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