The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-06-11
CHAPTER XCVIII.
The Ruse

was drawing to close.
Ill Jonathan wrote a letter. It
had a high. rollicl<ing note. All
the sentences ran merrily together,
though at every two or three was a
large and impressive period.
He told Chickie all the neyr Of
the block-Mary dropping in of an
evening to keep them company:
Martha Blake bringing a jar of
chow-chow she had made an auto
mobile accident
Then this paragraph speaking in
at the end: Just you wait, Chickie
girl! You won't know our old man.
sion since the artists started on 1t
one on the inside and one on the
out. And what they've done to
your room! But I won't tell you
a word and don't ever let your
mother know I've given you hint.
Mind now"
Choke read this letter walking
along the white, dusty road
October-but the sun was in her
eyes. They blinked. She sat down
suddenly on little pile of dead hay.
She covered her face with her
hands.
Agnes Robbins talked Of herself.
Her husband was musician. In
his fifties he became melancholy. So
they thought a farm was the thing
for them. 1t hadn't proved so. She
was restless to get away now that
he was gone.
Chickie asked; "Is any one plan
ming to buy?"
"Oh-it's a good place if the right
person manages it,
Chickie laughed: well, 1 hope
you don't sell for a while"
Perhaps we shant-"
In the evening she TOOK a walk.
1t was still warm. The quietude
grew. 1t touched her like a subtle
presence. 1t gave her a subdued
beaten feeling. At the end of a
field was a mound under an oak
tree. She sat there. She began to
| figure in an absent, forlorn way
then with vivid, uneasy panic.
She said to herself: Five months
maybe longer" Nights and
nights like this-days and days
with the quiet and the heat and the
appalling aloneness. The long i'm
prisonment began.
Chickie wrote home gayly telling
of a job offered her. 1t was an un-
dreamed-Of opportunity and a per.
feet miracle that it should come to
her. Farm Bureau was to establish
offices nearby and she had been Of.
fered the job of secretary at 5000 a
| month and chance to work into a
big executive position.
She had all the qualifications, sc
Mrs. Vale, secretary Of the whole
organization, told her. Mrs. Vale
liked Chickie, even, suggested that
she intended to retire and Chickie
might then be ready for her place
and her salary of $3.50 "a month. .
OF course, she wasn't counting or
that. But wasn't it thrilling that
she should get chance like this just
now when she really hated the work
she had been doing. On, yes-she
hated her old job--hated it anG
hated it. That's what made her sc
tired lately. Hadn't they noticed.
Mitchell was terrible crank. AND
then this salary--think of having
| $50 @ month extra!
OF course, she'd have to be sta
toned up here for month or two
but then she would be travelling
about from one county to another
and all her expenses paid. Why
she'd have the most gorgeous time
and would see the whole country.
So what did they think Of that
Why, she was hopping with ex
element over it and wouldn't they
please write immejetly! and say FOL
her to grab it quick. She wanted il
like anything, and she'd never gel
such a chance again. They knew
how it was with opportunity ant
only knocking once! So hurry ant
say "yes-yesw