The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-06
By III. l.. Gates
CHAPTER w
The First Triumph and Defeat

E-7 ITH the crisp notes Of her
IWI $4,000 spread on the table
before her, with Egleston, the
grave, impenetrable banker, and
Francis Brandon, debonair, easy
hammered courtier Of the new world
into which she was being ushered,
silently watching her, Joanna closed
her eyes In a quiet communion with
herself
1t was real! The fantasy had be-
come a chapter Of life with Miss
Twenty-seven of the silks lifted
from the valley to the hilltops where
there couldn't possibly be any shad-
ows.
Weakly, she made new battle for
understanding, and again lost. They,
those two men, one of which, she
was sure, knew the whole of the
mystery, would tell her nothing.
Brandon professed to know no more
than she; he declared that the banker
had told him nothing Of the motive
or the source Of her sudden shower
of gold.
But" said Brandon, "you will not
shut me out, / hope, from the rest
of the wonders. You will let me
walk with you, now and then, along
your new paths?"
With the feel Of her first money
in her fingers Joanna concluded that
she must learn to have an answer
for things like that. Men she had
known were not gifted at such So
norous phrasings. For the man who
said "You look good to me, sister,
she had her rituals Something like
Ibid you ever win any medals on
YOUR eyesight?" She wondered If
there were books that taught the
things that went with lot Of money
So she was silent a little while. But
Brandon persisted:
st shall pay ardent court to you,
you know! I shall use all the wiles
Of the fortune hunter. Perhaps l
am first to enter the lists, and you
will let me keep my advantage"
She felt that he was playing with
her, Yet there was something SEN
tentious In his tone. She wished he
hadn't come so quickly into her new
scheme of things. She was positive
that he was a danger; that she didn't
like him. She made the only reply
she could think of, and Immediately
knew that it was clumsy; that it
didn't match:
Il guess you'd keep any ad-
vantage a girl would give you" .
"You mustn't be prejudiced
against me-" he retorted, with
elaborate earnestness. IT am your
bankers nephew; he will give me g
splendid what would you say, a
reference?"
Eggleston interrupted.
Il imagine Miss Manners will
want to begin readjusting herself.
That will be more pleasant task
than skirmishing with you. She is
young lady Of affairs"
ga
FRI HE girl shot grateful glance
to the banker. She liked the
- grave, forbidding old man.
she feared him. because Of the
knowledge he kept from her, but she
felt that she could always trust him
She was puzzled, too, about the lights
that changed so often in his eyes.
When she looked at him quickly he
started q bit, as If caught by some
queer surprise. She wondered what
he was thinking about when he was
watching her.
But she must make the plunge,
Go out, outside! These men would
give her no help--Brandon would
help her, but his very manner Of
easy gallantry put her on guard
against him. His was the way
Good Morning" would adopt if he
knew how. For one thing Joanna
had suddenly lost her respect for
the Importance of such personages
as Good Morning." Already aisle
managers, department chiefs, even
superintendent had become vague
and remote. Summoning her courage,
she rose.
IF you don't want me any longer.
il may go now, guess I WILL" she
said. faltering. MAY II"
Eggleston got up from his chair
and reached his hand across the
table to her. II shall give instruc-
TONS" he said, that you must be
brought to me at once, when you
come to me, If you do. I hope you
will let me advise you-as your
banker should. I shall try never to
make you afraid Of me-"
Brandon held open the door for
her. Joanna was still, uncertain of
herself, for a while. Then, without
speaking again, she left the bankers
room and went into the corridors of
the bank Brandon walked beside
her. you will let me show you to
your carr" he said, smilingly.
Mr.. Graydon's car! Waiting for
her! Now and then she had had the
experience Of taxi waiting for
her, on one Of those rare cabaret
nights when one of the boys had
succumbed to a lavish urge. Never
"her car" She'd never thought of
it before, but she wondered if wom-
en- felt guilty when they'd left their
chauffeurs standing along time. OF
course not! Foolish! She spoke. to
Brandon, who was guiding her to-
ward the street entrance!
TIL bet you're laughing at how
foolish I'm going to be-" she con-
fided to him,
Il shall never laugh at such a
delightful young person." Brandon
assured her. And if you are fool
ish--why not? You have acquired
the right to be as much so as you
wish"
but I don't want to be! I want
to act as if knew what was do.
ing-and can't. I'd like to go along
as If I had hundred dollar bills