The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-10-07


him?"
Eyes, thank you" said Gloria She
followed the boarding house keeper
up the red-carpeted stairs to the Sec
ond floor.
STAINS rooms were at the back of
the house, overlooking a dirty back
yard. Upstairs, some one was prac-
ticing on a doleful saxophone.
But the rooms themselves were
cheerful enough.
There were magazines scattered
about A tin box Of cigarets and a
cocktail shaker stood on the table.
STAINS bright silk house-coat was
thrown over the back of a chair.
Everywhere there were pictures Of
women the photographs that
Gloria first had seen in STAINS dress
ing room in the theater back home.
She looked at them. again.
Then she saw that there was a
new one among them!
1t stood all by itself in a Dutch
silver frame on a table in one cor
ner. The pictured face in it was
broad and fore-shortened. II was
crowned by swirl of blond hair
1t was Sonya Chotek's face!
Live pangs OF jealousy stabbed
Gloria like two-edged knives at the
sight. She wondered If Stan was in
love with that face. She Won
dered if he thought Sonya Chotek
was beautiful.
Was she beautiful? =. Gloria
picked up the picture Of the actress
and studied it closely. Then she
crossed the room to a mirror that
hung there against the wall, and
looked at her own face. Under the
deep coppery waves Of her hair, it
smiled back at her vivid and
sparkling.
POOH" she said aloud, Il make
her look like thirty centsw
She put Sonya Chotek's picture
back on the table, so that it faced
the wall
1t was then that the telephone In
Wayburn's bedroom rang.
Gloria flew to it and unlocked the
receiver.
Hello" she said
The voice that answered her had
foreign accent. 1t was a woman's
voice. 1t was Sonya Chotek's voice,
Gloria knew at once.
who is this speaking, please?" it
asked.
Gloria didn't answer. She banged
the receiver back on its hook, and
turned away from the phone. Then
she stopped dead-still.
&s&
NV1 AYBURN had come in. He
W was standing in the door.
~ way between the two rooms.
or course, he must have been listen.
ing.
He stared at her as IL she had
been a ghost. For the love of
Mike! Where did you drop from?''
Gloria's voice was wistful when
she answered. From home, Of
course-Aren't you glad to see me?''
Wayburn ignored her question.
Who was that on the phone Just
now?' he asked harshly.
"Oh, just some Jane who wanted
to talk to you" Gloria replied. She
managed to ripple a laugh at him,
fhppantly, as she walked past him
into the sitting-room.
She was hurt-bewildered. What
was the matter with Stan? The
Stan who used to catch her hands
in his. give her a look that was
like caress, and call her "Russet"?
Aren't you going to ask me to
sit down. or say you're glad to see
me, or anything?" she asked.
She dropped into a chair. and
watched Wayburn through her
lashes. He took off his overcoat
and hung 1t up He lighted a cigaret
with a steady hand. He drew up a
chair and sat down.
And not until then lid he answer
her.
We'll" he said, las a matter of
face, I'm not exactly tickled to
death to see you, Gloria What
have you done? Left your husband?"
Not exactly tickled to death to see
her! San not glad to see her?
She tri d to speak but her lips would
scarcely move. They were white
and drawn.
II suppose you'd call it that"
she said at last Her voice vibrated
high and thin, like a violin string
that has been stretched too taut. 1t
broke suddenly.
RI HE wanted to tell Stan how
IL empty life at home had been
IL for her since he dropped out
Of her life-how terribly she hao
missed him.
But his GOODNESS froze her She
couldn't tell him anything. Hel
voice was CONCEALED in her throat.
Does your husband know you're
here with me?" Wayburn asked. He
gripped the arms Of his chair with
both hands as he leaned forward
hanging upon he~ answer.
Suppose he does know It? What
difference would it make?" Gloria S
voice WAS n dull WhiSner