The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-05-30
CHAPTER LXXXIII.
The Long Wait

nj HICKIE left the telegraph Of
flee quickly, unnerved be-
~ cause the operator glanced at
her; because he read her message
slowly-nodding.
For the first time she had adj
mit,ed the reality of her fear. and
this brought it upon her stark in
tensified, alive: brought 1t with a
fresh. brutal shock as 1t might have
come to Jennie or to Marry.
She had that hunted feeling; that
wish to lower her head, covering it
Misunderstanding.
AS she was about to enter the
gate she saw just ahead of her Sell
ma Norris, a laxative, inquisitive
girl working in an office across the
hall.
And she thought OF the message
she had sent. 1t seized her anew.
F'linging it Notwithstanding him
back!
Why-why had she? Perhaps
oh perhaps-Her thoughts brought
a faintness through her. She bit
her lips. afraid OF the heavy. knock
ing thing that was now her heart.
He would read that message. She
could see his fine, vital hands hold
ing the yellow slip, tremble-see his
eyes sicken.
But he would come to her. She
knew this. He would take her
hands quietly and more tragic than
their parting would be the sorrow
Of their meeting. There would De
always that stiffness in his face
for the dream and the beauty were
passed.
She thought of this with anguish
thought of II and tears that she
could not stop poured into her eyes;
made her throat ache Oh-hard to
have him back like this; hard to
meet forever, a gentle coldness in
his look.
And suddenly she said: at won't!
No" Her impulse was wild again
her impulse hurled her to the
river. She said to herself quietly:
1T would be better-much better
For long while after this she
remained mute, her eyes following a
pearly cloud that drifted to and fro
like a sea shell.
And then the stood before her
again but not gentle now-not with
white, stricken face. His eyes were
hot. demanding: What do you mean
by this? Listens good! How dare
you send that message through
Moore?'
She pressed her hands trembling
shutting the image from her. No
he would never speak like that.
no
And he wouldn't want her hurt
He would never send her away to
bear It alone
But this fear took root now In
her mind and Powered cruelty. 1t
nourished on her own distraction.
OF course. Listens good. Why
should it happen now? How could
It? And he might think 1t all a
trick-think It just a ruse to win
him back She had read of things
like this.
That night she dreamed Of this
The next day, when no answer came,
alarm seized her.
TT happened that just then
the newspapers were filed
with an ugly murder-a
young girls body found in a cellar.
She had been killed, perhaps in ac-
cident, but, to cover up some other
frenzied crime.
Now that she was deed-and had
let herself be murdered--for II
amounted to this-that she might
escape shame; now all her love was
told and every little detail and ell
the agony laid bare. Chickie read
the columns in still terror.
She said to Janina at lunch; ISM
that ghastly?"
Janina shrugged. Just az tolt
you. Innocence-women let them
selves be done to death They le
the world hound them like beasts
II they had the courage, they cou',
| get away with 1t. But now all you
dear, good people will clamor tina
the murderer be found.
They are the murderers-fille'
the poor, lone devil with such insan
misery she'd risk death rather thai
brook their opinions. Well, as ou
| good friend the Mysterious Stra np