The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-07

something you didn't know" joan
ma informed him. Just cut me up
ten dollars worth Of plants will you?
When 1 want geraniums 1 want
geraniums. I'm a different class
from other people, you known Fun
ny, that she should think of ger
aniums, and her mother. and the
druggists son, because she had a
lot Of money in her bag and wanted
to do something for Mrs. Adams!
She'd forgotten what geraniums
looked like.
RI UT Mrs. Adams hadn't. When
Xxi Joanna, overdue in her room
lS rent, as usual, stepped out Of
the automobile, in front of the room
ing house, something electric
brought the slatternly, but motherly,
landlady to the window. When she'd
rubbed her eyes and recognized her
delinquent roomer, she estimated
the armful of flowers. Joanna and
geraniums! And a limousine! What's
wrong?
To the chauffeur, who helped her
to descend and who took her bundle
the wrap she had put aside for
the new one of mink, Joanna said:
You may go back now TO your
boss. And if he asks about me
tell him I'll see him at church, will
your"
The man saluted. Mrs. Adams,
watching from the window saw 1t.
Joanna, suddenly was upset again.
'"Say, your she said, her lips set,
you're just about the same as a
new run in an old pair Of stockings
to me, but you're running the wrong
way. We're saying goodby now,
and we'll probably never say hello
again, but I'd like you to remember
that you were in on the start Of
something today. that's going to
have a big finish!'
He made no reply, but just looked
at her, somewhat sorrowfully. She
added, irrevelantly is seemed:
And it didn't start the way you
think and it won't finish the way
you expect, take it from mel" Then,
her flowers Rugged close, she went
into the house.
Mrs. Adams was a dear old soul,
or a mean old termagant, according
to whether you owed your room rent
or not. Not that she was so much
different, under the latter circum-
stances, but the general aspects OF
her seemed different. AS a matter
of fact she was good for four weeks
of arrears for any girl, and after
that. why, as many more as a girl
required, If she was in real hard luck
and actually trying to get out of 1t.
Joanna, herself, had once comforted
a girl friend. who had mortgaged
her room rent for two weeks ahead
on a dress she couldn't afford with:
Never mind, dearie! The first weeks
the hardest. After that she'll pray
for you and 1 guess that won't 10
you any harm, either"
4 - Et
lMl with curiosity when Joanna
0 faced her, in the drab room
which gained it's proper designation
from the iron-clad rule which the
landlady laid down meticulously to
each new lodger: MY young ladies
receives their company of the other
sex in the drawing room only" Her
young ladies customarily referred to
the big front room downstairs, with
the two spindle-legged gold chairs
and the three overstuffed things in
faded red, as 1.-The drawing room
only" Joanna, speechless for
moment, showed her flowers into the
landlady's arms. At the same time
she noticed that the old lady had
taken off her apron. She'd never
seen Mrs. Adams, except on Sun
days, with her apron off. 1t gave
her something easy to talk about as
a starter:
II didn't know 1t was you getting
out of the automobile" Mrs. Adams
explained. And / wasn't taking
chances. That's my rule; when an
automobile comes to my house off
comes my apron. was properly
raised in my young days"
She allowed a tear, or two, to
escape over the flowers marvelling at
the assembly Of so many geraniums
also a beloved memory Of girlhood.
in one bunch. Then she was ready
to be told about the car, and the alb
sence from the store, and the reason
for the gift of blossoms.
Joanna made her put the flowers
in water. turn down the gas in the
oven so that whatever was cooking
there wouldn't burn, put her broom
out of the hall so it wouldn't worry
her, and sit down. Then she told
her.
The girl began slowly, deliberately
with infinite detail. an account of
the summons conveyed through
Good Morning" and her reflections
while she waited in Mr.. Graydon's
office. Then her words hurried; she
became excited. She talked fast. She
got up and stood in the middle of
1.-The drawing room only" and talked
with her arms as we'll as her lips.
She was just about to arrive at the
bank, Nin her recital. when Mrs.
Adams, who had been listening,
placidly. interrupted {:
Tell me: where'd you get that
new coat, 10? 1t is mink, amt it?
And it's real mink, too, or I've lost
my eyesight.
Sure it's real" Joanna assured