The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-16


for lack of a better phrase. there
was but one coin with which to
reward them-the coin that passed
frankly as currency. But she didn't
want Brandon to take it, and he
didn't.
He held her hands and looked
down into her eyes. silently. She
met his gaze steadily, unafraid, but
quivering a little. She had reasoned
to herself that tonight she had dis
covered a clew to her fear and dis
like of this cynical, good looking,
perfectly poised man who impressed
her always as If he was taking
charge Of her. The woman in her
leaped to the defensive before him,
and with sense of fatility. Kenil-
worth she could battle on his own
ground Brandon tortured women,
yet to meet him fairly.
But he spoke softly. "Do you
know" he said, IT shouldn't be sur
prised IL you'd win through, after
ally'
She caught her breath. win
through? Why-what!"
E*h
ri e dropped her hands, instant
I'LL ly, and his manner changed.
III You must forget that" he
said, mocking again. Its another
case Of funeral with nobody dead
yet. At least, don't remember it for
q long time"
George, her own new hats and
wraps and gowns, Joanna's shower
Of gifts, hung from the door top,
mirror, so that she might prop back
on the bed pillows and examine
them, was awake, and waiting. She
had refused all Invitations for tbs
evening, both sentimental and
hilarious, frankly admitting she
couldn't leave her wardrobe at home
alone. Joanna threw off her mo-
mentary depression. the aftermath
Of Brandons sententiousness, and
plunged into a gay recital Of the
nights events. Then George preached
her own news.
John was here tonight!' she an.
nounced. "He was at the bank to-
day. Mr.. Eggleston sent for him.
Mr.. Graydon, at the store, had told
Mr.. Egglestone what you had said
that John had suspected the place
the money came from. The bank
wanted to put him right. Johns got
it all through his half baked mind
and he's like a bird dog that's been
pointing the wrong way"
Joanna sank onto the bed, the
usefulness haunting her eyes again.
Her plans for the morrow began
to crumble, and In their place rose
something else, vague and unshapen
but before it she stood side by side
with John. Then. with a petulant
shake of her shoulders she reas-
sembled her plans, and the arrogance
came back into the tilt of her chin.
But he hurt, Georgia. don't
think
"Oh, you can arrange things to
suit your self" George assured her,
wisely. Hes got six cylinders I'M
der the hood maybe, but only one
works. I've always told you he was
full of carbon. He's frightfully cut
up"
That's not it. 1 knew he would
be, some day-it wasn't me he
so much as it was any
body, any girl I mean. who's got
knees and isn't too ashamed to show
them. I'm going To-
"What?" George prompted her,
but Joanna bit her lips and wouldn't
finish her sentence.
{ y TILL, fight with herself as
y much as she might, nothing
- seemed to matter so much
as John. She had intended to spend
the rest of the night packing her
new things and her old, for she had
no idea of sleep. There'd lie lots Of
time for sleep when she was
thoroughly convinced she wasn't
asleep and dreaming anyway. She
had wanted just to pack and talk
to George through the night and
shape vague things that she planned
to do for her into a definite pro-
gram.
This last idea George dismissed at
once with a practical, "Wait until
you know where you're at. I'll
take my fun reporting about you to
old Good Morning. I always did
want to land that bird. Now that
you're gone maybe I'll get a
chance" Joanna agreed that this
wouldn't be a bad idea, and
George concluded: "Then when I've
got him watch me double-cross him!
That is, maybe 1 will and maybe I
won't. Who knows? He's not such
a bad bird at thatv'
Joanna was not in the mood to
discuss Mr.. Good Morning or, even,
Kenilworth, who had ordered her
to call him "Roddy" without further
ado; or Yvonne, whose career from
Cairo to London and America was
as well known to George as any
other avid reader Of the Sunday