The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-09-28
CHAPTER XXXIV

tn OOTFALLS on the stairs
r Ranghild to tell her that din
IL ner was ready - brought
Gloria sharply to her feet.
will you fix a tray for Mr.. Greg
DRY and bring it up to him?' she
asked calmly, although she was sure
Ranghild had seen her eavesdrop-
ping at Dicks door. And there
may be a guest for supper, too Wait
a minute ami I'll let you know. . -
She opened the door Of Dick
room and went in.
Miss Briggs had stopped talking.
And she and Dick fixed their eyes
on Gloria. She remembered the old
verse that runs:
"Two's company,
"Three's a crowd"
But she smiled at Miss Briggs
and asked how Dick had behaved
himself all afternoon.
'W onderfully we'll" Miss Briggs
answered. He slept for more than
an hour"
'She read me to sleep" said Dick
'She has a voice that's as soothing
as rain on a roof"
Miss Briggs blushed with pleas
ure.
ooh, dear" thought Gloria, 81
wonder if Dick knows how the poor
thing adores him."
Aloud she said Our dinners
ready, Miss Briggs. Win you come
downstairs and eat with me?"
Gloria saw thai Miss Briggs was
going to refuse to stay. Before she
could, Gloria went on.
And then, perhaps, you'll read
Dick to sleep again afterward?" she
asked HE has a hard time getting
to sleep lately. And Mrs. O'Hara
wants to stop giving him sleeping
powders"
Very well, I'll stay" Miss Briggs
agreed stiffly.
But she turned on Dick a look of
exaltaton, as if she were telling
him there was nothing she wouldn't
do for him. .. even to eating a meal
with his silly little wife!
80 LORIA caught the look as she
Ii went out into the hall to tell
Ranghild to use the best nap
llins and to put on the salad forks
Then she and Miss Briggs went
downstairs.
where can I put these?" Dicks
secretary asked as they went into
the dining room. She held up
tight package Of bills and letters,
rolled together by rubber band.
Gloria took them from her and
laid them on the s1deboard.
Dick says you pay all my bills
for HIM I'm afraid you think I'm
awfully extravagant," she said
amiably-
Miss Briggs smiled her secret,
tight-lipped smile.
Its not part Of my job to think
about the bills 1 pay" she said
primly. I'm just a bookkeeper."
II see," Gloria answer ed by
the way, I'm getting a little sur
prise ready for Dick. :. All winter
long he's been planning a rose
garden and vegetable garden for the
back yard OF course, he's too sick
to attend to it, and 1 thought I'd
go ahead with it myself"
She stopped and looked down at
her plate thoughtfully. Then she
raised her eyes candidly to Miss
Briggs.
IF l do it I've got to have some
money" she said. "It costs a small
fortune for top-soil and rose bushes
Now, what I want to know Is
ey without telling Dick about it.
You see I want to surprise him by
having the garden all started by the
time he's we'll"
Miss Briggs hesitated- Her blue
eyes were troubled.
I've never drawn any Of Mr..
Gresory's money out Of the bank
without asking him first" she said.
"How much money would you
want?"
1.-TWO hundred dollars" Gloria said
promptly. IT want to have a trellis
made for the side of the garage, too
49,. There's no reason why you
shouldn't let me have the money,
Miss Briggs. Dick would be spend
ing it on the yard himself If he Were
up and around. I'm just going to
do it for him"
Miss Briggs frightened.
That's true" she said. "Shall
send you a check for the money, or
do you want it in cash?"
Cash" Gloria replied.
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