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

| occasional drink out Ol lIlcll
partners TASKS. Good Lord In his
day! He and Noah were so busy ad-
vertising a flood in their young days
they couldn't appreciate having to
take nip of something else besides
water just to keep up appearances!
And John couldn't understand that
neither she nor any girl she knew
really liked the beastly stuff; nor
cigarets. Simply had to go in for
both or else go into dead storage. 4
IN Ohm was wrong, then. To-
night, his insane suspicion Of
0 the money that had been
given her for a reason she couldn' t
fathom. simply proved how wrong
he hau always been about her. And
he wasn't coming back, as she was
sure that he would when he slammed
the front door. Always, their quar-
rels had ended in kiss and few
minutes of wonderful silence very
close to each other. Tomorrow, of
course, she could go to him and
straighten out his mind, easily. She
could even take him to Mr.. Gray
don, or to Eggleston, himself. Then
John would be contrite, they would
have their silence together, and make
their plans.
That was what she could do. But
this had been a deep hurt. Being
so utterly unjust, the bitterness of
ha i've
by Joanna's admission to herself that
other times she hadn't had near so
much right to fight back. He'd come
to her, now, would John. Come with
out calling, and say I'm sorryr
When she had definitely sealed this
bitter verdict in her rebellious mind,
Joanna was conscious of Mrs. Adams,
sitting on the sofa in a corner Of
the room. She had come inquietly
and had not disturbed the reflections
of the girl on the floor. Joanna
smiled up at her, wanly:
Funny, isn't it?" she said. Every
body thinks! 1t seems nobody can
believes anything, these days, that's
good to believe. About girls, mean.
First, the chauffeur. He was earn
est, too, because he thought he had
a perfectly ripe date with me, and
deliberately grabbed it. Then Cohen,
who as much as told me that furs
for maids were symbols of darkness.
Now John! Funny, isn't it?"
The landlady, whose kindly old
face was mirror of all her mental
transformations. nodded her head.
Yes, 10, it's funny, but maybe its
not so funny, either. Sometimes
don't sleep nights thinking about
you girls, you and George and the
others I've got and had. I'd try
to be mother to all of you, If you'd
let me, but you never will. Georgia
told me day before yesterday, or
maybe, it was the day before, that
mothers were too old-fashioned for
up-to-date girls to be bothered with.
She said that mothers who were any
good were like flannel underwear.
Wore well, 1 think she said, but
didn't have class"
Eyes, that's like George" Joanna
eI6IS ON' liOlil pace OIl the IlOOr.
but I don't think she's really in
bad. She's is with a crowd that
travels pretty fast, and she hasn't
got enough sense to know when
she's skidding. But you don't al
ways have a smash when you skid,
you know"
RI RS. ADAMS knew only
I|IN vaguely what Joanna was
Ill trying to say. She'd given
up, long ago, her struggles against
the language of her young lady
roomers. Are you really sure, Jo?"
she asked, her words coming slowly,
that you haven't had what you call
a smash? All that money you had
in your pocketbook, and you say
there's more besides. You know"
Before the steady gaze of the girl
on the floor, the landlady faltered.
The eyes that stared at her made
her uncomfortable-un with her
doubts. You see, Jo," she argued,
plaintive in her self justification,
the things a girl like you talks
about, ard knows about, and the
places you go! George wears her
clothes too tight and she says that's
what girls are supposed to do nova
days. And you wear dresses that
you ought to never cross your
knees in-you oughtn't to sit down
at all; it's worried me a lot. And
you smoke, Jo and I've heard you
swear, too. That's why John was
ready to believe. E. ;"
you mean that's why you believe,
too?'
II won't believe. If you tell me it
isn't so, 10. I'll just believe in you
and I'll take back the money you
gave me-" Suddenly the landlady
was confused. I'm sorry, 10, but 1
put the five hundred dollars, and
nobody knows what a god-send it
would be to me, in the pocket of
your old wrap. The coats on your
he'd, now. If you say it came to you
all right. like you say before, I'll
take it, dear, and bless you for it.
Joanna scrambled onto her feet,
Strengthened her frock, brought a
strap that had fallen back, onto her
shoulder and, without a word, ran
up the stairs to her room. When she
reappeared she held the bill. She
put it into Mrs. Adams hand and
folded the worn fingers about it.
Neither she nor the landlady spoke.
Mrs. Adams pulled the bobbed head