The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-25

There was a sound at the door
which was opened by the old butler
Eggleston entered the room. Bran
don made no sign. He glanced from
the girl to the banker, and Their
watched them both.
m GGLESTON halted abruptly
r when he saw Joanna, and
- that she was lost in contem
He looked at Brandon, a mute in
quiry in his eyes. Brandon shook
his head. Eggleston Stood quietly
his head lowered a bit so that his
study Of the girl at the fireplace
whose back was partly turned tc
him, had the effect Of an inner as
we'll as outward scrutiny.
Suddenly, as if she were startled
Joanna wheeled and met the bank
er's stare. A hand futtered ner-
vously to her breast. For brief
moment she trembled, as If fright
ened. II knew-that you were
watching me!' she breathed.
Brandon dropped his book.
1.-THE atmosphere is charged" he
remarked, dryly. II am confronted
with moods. Miss Manners refuses
to smoke, despite the fact that on
our way here she stopped to buy a
charmingly expensive holder orna-
mented with emeralds She found
| the room too forbiddlng. Now my
uncle is mysteriously detached" TIC
Eggleston he continued: Il hope
your luncheon is not to be a heavy
affair."
Joanna was confused. She wanted
to refute that accusation that it was
the house of her host that oppressed
her.
Eggleston rescued her with a stiff,
formal greeting that ignored Bran
don's illusions.
Joanna made a valiant effort to
throw off the shyness that constant
ly threatened her in the presence of
the great banker who knew the
secret of her mystery. She knew,
instinctively, that she had not been
asked to visit him, at his home, with
out some very definite reason. But
whatever this reason might be, she
was convinced that it, also, would
be kept from her. Eggleston's
phrases were formal cold; yet, now
and then, she was sure she detected
something in his manner-that was
quite all that she could determine
about it, that it was, simply, some
thing AS yet the mind of Miss
Twenty-Seven had not become ex-
pertly analytical.
Il understand" the banker said,
when they had taken their place at
the table in massive dining room
"a room as sombre as the library
which throned the girl Of the paint
ing-"that you were definitely
launched last night, and that you
were quite a success. That is what
my nephew, here, has given me to
understand"
1T was glorious!" Joanna agreed.
Miss Coutant is very good to me"
You have not, then, formed any
substantial ambitions. You are the
!
in you1 immediate future"
Joanna looked up, quickly II
should be willing to follow any in
stru ton you give me-" she said.
quietI., IF you give me none,
can do nothing else but enjoy my
self according to my own inclina-
lions. L have always wanted little
! HDf ho No
that 1 may have the big ones that
are better, shall simply have them
that's all I can do. it seems"
"As your banker" Eggleston re-
turned, II am wondering if, since
that is your inclination, some of
your securities should not be
turned into cash. Already you have
expended some $4,000. That is
within a few days. If you con-
tirlue at that rate you will need
actual money. You must give me
my instructions.
GAMMA saw that Brandon
was watching her furtively.
L. She felt the need of a de-
Tense, but, instead, plunged into an
offensive
II am going to spend a great deal
of money" she said. There are so
many things to buy and money
doesn't seem to count for much in
Miss Countant's world" She was
silent a moment, then asked sud
denly:
How far does a million dollars
60 Mr.. Eggleston?"
mot very far he replied, when
entrusted to the three companions
Vanity, Extravaganza and Desire
They, 1 believe are the chief ad
visers of the young women of this
day."
Are they?" Joanna asked, earn
estly. Il have always found that
my chief friends were Misunder.
standing, Distrust and Envy"
A great modern banker, a despot
whose whim echoed as thunder
through the marts of finance, and
modern, younger man, whose
pastime was the battling of fem
mime artifce, looked across their
table into the fresh, young, modern
face of girl who was just blossom