The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-10-14


y there on the stairs, she was
afraid.
The empty house seemed to be
filled with strange sounds and rust
hngs. The pantry door creaked. &.
And was something or somebody
moving in the dark dining-room?
With her heart in her mouth, Clio
ria dashed back upstairs to her
room. She slammed and bolted the
door behind her.
The lights in her room were blaz-
ing. Without stopping to turn them
off, she plunged into bed and pulled
the covers up over her head like a
frightened child.
She lay trembling for long min
utes, listening for the sound Of
Dicks key in the lock Where
in the world was he at this hour of
the night? Why didn't he come
home? He had no right to leave his
wife alone in the house half the
night while he was out, doing. :.
what? That was the question!
Surely he and Miss Briggs weren't
still working in Dicks office? Where
were they? Together, somewhere?
The questions swarmed like
bees in Glorias brain. She forgot
her fear. Anger toward Dick took
it's place.
She swung her feet over the side
of the bed and stepped out onto the
rug. Then she put her head out Of
one of the open windows and looked
up and down the street. But 1T lay
empty and still under the hushed
calm Of midnight.
AS Gloria stood there, she heard a
sound in the house, itself! 1t came
from downstairs the harsh
tinlkle of metal against metal. Some
one was at the silver in the side
board drawers! Burglars!
Gloria pressed one hand tight to
her breast. She felt as If her heart
were jumping out of her body
1t beat so fast! She tiptoed across
the room to the door that led into
the hall. She put her ear against 1t
and listened for long time. But
there was no further sound.
Gloria began to wonder if she real
1y had heard a noise, downstairs or
not? Perhaps her tired brain had
been playing her tricks.
Well, as soon as Dick came she
would find out if anyone had been
in the house? She wouldn't be
afraid to go downstairs to the dining
room then. But why didn't he
come?
III LORIA got back into bed, and
ii lay waiting for him. Oh, but
wouldn't she pan him when
he did get home, though! The very
ideal Leaving her alone as If she
were Lola 'Hough, or any other fad
ed, middlezaged wife
She'd let him know she wasn't go
ing to be treated like this. (.
She'd leave him first! That's what
she'd do. She had done it once, and
she'd do it again! .
The next thing Gloria knew it was
morning. Her room was filled with
the warmth and sunshine of early
June. Through the open windows
came the sound of a neighbours lawn
mower and the sweet smell Of fresh
cut grass.
Gloria smiled and stretched her
self like a tiger-ktten. Then she re-
membered last night. She frowned.
Softly she went out into the hall
and listened at Dicks door, No
sound within! She opened the door
and peeked into the room.
The bed had been slept in. Dicks
pajamas lay on the rug beside 1t,
where he had stepped out of them.
There were ashes in the tray on the
bedside table. He had been home
part of the night at least. And
he had gone that morning without
even saying goodby!
Gloria closed the door Of his room.
'I'11 be jiggered If make his bed
or clean up the placer she said to
herself. HE can't treat me like a
servant and expect I'll be one for
him! Because I won'tv'
While she was waiting for her tub
to fill, she went downstairs to the
dining room. The drawers of the