The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-04-21


plucked?"
was always making
I'LL illusions that she uidn't un
IL derstand. But he thought her
clever and a wide reader, so she as
sumed an air of wisdom. Many ar
evening coming from work she got
off at Thirtieth ST., sauntering into
the library. She pored over the
encyclopedias; asked the tall fairish
girl at the desk questions: gathered
happy bits Of Information that she
laced about her conversation with
airy nonchalance. Tomorrow she
would find out about Casanova
maybe ask Janina or Martha Blake
or the good old reliable books.
Tonight she said with a knowing
shrug, Casanova was a wise old
owl, wasn't he?" Then with an ach.
ing sigh, It's terrible to believe that
Jake or men do things like that
Like WHAT"
You know, l don't see how they
manage to look so tickled to death
With life and be so swaggery if they
lave all those dark. awful things
'ehind them. DO you?"
Chickie's eyes sought Barrv's
1agerly, wishing him to agree-wish.
ng him to stand forth far apart
about those other men. do you
see that, Barry?"
Well, that's the way a blessed
lamozel looks at things"
You. too, don't your"
He hunched his shoulders. grin.
ming, his forehead redder than his
hair. "Oh, sure Ever since the
fair one came upon the scene. any.
way"
Meaning me?"
Meaning you"
She laughed, glad as though song
ushed goldenly all through her
thoughts.
When he kissed her that night,
his arm about her shoulder, he
touched her hair, laughing. An.
Chickie, you're so sweet"
Her heart was his. She answered:
Barry, l love you so-oh. So"
T7OT until the door closed after
IN him and she was in the
- kitchen. Wilde coming with
A slow, luxurious yawn from his
corner near the stove. did she think
Of Jake. Nothing had been settled.
They had lost count of him i'm the
delicious sweetness OF their own
warm emotions. Now she thought
Of him distantly as though he were
I long way from her.
He phoned the next morning:
What night is a good night for the
theater. Chickie?"
II haven't a single night this
week"
That's all right--you've got
seven next week"
But l haven't-really-"
And there came humming over the
wires rich, soft laugh: Il see the
way the wind blows. Chickie. my
dear. Well have to try a new tack
Till then, au revoir!"
A thrill OF apprehension caught
her. Jake was not dismissed, jon
ath1n was rugged and domineering;
straight as a grand redwood again.
A broker had come from the Star
Oil Refinery and bought up his
stock. He had the $1,S75 in his
hands again.
And that's a great. fine man,
that Mr.. Munson." he said. shak-
ing his head 70 Chickie. There's a
prince for you!"
Tuesday when Chickie reached
home, she found the table in the
dining room laid with Jennie's wed.
ding silver; masses Of Jennie's vio-
let's in the center. She called out:
Hey! Whose birthday is this?"
Jennie in her gray silk dress. lace
at the cuffs, though lace was now
quite out Of date, opened the door
and came pattering over to Chickie.
Her face and her shy gentle eyes
beamed with lighted pleasure.
A surprise for you Chickie"
she whispered like child in her de-
light. Jennie took down the best
dishes from the little built.in-china
cabinet. moving with extraordinary
care and precision-careful Of the
lace and the gray silk.
Voices and chuckles; Jonathan s
resonant laugh rang out from the
kitchen. Chickie pushed the door,
motionless with establishment.
There sat Jonathan, odorous with
moth balls-togRed out in his Prince
Albert. There, opposite him at the
small table. the two of them like
old cronies. swapping tips on oil
and other stock, sat Jake.
He rose, triumph flashing on his
dark, handsome face. He took
Chickie's hand, pressing it between
both his own. laughing down at her.
saying with a boys ar6or, "Chickie,
NY dear, ware off to the theater-
the whole family Of us"
CHAPTER XXXV
At the Theater
A la