The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-06-30
CHAPTER TX
Tie Dinner Party

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Potter talked of his wife. His
eyes dwelt on her. Beautiful with
excitement, she sat at the head Of
the table. Her dress was cut low
and of adeep garnet color. This
gave a warmth to her pale olive
skin. 1t heightened the passion in
her dark intense face.
Potter said to ChickieI Edith
looks magnificent tonight"
Yes"
Jimmy, the actor, was at Edith's
right. There was charm in the rich,
well sculptured face. But Chickie
was disappointed She had seen
Jimmy on the screen and been great
ly moved by the romantic fash of
him. The real man seemed quite
small edition of the noble fellow
striding with such gallant step
across the film.
Yet she strained her ears to hear
what he might say. And this, too,
chilled her. For Jimmy was not
completely master Of his tongue. He
had arrived in a jovial mood and
without his hat. This had been lost
in some inexplicable manner that
puzzled him. He wished to find it.
He invited in turn each of the guests
to aid him. He interrupted his owl
very graceful conversations with a
foolish: But where is my hat, my
darling! Come-let us find my hat. -
Edith ran her hand through his
hair: Never mind, Jimmy, dear
Well buy you a new hat"
With the air of prince he took
her hand and kissed it. Potter
laughed. He said to Chickie: Edith
can meet any situation. She makes
every one feel at ease"
He kept mumbling such COM
ments, insisting that Chickie agree.
But she was absorbed in the man
next her. He was blond and suave
with a large, handsome face. She
fancied him fortified grocery>clerk.
He was engaged in a stupid flirta-
ton with the wife Of another guest
and had now reached the stage of
sentimentally squeezing her hand
under the table.
Potter said: DO you think Edith
liked the emerald, Miss Bryce? Did
she speak of it afterward?"
He repeated this, touching Chick.
les arm and leaning down to her.
ooh. yesr she answered with a
hurried smile. I'm sure she was
delighted"
Potter's long, sallow face suffused
with pleasure. Chickie noted this
and at the same moment perceived
Edith watching her husband with q
triumphant hardness on her mouth.
She wondered.
The dinner was boring. At Tim.
my's end Of the table it had suddenly
become animated, but Chickie could
only catch snatches of his CONVEX
sation. For he spoke deliberately
in soft, throaty tones. She was glad
when Edith rose.
She came directly to her husband.
Her eyes shone. She patted his
hand: "Dirlxie, dear, 1 know you're
just aching for a game of billiards.
Nell wants to play with you. I've
arranged a match. Miss Bryce
won't mind, will you? It's awfully
fascinating to watch good player
And Dirkie is that"
Potter redeemed like a boy. He
said warmly: Edie, dear! Are you
going to sing tonight"
mo Jimmy wants to see those
pictures. He's interested. And he
has to leave early"
Jimmy, surrounded by the four
other women guests, held court with
a winning and royal condescension.
Edith nodded. He sauntered leisure
ly to her side. 1--WE looked for you
Tuesday night, Dirk. Too bad you
couldn't make it."
AS Edith advanced, he came to
meet her. The two of them were
Of an equal height. They crossed
the room. Chickie had a sense Of
rhythm.
Potter felt this, too. for he said,
musing: "She walks like a queen,
doesn't she? Edith could make a
name in the films" He waited till
they passed into the hall. ther
shrugged: II suppose Nell is wait
ing"
The billiard room was in the ex
treme end Of the south wing. Mel
was the blonde flirt. His partner OF
the dinner table accompanied him
She was little and dark, reminding
Chickie Of a rabbit. Yet there was
in her pinched face a complacent
smugness; that pugnacious self es