The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-27


Iamong her letters she carefully
went through a set ritual.
She would put it aside until her
4 maids were finished with her, or
until she could dismiss whoever was
near at the moment. Then she would
close her eyes and sit, very still. Her
mind would leap backward and out
Of her memories summon a process
sion of things that had happened.
She was very careful in her
marshaling of this parade. She
omitted nothing. In every letter she
received with that mark of the bank
on the outside she feared there
might be the wiping away of all the
mystery of her money, or perhaps,
it's explanation. She knew, although
Eggleston had not encouraged her
in this belief. that the explanation
would come, someday. And, always,
she wanted to be prepared for it.
Brandon, still sinister shadow
who had ever been in the back
ground; had toyed with her in New
York, had smiled ironically when
ever she repulsed him, and gradual
ly, had wrapped some sort of a net
about her which almost strangled
her. Kenilworth had been devoted
to her, sentimental, brooding, some
times earnest and sometimes pas
sionately bitter, but Brandon had
never lost his head. Kenilworth had
said, that first night in New York,
that he was going to play for her. ="
She had accepted the challenge. He
had ceased playing and was frankly
struggling to break through her bat
Elements.
But Brandon controlled her. This
she must always admit in the end.
once or twice, she would remember,
they had a conflict. She had drawn
upon every item in her store of arti-
flee and had gambled her lure
against his mastery, and, each time,
she had almost been the victor. Both
times she had brought things into
his eyes that were revealing, and
too dangerous for her to fight against.
His obscure but seemingly malicious
power dominated her again, because
she would not risk tempting him.
When she had measured herself
through the passing Of the year and
weighed the meaning Of each step
and its influence upon her, she
would open her letter and read it.
AS usual, what she feared, was not
in the one that Marie had handed
her, while Teddy Dorminster waited
some place out on the grounds. 1t
Included, however, paragraph
which she read over and over again.
All these letters from the bank
were dictated by Eggleston himself.
He was always the same, cold, pre-
else, formal. Invariably he began:
Dear Miss Manners" She read:
II enclose herewith statement of
your account as of this date, sepa-
rated, according to your instructions,
into two divisions. Perhaps you
will check the longer one, which in
cludes items paid by your order.
have carefully checked the expen-
ditures listed on the second state
ment and find them correct.
you will notice that with these
statements your account would be
seriously depleted, but ] am to in.
form you that your benefactor has
notified me that substantial fur
Their deposit will be made to your
credit. You may assume, therefore,
that any requirements you may
have will be met promptly. 1 re-
main
Yours very truly,
"a MID EUI rTc,TvrNNY
| 80
EVA HEN she understood the
IIWI meaning of that last para
- graph, that she needed more
money and it was being given hel
by the same unknown, and in the
same unexplained way, Joanna
hastily glanced at the shorter Of the
two statements. She did not exam
Inc the listed items, but only the
total Then she crumpled this por
ton Of her accounting into a wad
and called Marie. Bring me a can
die, lighted please" she commanded
While Marie held the tiny flame
before her Joanna held the crumpled
wad Of paper over 1t until her fin.
gers were scorched, then dropped IT
into the candle stick. She watched
until the paper ball had burned. Be.
fore she would let Marie take the
ashes away she stirred them into
powder with her finger, as If she
would run no risk of prying eyes
seeking out a secret from the cinder
paper.
The other accounting sheet, which
bore long list Of bills paid for her
| by the bank, she tossed into draw
err. Then, with her riding crop
slapping smartly along her leg, she
went out.
Villa Annette had long been one
Of the show places Of the Riviera,
one of those splendid miniature pal
aces which nestle in the semi-trop-
ical foliage of the base Of Cape Mar
tin, low, rambling house of bal
comics, trellissed windows, and wide,
stately verandas. It's broad acres
hill in serted terraces that lost them
selves in groves of olive, orange and
mimosa Below was the dense blue
Mediterranean Gardens of pink
blossoms, and squares of red and
white roses overhung the sea and
| bordered the paths that wound
through pergolas heavy with frag-
rant clematis. Only the very rich,
and Of these only those whose
whims were for splendor, ever had
braved the cost of a seasons rent
for the Villa Annette
Yvonne once before had tenanted
/ Puzzle aDay