The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-07-16
CHAPTER xxx
The Showdown

Lamarck raised his brows. They
were shiny and penciled-very black
against the satiny olive skin. The
gesture and the smile were a smooth
dismissal of all unpleasant thin gs.
Know Of you, my dear Miss Bryce
just what, for example? That you
are an exceedingly sweet young lady,
though somewhat peppery-"
II want to know, Mr.. Lamarck,
if Edith Potter told your" Asking
this, Chickie's face stained crimson.
She was suddenly bewildered and
ashamed. Her eyes lowered swiftly,
but not before they had seen a salts
fled CLEAN in his
What tale now Is Edith recount
ing? Or what greatness Is yours
that I should hear of it?"
| She turned from him with a dis
heartened weariness-ccnvinced now.
He followed, leaning over her Shout
der. why speak of it, Miss Bryce?
1 assure you 1 am by no means
American in that particular. A lit
| tie past, more or less
Again his brows raised. The look
and the tone went through her with
whitening anguish. She could
have sobbed. She could have COW
cred her face, for it was as though
she stood barred and defenseless. And
there was something brutal about it
that Luis Lamarck should see her
SO.
DO you suppose It makes any diff
ference to me, Miss Bryce? DO yon
count me another Lee Whitman?
Why-what are a few yesterdays in
the life Of pretty girl?"
Talking freely like that of this
thing that had broken her to the
soul; that had been the innernost Of
her heart made her feel stripped and
profaned. She said patheticaHy:
why should 1 have to speak of 1t
to you?"
You don't! Did mention It? Did
bring it up"
1T was In your thoughts. 1t is
In them now. Because of 1t you pre-
sumo to insist that I must accept
your attentions. You are wasting
your timer
why, my little dear-you do me
a great wrong. I only want. you to
know that 1t makes no difference in
my regard I think we can arrange
to be the very best Of friends"
She went over to the cabinet in
the corner where she kept her hat.
She made no answer for she felt
as one whose hands are tied and
whoever would might come up and
strike her in the face. 1t seemed so
then.
| When he saw her putting on her
hat he smiled serenely: You know
you don't need to be alone here. We
are not all like young Whitman.
Don't let that weigh on you. Do
we understand each other now, Miss
Bryce?"
She adjusted her hat, a rawness
and heat spreading to her throat.
She forced herself to meet his
glance, measured him steadily: Eyes
Mr.. Lamarck! We dov'
He gave her slow, beaming
smile. IF I'm not here when you re-
| turn"
I'm finished for the day!'
What! At 8 o'clock? Mon dieu!
led you into lady's Job, didn't II"
She walked uncertainty to the
door, her head very high, her hands
fupbling with the knob. She didn't
bid him goodby.
Lamarck's eyes followed with Gym
ical amusement. He raised the lapel
of his coat and shifted the tiny rose.
| Chickie walked down Spring
street, needless Of the warm crowds.
the strident machines. 1t seemed
to her that she hurried through an
abyss. 1t was walled on either side
with men. Half of them turned from
her because Of a thing she had done;
the other half pursued because she
was to them legitimate victim. She
had given proof Of weakness once.
She would give it again. Since honey
is to be spilled, why not be the one
to gather It?
| Pitiless attitude, and common
enough-the vulture circling while a
thing lies dying. Shut away the air,
be the one to pounce-what If its
own wings soil with blood?
Ho-Luis Lamarck knew! But
that was all right--sweet little girl
he wouldn't mind.