The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-08-13


'Indeed-did you hear that or
dream it, Nicky?"
Gosh, now, 1 haven't lost all my
gifts because Of taking a wife. Cos
sip and Nicky, you know!'
Chickie laughed hiding her sharp
uneasiness. You old fox, Nicky
with your tail cut Off Do you really
think you could wish the same
calamity on Jake2 'Tis to laugh
when one speaks Of Jake in whis
pers!
Nicky, rolled his head between his
shoulders. Look at myself. Shows
you never can tell. Glad to see you
looking so fine. I'll run along now.
May be up to see you again while
the wife visits"
He went wagging stoutly down
the hall. Chickie thought absently:
Il suppose people do a lot of talk
ing. 1 suppose they have much to
say"
Two or three days later she was
coming down the steps Of the hos
pital She was going home for din
ner. She met David. He was in a
hurry, but swept off his hat II
got those X-rays. Thought you'd be
interested. Coming back later?
I'll drive over and bring you back.
How's that?"
He gave her a quick smile. IT
went with a bright glow Of pleasure
into her mind. Her thoughts took
on a warmth so that when a voice
called out her name, she stopped as
though suddenly aroused. Her face
suffused with color.
1t was Nicky. His wife was just
getting into the car. She was a
dark, serious girl. about %. She
wore a brown suit, a brown hat and
a pair Of new white gloves. She
had a very conscientious air.
Nicky said in a soft drawl: $50
that's the way the Wind blows. Give
us the low down, Chickie. Is it our
friend Dave, you're smiling at?
Makes it nice for these doctors.
tried to get his eye but he was in
such a hurry he didn't see me fol-
a gnatl Notice he had time for
you! Eh?"
His wife frowned. She was irri.
table and obviously bored with her
mate. Don't mind him, Miss
Bryce" she apologized. "You may
think you're very witty, Nicholas.
Do you suppose Miss Bryce enjoys
this?"
Now, look here, Bertha, Chickie
and I were pals before you'd got one
smile from your friend husband
And if she's going to pick off my
friend Dave, I'm gonna be the first
to hear the news and the first tc
breeze it hither and yon!"
Yes. You are, are you? No
doubt by the time David is ready
for such affairs you'll have plenty
of time to learn"
Nicky shrugged: "Oh, these wives
Chickie--that's the way they hen
peck us-even tough old birds" He
waved the fat hand: But you'll
send me an underground, won't
your"
Nicky a cold, hostile look: "Dr
Ramm was speaking Of a patient
and giving me orders about it. You
suppose, Nicky, that I am thinking
of marriage?"
He answered bluffly, but the
color flying into his face: 90
used to say the same"'
She wondered at his crudeness
and riding home became burninglJ
alarmed. Nicky was chatty as ar
old woman. If he started such e
rumor it would fly everywhere
Their names would be coupled.
Then the whispered talk would
begin. . She viewed this pos
sibility. with sickening recoil.
How cheap the words Of others
can make a thing. How utterly
sordid!
And everyone would wonder what
David could be thinking of. Ruiz
his future-nnking it with hers
She saw herself coldly as these
others would and it suddenly ap
palled her that she had allowed G
friendship to grow-that she hat
so carelessly gone out with him
i. An oppression, like a load
of lead clamped about her neck,
She decided, as she walked
nervously up Thirtieth St: This Is
the end of it. I won't go out with
him. Not again.
But they had tickets for a. con
cert. He wouldn't accept any ex-
cuses. Finally she solaced hel
thoughts: Perhaps he knows
She could never completely make
up her mind on this point.
The concert was about half ovel
when she noticed, at an obliqut
angle three rows in front Of them
a girl with gold hair done high
above very white neck. She rec
ognized it even at half a glance anc
before she had seen the beautifully
sculptured head Of Barry Dunno.
A heat shot through Chickie':
veins. whirling like a flame abou
her face. She glanced at her pro
gram, trying to hide the scarlet O
her cheeks.
She remained in this attitude. A.
from another world. the music cam,
to her-then David's voice.
She had not seen Barry Dunno