The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-15

for the company, he went in his
decrepit ''Wheezer" or on foot. But
| she let Dexter tell his lie. Anything
| to save F'lossie from being dragged
respondent!
And very often young Jessur
takes Miss F'1ossie along with him.
I've no doubt" Mrs. Dexter's spouse
continued. AT any rate, she must
have been with him yesterday after
noon when I sent him up to the
| Rubberoid factory. And she must
have left her little hanky and vanity
case or whatever you call it in my
car. Darned embarrassing for me.
| toor' He laughed and whistled
through his teeth briefly.
| His wife looked up at him. Hillary
Halliday Dexter! Are you telling me
the truth?" she asked, and without
any warning at all, she suddenly
burst into tears. Her imposing head
went down into-her ringed hands and
she cried and cried and cried.
Mr.. Dexter stood over her, patting
her velvet clad shoulders and sooth-
ing her as if she were child.
Nov, now, girl! Don't be silly!'
he said to her. There! There! You
know I wouldn't let you leave me.
Don't you? But why did you tell
the children all this twaddle about
me? That's what makes me feel
blue" He got down on his knees.
'I'll-tell them 1 made mistake, 4"
sobbed Mrs. Dexter. her head against
her husbands coat. "Oh, Hilary
Hilary, I'm SO ashamed of myself
for letting myself doubt you'll But
lately I've thought you were growing
away from me. You seemed so cold
You've never been out with any girl,
have you? Tell me the truth,
Hilaryr
why, certainly not, Margeryw
Dexter told his lie unf1inchingly.
you know I haven't. Don't talk
such nonsense. Brace upr'
Mrs. Dexter braced up. She wiped
her eyes, and went on talking to
her husband as if the two of them
were atone in the room. She seemed
to have forgotten Mary Roses
presence there, completely.
You know how silly I am about
you, Hilary" she said to him, be-
tween sobbing breaths. "I've always
| hnnn Oh hax
Ever since we got married so many
years ago. I never could see any
body but you, and it just about
killed me to think you didn't care
for me any more-and that you were
running around with every rag-tag
| and bob-tail-'
She stopped and a puzzled frown
darkened her face.
81 just wonder, though, what Miss
MacF'arlane meant when she said
she thought I'd be asking her about
F'lossie Middleton some day she
said, one finger at the corner Of her
pursed lips.
"Aa-aah! She didn't mean any
thing" Dexter's tone was con-
temptuous of Miss MacFarlane.
She's just mean, bitter old maid.
And she thought she'd get even with
F'lossie-er, Miss Middleton, by say
I ing that to you. She had a row
with a girl while ago, and quit her
job. She was a terrible trouble
maker, wasn't she, when she was
here?"
He turned to Mary Rose to back
him up But Mary Rose was sick
with disgust for Mr.. Dexter and for
his lies. I'm suA don't know, Mr..
Dexter" she answered coldly and
stood May 1 go noW?"
He nodded. ''Yes, and better take
those things to your sister. She may
need them"
Mary Rose picked up the handker-
chief and the vanity case, and turned
to go. But Mrs. Dexter stopped her
with her hand laid on her arm.
Il beg your pardon, Miss Middle
ton" she said, her eyes swimming
and her cheeks scarlet. "But-you
know, we wives at home sometimes
sometimes wonder about you girls
who work with our husbands all
day long"
She laughed, as if she were EN-.
barrassed, and then spoke again
You see, you're so young and at
tractive-most of you. And we
wonder whether you're sirens Or
Mary Rose shook her head. 81
think that most of us are girls very
like your own daughters, if you'll
pardon me for being so frank, Mrs
Dexter she said bluntly. Most OF
us expect to marry some day-some