The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-06-22
D4ace or 6fYa.

opened IL, Du~ ne cid not rSau, he
leaned back and watched her as she
wrote.
Out In the kitchen there were
sounds of merry making. Laughter
and singing and then more laughter,
The crash Of a dish as 1t broke on
the floor. A girls shril 9
Then the piano In the next. room
was attacked by some m who
played "Chopsticks."
After that a mans voice, Sam
Jessup's began to sing In a senti-
mental tenor voice;
Moonlight and roses
Bring wonderful mesn'ries Of yeu-"
Mary Rose raised her lovely,
flushed face and laughed in spite
of herself. He's probably singing
that straight at F7ossie. and Flossie's
probably flirting her wickedest with
one of the other '~cake-eaters' In the
crowd"' she said. Poor old Sami''
Tom eyed her seriously, They
aren't calling young men cake
eaters In F1oss4e's crowd this year
he answered .Bun!busters' Is
newer, I believe. Really, Mary
Hose, you must keep brushed up In
your slang, if you're going to be A
credit to Flossie>,,9
They both laughed and Mary Rose
bent her head once more,
There was silence in the little
room, except for a piece OF wood
eruanbHng to ash in the CRATE, and
the ticking Of the clock on the
marble m~antelpiece.
Mary Rose finished her letter and
gave It TO Tom to mail fer her en-
his way home. She picked UP a
magazine and sat down opposite
him to read H..
The next thing she knew, Tom
was shaking her, and his Voice was
saying close to her ear; wake up
Mary Rose They're going It's l
She reused herself. There was a
sharp pain in her neck as she tried
to straighten her head, "Oo-oohi I
must have been asleep" she said
thiokly, stretching herself.
Tom opened the door and they
went out into the hall, A draught
Of cold, clean night air was sweep
ing through the house, and in the
open doorway stood Fl0ssie calling
goodnight to her departing guests.
Don fall out tn oil Wheesy, dar-
lin's!'' she shrieked.
At the sound OF her voice, Mary
Rose looked in alarm at Tom.
What's the matter with her?' she
asked sharply, for F1ossie's voice
was not like F1ossie's voice at all,
Its silvery notes were not in 1t, and
a high rasping sound had taken
their place,
She turned and came into the hall.
forgetting to close the door behind
her, And as she came she teetered
crafty on her high heels.
How ia DOE" she asked, saluting
the pair who stood watching her.
"Wunderful weather we're having
thish morning isn't it7'
Mary Rose closed her eyes for a
second and drew a long breath.
"Flossie Middleton. you're-you've
been drinking! 81 she said.
Flossie threw back her head. al
most losing her balance. Jaw, don't
be SO upstage, Act your origin.
girl.'>she answered oheerfully. II
suppose they don't drink at your
pink tea parties, do they?"
She swayed, and with no more
warning than that, pitched headlong
on the floor and lay there
Mary Rose felt as If every tight
drawn herve In her body snapped
suddenly, She leaned against the
wall and slid down slowly until she
was sitting on the floor, Her eyes,
dry and wide open watched Tom as
he stopped and picked up F1ossle's
Imp little body from the rug,
They watched him as he carried it
up the stairs, And when he came
DOWN she was still sitting there, her
arms Imply at her sides, her whole
body relaxed In a kind Of surrender.
Tom closed the front door, and
then came and stood before her,
You'll have to pull yourself to.
gether and put her to bed. Mary
Rose" he said. Il just dumped her
en- top of her bed"
He picked up his hat and coat
from the hall settee. took out his
pipe. filed 1t and lighted It. Still
Mary Rose didn't move,
WsTom. I Just can't go up there
she said, staring straight In front
Of her. ITO think that a sister of
mine would drink! r. Just seems to
me I cant touch her"
But presently she got up. went up.
stairs. and put the unconscious Flos-
sic to bed as II she had been a baby.
In he morning Flossie Weakened
fresh and bright, Her youth decked
her like a garment and her eyes
were as bright and her cheeks as
rosy as is she had slept for twelve
hours.
Some party last night, Ell wot?"
she asked cheerfully, as she sat in
in bed. II loved the way you and
Tom shut yourselves UP In the back
parlor as If you were too grand to
have anything to do with us!"
Mary Rose finished brushing her
short, wavy hair before the answered
Then she looked at F1ossie with her
deep blue eyes flushing.
IF we'd known you had liquor
out in the kitchen, we wouldn't have
shut ourselves up, away from YOU
she said. IF I'd known you had
drinks In Mothers house, I'd have
poured, them down the sinke'
Carrie Nation." exclaimed Flossie
And how about a little coffee, this
morning? Have YOU put it on? Or