The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-01-28
The Love Dodger
Continued From Page l4)
'aused at the entrance to the dining

paused at the entrance to the dining
room.
There was no sign Of the lady of
the house. Barbara's fa4ntness was
Increasing.
She plucked up courage and went
into the dining room. From the
kitchen beyond, there were sounds
Of some one moving about She
pushed open the swinging door and
looked in.
Mrs .Crumpett looked up from an
ironing board set on two chairs by
the stove. She scowled at Barbara.
Then she spat on a finger, touched
it to the iron and went on sweeping
the Iron across the hard with vic
ious force.
Barbara went in. 1--WE come to
ask If you can give me cup Of
Coffee" she said. Her tone was
meek, in spite OF herself. IL don't
think there is any kind of restau-
rant here, and am threatened with
a rather bad headache"
Mrs. Crumpett gave her an I'M
friendly glance "I don't serve
meals" she snapped.
Barbara's head swan. She CROPPED
for a chair and sat down heavily.
The woman at the ironing board
alooked at her curiously, but went
on with her work silently.
Il know you DON'T" said Barbara,
but l thought you might be willing
to make me a cup of coffee. It's
really rather urgent that get some
quickly. Nothing else will ward off
this headache"
Mrs. Crumpett spat on her finger
again and the iron Kissed. We'll"
she said, I'm dreadful busy. This
is ironing day and 1 can't stop
minute. You can try the little lunch
counter at the bus stop. They'll have
coffee"
Barbara rose and tottered from
the kitchen.
The sounds upstairs had ceased.
Barbara went into her room and put
on her hat and coat.
AS she started down the steps, the
sounds of splashing began again in
the bathroom. Mrs. Crumpett was
just coming out of the dining room.
wiping her hands on her apron.
THAT good-for-nothing Mrs. Biggs
has spilled the water again." she
whined. tits dripping down through
the kitchen ceiling. l told her not
to do any more laundry She made
a lunge for the steps and clambered
to the landing, as Barbara went out
the front door.
The street was more lively than it
had been the night before. Barbara
looked about with lanquid interest.
Her head was throbbing violently.
She passed the brick house with its
weedy lawn. and the bungaow that
was once the home OF Wilma Col
Inns. The washing had been taken
down, but the red-eyed poodle sat
on the step as though he hadn't
moved all night
Barbara turned and walked rapid
ly toward the bus station. A few
doors beyond it she found the lunch
counter that Mrs. Crumpett had
spoken Of 1t was merely a wooden
she'd, with a glass front and two or
three broken steps. A man with a
soiled white apron and a chefs cap
jauntily over one ear stopped wiping
on the counter with a dirty rag as
she entered. Hello. sister" he said.
Barbara did not respond to the
greeting. She took her place at
high stool by the counter and asked
for coffee. ''Nothin' else?" be in
quired sourly. She shook her head.
He brought her a cup OF porcelain
a half inch thick. The coffee was
spilled in the saucer. Barbara lifted
the cup to her lips and the coffee
dripped from the bottom OF 1t on her
coat. She set it down again. "TIave
you any napkins?" she asked the
man.
He shook his head. "Cut out the
taffy." he said. This amt the Wal
dorf- Astoria"
Barbara swallowed rev mouth
fuls OF the brew. 1t was not bad
coffee, but the edges of the cup were
greasy. She set it down half full
and paid the waiter.
He glanced at the cup. What's
the matter with the coffee?" he ex-
claimed belligerently.
Nothing" said Barbara. and hur-
ried to the door. Once outside, she
breathed more easily. Even the
small quantity of coffee had helped
the throbbing OF her head.
She was turning toward Mrs.