The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-06-12
CHAPTER VIII

Mary Roses heart was in her
But there was good news in Toms
face
She's better" he said. "And l
think we can start home now. It's
stopped raining, and / can roll F'los-
sic up in one of the robes and put
her in the front seat with me.
There's room for you and Alice in
the rumble. It's not very comfor-
table, but l guess you won't mind,
this once"
The two girls followed him down
the hall to the little dining room.
Flossie had her hat and coat on, and
she was sitting up in the big wicker
chair. Her face was as white as
chalk, and her eyes were closed.
Without opening Them she began
to talk.
I'm not going home with you peo-
pie" she said shakily: II came out
here with Hilary Dexter. and I'm
going home in his car or I'm not
going home at all. D'you hear?"
Her lips Strengthened into a stub
born line.
Don't be a little fool, Floss?'
Alice James piped up, shrilly.
Flossie paid no attention to her.
And if Tom Fitzroy thinks he can
tell me what to do, and what not
to do, he has another think coming"
she went on. II am not going home
in his car
well, whose car are you going
home in, them" Alice wanted to
know, You can't go home in Mr..
Dexter's, because he's gone. Been
gone an hour
Gomez" F'lossie echoed. Her blue
eyes opened a little.
Alice opened her mouth to answer,
but Tom silenced her with look.
Don't talk to her, Alice" he said
sharply. She's too tired to listen
to you"
And without another word he
picked Flossie up, as if she had
been a child, and carried her out to
lis car.
The rain had stopped and the
moon was shining from behind a
bank of clouds. AS Tom started
the car and swung out onto the
homeward road Mary Rose leaned
back in the uncomfortable rumble
seat, and raised her face gratefully,
20 the rush Of the cold night air.
She felt as if she had just Weakened
from frightful nightmare.
What ghastly evening" she
thought and shuddered What !,
Verfectly horrible evening"
The car sped on toward town.
II suppose your mother has a
searching party out hunting for
Flossie by this time" Alice giggled.
suddenly.
Mary Rose made no answer.
Don't your Alice persisted. iab-
bling May Roses arm. But still
there was no answer. Mary Rose
was sound asleep.
She did not waken until the car
was slowing down before her own
house. 1t was in total darkness.
but as the quartet went up the
ront steps, a light bloomed sudden
: in one of the upper windows
And when they opened the front
door, Mrs. Middleton. wrapped IN a
flannel kfmona, was coming slowly
and heavily down the stairs. She
stopped as she caught sight of Flos-
sizes colorless face.
What in the worlds the matter
with the baby?" she asked, looking
first at Flossie and then at Mary
Rose Neither of them spoke.
She's been sick Alice chirped
cheerfully, Terribly sick. . She ate
something that didn't agree with her
probably some crabmeet salad that
we had. Anyway, she keeled over,
all-of sudden Sadie, You should
have seen her. Mrs. Middleton.
We all thought she was going to
die. We certainly did,
Mrs. Middleton's dazed eyes
searched the four faces in front
of her.
"And where did all this, happen?
Did you all have dinner in the same
placer" she asked in a confused sort