The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-06-23
Business Kisses !"
By BEATRICE BURTON
Author of Gloria, The Flapper Wife"
Tas nance ss e sG arr e are not % % taken
Bu BEATRICE BURTC

lace or firm
Didn't beauty Of soul and mind
count with them? Only the bods's
beauty?
And could a man like Hilary Dex-
ter forget the love he had once had
for his wife Just because of a smile
In the depths of F'1ossie Middleton's
blue eyes, the sunlight on her sunny
hair?
Was Dexter really in love with
F1ossie? Or was he only playing
this game of love with the little sis
ter whom Mary Rose loved with a
passion that was almost maternal?
Mary Rose was rather inclined to
believe that he really was in love
ing game with him! But a danger
Gus game!
Perhaps this will end It," she
said to herself, as she rang the bell
of the big house with its white pill
lars and Creep shutters.
A man-servant opened the door.
and looked out into the darkness at
her as she stood, shrinking against
one of the great pillars.
please let me speak to Mr..
Dexter. No, No! I'll wait out here
for him" she said, as he opened the
door.
She had a glimpse of a wide,
bright hallway with Towering plants
against a staircase.
How safe he is here with all his
money" she thought ''Nobody'd
dare to talk about him, and if people
did he wouldn't care. But they
fay Flossie!"
She had a sudden memory Of
Aunt Henry Blair's gloating face
that afternoon when she had told her
about the man in the blue car, who
had brought box Of flowers to
Flossie.
The door opened wide, and Hilary
Dexter stood there against the light.
1t took all Of Mary Roses courage
to give him the little box. He looked
down at it, ouriously.
TITS from my sister, Mr.. Dexter"
she said, faltertng. "She-I can't
let her take things like that from
you."
She did not feel alive. at all, as she
walked down the steps and out into
the street, when the street lamps
shone among the new green leaves
of the spring. She felt as If she
had been acting a part in some
crazy melodrama-
Il suppose the next thing viii be
that I'll lose my job" she thought
There was light in the upstairs
bedroom when she came within
sight Of the little house on New
York ST., and when Mary Rose
opened the door she heard voices
from the floor above. At first she |
thought her mother had come home,
but presently she recognized Alice
James high thin soprano
Alice, you going to be here for |
supper" she called, as she hung up |
her hat and coat, and smoothed
down her hair before the little |
mirror in the hall
No, indeedy!" Alice answered
airily, and there was sound of
laughter from above.
Mary Rose went out into the
kitchen and began to get supper.
There was a leg of cold pork in the |
icebox and a bowl Of CONCEALED |
gravy.
And I'll make some popovers,
and ask Alice to- stay for supper"
she thought, as she spread a clean
white cloth over the kitchen table
"That'll cheer F1ossie up.''
AS she spoke she heard the sound
Of quick, light footsteps on the
stairs The girls were coming
down.
She went into the hall to speak to
Alice. Then she stopped abruptly,
her eyes wide with surprise
Both the girls were dressed for the
street and both Of them were laden
with luggage-bags and hat boxes
and bundles tied up in newspaper.
They looked like pair of road ac-
tresses.
why! Where do you two think
you're going?" she asked breath
lessly. 49,
Flossie swept her with a wither-
ing glance,
Don't pay any attention to her,
Alice" she said, Hitting her chin, as
she tried to pass ''Just walk on"
But Mary Rose flew to the door
and stood against 1t. The fleeing
pair looked at her. Her black
brows were knit In hown and her
face was white as snow.
She spoke first to Alice. TT you
think Flossie's going to go to live
with you. young woman, you're bad.
~ mistaken" she said with a kind
OF threatening quiet in her voice.
I'd send her toto Jail, before ia
let her spend a night in that little
fiat of yours! If ever there was a
bad penny, you're tt"
She opened The door little. Now.
] think you'd better CO." she went
on, and let me and F1ossie settle
this thing between ourselves"
But Alice stood heer ground. I'm |
not going without Flossie,' she said.
and her hard little mouth set IT.
self firmly under its coat Of red lip
stick. She put one arm around Flos-
sizes waist.
y Mary Rose suddenly felt years old |
er than these two silly young things |
who stood before her. why, they're |
just babies!" she said to herself, al |
most as Alice-in-Wonderland said, |
why. they're Just cardsr' in her
famous dream.