The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-17

ouuuShAy oAiO I'll lieu lucu1 10 l6f
sister.
II can't work here any more, can
II" she asked. "You say the door
was open and the whole office heard
what Mrs. Dexter said"
Suddenly she put her two hands to
her breast. as sudden dreadful
thought struck her. SANS down.
stairsr she cried "I'll bet Miss
Minnick and the rest Of 'em are
telling him the whole story"
Eyes, but all they heard was her
bawling me Nout." Mary Rose
answered, lapsing into Flossies
slang. j finally had sense enough
to get up and shut the door when I
realized that they were all listening
to the excitment. / can tell from the
way they look at me that.they think
was with Dexter last night, in
stead of your
And then suddenly Flessie was
clinging to her and sobbing against
her shoulder. ooh, Mary Rose, you
won't tell on me, will your she
begged, her voice thick with tears.
Let them think it was you for a
while-will you? Just for little
while?"
The older girl looked down at her
in puzzled silence.
"You know, SaAmll never marry
me If he finds I've been chasing
around with Dexter" F1ossie ex-l
planned jerkily. "You know he won't
he's so narrow! He'd just quit his
job and beat 1t! And I'd n-never
see him again" Her. sobs broke
out, again.
| Mary Rose thought 1t over.
1t was not going to be easy to
take the blame that was Flossies.
She had had taste of 1t this morn
ing and it had been hard to swallow.
And yet
And yet If Sam Jessup took 1t into
his head not to marry Flossie, Mary
Rose was afraid to think what might
become of her!
With her craving for luxury, for
| fun, for the admiration of men.
where would she go? What would
she do? Mary Rose remembered
how she had looked that morning
weeks ago when she had come home
at dawn, dizzy from too much liquer.
Looselipped and sensuous and weak!
The only safety for Flossie was mar.
riage!
Mary Rose made up her mind like
lightning.
"All right" she said briskly. 'IIl
let 'em all think what they please.
Only you're to keep your word!
You'll really marry Sam Jessup? On
your word of honor?"
Gross my heart, 1 hope to die"
Flossie answered. wiping her eyes
with q small handkerchief covered
with strong perfume.
But Mary Rose wanted more proof
than that. She knew that Flossie
would promise anything to gain her
point, and later would break that
promise without thought. She was
not to be trusted and that was all
| there was to it,
"All right, but I want to hear you
tell him you'll marry him." Mary
Rose said stubbornly. You've bro
ken your word to me, before, you
know"
Flossie flushed. "All right, I'll go
downstairs and get rim" she an
swered ungraciously.
But at that moment Sam walked
into the room The minute she saw
his face Mary Rose knew that he
had heard the story of Mrs. Dexter's
visit to her husbands office. For the
look he gave her was<full of curious
wonder.
i've been talking to F1ossie, Sam,
and she wants to tell you something"
she said to him, and they both wait.
ed for Flossie to speak.
But with little rush, the girl was
I in his arms, dragging his head down
to hers and kissing him all over his
face.
Sam, Sam, SAM" she sobbed.
I'm SO sorry I-said I wouldn't
marry you. You know I will don't
you, dear? Any time you ask me
TOP"
Mary Rose heard Sam murmur
something about next week" as she
opened the door that led to the stair.
case.
I've just heard something about
Mary Rose. And I don't know
whether to- believe it or not" he
said to Flossie, as soon as the door
had closed behind her.
F'lossie looked UP at him with eyes
that were, like dewy violets.
What did you hear. honey boy?'
she asked clinging to him with heavy
sweetness. This wild story that
she's been chasing around with Mr..
Dexter?'