The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-11-15

quiet place, where we can talk"
"If anyone calls, I'll be back in
about an hour, Miss Gonzales" he
/ threw over his shoulder at the girl
who had finally seated herself at her
desk, with her profile turned toward
Faith and Bob.
Rather an unusual name Of this
girl's-Gonzales, isn't it?" Faith
asked as they waited for an eleva-
tor.
Eyes. rather" Bob answered, his
eyes still beaming upon her with
fondness and joy. Father is Mexi
can, l believe, and her mother an
American. She's a crackerjack stem
ographer, which is all I'm interested
in. How have you been, anyway?
Lord, it's good to see you, dear"
Where did you get Miss Con-
zales?" Faith persisted, so that he
looked at her curiously.
"She used to work for Uncle Ralph
and Mr.. Neff," Bob answered, sur
prised. "He let her go for some
slight offense, and 1 felt sorry for
the girl and gave her a chance. But
why all the hectic interest in my
steongrapher. She's a good one, I
admit, but let's talk about you. You
look stunning in those clothes. New,
n
black before. Makes you look like
woman of the world, but I like it,"
The stopping of the elevator spared
Faith the necessity of answering
other than her warm blush of pleas
ure. But she was, steeling, her heart
against his gay happiness in having
her with him.
Lets eat at the Athletic Club
Just around the corner. We can find
a quiet corner there. It's early and
there won't be a crowd"
| In spite of her mixed feelings of
suspicion and hurt at his long neg
lect of her, it gave her a warm
glowing sense of pleasure to see with
what genial comraderie he was greet
ed by lounging members of the Ath-
letic Club as he escorted her through
the reception rooms and library on
their way to the dining room. Every
mans eye frightened as he passed,
and she was not conceited enough to
believe that her own distinguished
smartness, in her new black coat
and hat, had anything to do with
away. She thought, tenderly, that
these business men looked at him as
If they loved him.
He led her to a dim corner Of the
big, somber dining rom, rich with
dark panelling, heavy, upholstered,
high backed dining chairs, and with
enormous oil paintings carefully
spaced between the thick, wine-red
silk draperies Of the broad, deep win
dows. She had never before been in
such an atmosphere and she relaxed
little, breathing a deep sigh Of con-
| tent as Bob studied the menu.
After he had ordered for both of
them, he looked at her with smiling,
direct inquiry. well, spill it, Faith
dear. There's something on your
mind. Cherry in trouble again, I
suppose? I'd like to f1atter myself
that you simply wanted to see me,
but know my Faith too well for
that" He reached across the table
and touched her cold fingers, toying
with the long-stemmed water goblet.
| There was tenderness in that fleeing
touch, and Faith felt the blood rush
to her cheeks.
IL have something to tell you"
she faltered. reaching into her lap
for her handbag. But first, want
to show you something"
! He watched her with suddenly
serious but singularly clear and
guiltless blue eyes as she drew from
the bag the four anonymous letters
which Cherry had received-letters
which Faith had found under Cher
RVS mattress and had taken with
out her sisters knowledge-the en-
velope of the business letter which
had come to her father on the same
day as the fourth of the anonymous
letters, and finally, the sheet Of pa
per, the envelope and the piece of
used carbon paper which she had
filched from the desk Of the sloe-eyed
Miss Gonzales.
do you know anything about
these letters, Bob?" she asked quiet
ly but her voice was little un-
steady. She had drawn the black
mailing letters from their envelopes
and now laid them, opened, in a lit
tie stack upon his plate.
''Why-what in the world?" he
asked blankly. 'Of course I don't
never saw them before-why, good
God, Faith, this is blackmail!"
Faith watched him intently as he
read hastily through the sheaf of
four letters, muttering ordinations
of incredulity. anger and astonish-