The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-27


mother or anything-just walked out
of the house"
Tom looked puzzled. Didn't any
body see her go?' he asked.
Yes, mother saw her going down
the street carrying something" Mary
Rose told him. 1T was too dark
for her to see what it was. But it
must have been suitcase, because
she's taken all her good clothes with
her"
Tom scratched his head. I'VE may
as well say what's on our minds"
he said at last. DO you think this
man Dexter is at the bottom of this
thing? Do you think she's cleared
out with him."
Mary Rose gasped at this echo
of her own thought. She had been
afraid to admit, even to herself, that
Dexter might be at the bottom of
F'lossie's disappearance
She turned her white face slowly
to Tom. why don't you call up his
asked.
Tom got up from the arm of the
chair where he had been sitting.
II can't phone from here, that's a
cinch," he said. Put on your coat,
and we'll go down to the drug store
and do it from there"
Mary Rose ran upstairs for her
hat and coat. AS she came out of
her bedroom, the door of her
mothers room across the hall opened
suddenly. Y
THAT you, Mary Rose?" she
asked. who's downstairs? I
thought heard you talking to some
one."
you did, dear. Tom dropped in"
the girl answered, trying to make
her voice sound natural and -uncon-
cerned. Were going to drive down
to the drug store. Well be back
in a jiffy"
II know your jiff1es! You lock the
door and take the key with you"
her mother ordered. I'm going to
step over to Blair's for a minute"
1t was a moment later when Mary
Rose went to get her front door key
from behind the black marble clock
that stood on the mantel shelf, that
she found Flossie's key there, too.
She held it up for Tom to see.
shes left her key, too" she whis-
yered to him. You can see that
she's been making her plans to 60"
Tom shook his head, with it's crisp
red hair. That's doesn't prove any
it over and I'll bet you that young
F'lossie got sore at you or your
mother and is just giving you a good
scare. She'll probably show up be-
fore midnight"
mo, she's gone" Mary Rose an
swered with soft decision. "She
means to be gone long time, too.
l know, because she's taken all my
clean stockings and my pearl beads
and most of my handkerchiefs.
Wherever she is, she intends to
stay"
She raised her voice: "By.by,
Mother, we won't be gone five
minutes!'
But they were gone much longer
than five minutes.
First Of all Tom telephoned Hilary
Dexter's house and was told sharply
that MIR. Dexter wouldn't be home
before midnight"
1 didn't have the nerve to ask if
he had Mrs. Dexter with him." Tom
reported to Mary Rose, because l
have a bunch it was Mrs. Dexter
who answered.
He sat down beside her, on a soda
fountain stool and looked at her
thoughtfully. "See here" he said,
I'm going to call up all the acct
dent wards of the hospitals and see
if she's been hit by a car or any
thing. And while I'm doing it, you
think up all the people she knows
and wen give 'em all ring. That's
the only way to get line on her."
Mary Rose gave him Sam .Jessup's
number, but Sam was not "a home.
Neither was Alice James. And of
the dozen other people whom Tom
called, none could tell him any
thing about Flossie.
1--WE may as well go home" Mary
Rose said at last, getting down from
her high stool. "Flossie's apparently
dropped out of sight"
did she have any money for rail
road fare, or to pay a hotel bill?'
Tom asked, as they drove back
home.
"No-I have her pay envelope,
don't believe she had sou," Mary
Rose answered. But, Tom, I may
as we'll be frank with you. She had
great big sapphire ring and a lot
Of other jewelry that Mr.. Dexter had
given her. She could have pawned
it, to get money.
Tom whistled. Jimmy Christmas!
A sapphire ringv he repeated. Gosh,
Mary Rose, you shouldn't have let
her take stuff like that from himl
That's the absolute limitr'
The girl threw out both her hands,