The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-08-11

ferring to any particular person. pSce
CHAPTER LIx
Mary Rose stood STILL holding the
telephone with both hands to steady
herself. There was ringing In her
ears like the sound of far-off church
bells.
Tom terribly injured-she couldn't
believe It'll Tom terribly hurt!
WHY. # didn't see more than
minute ago that he had stood right
here in this very hallway, and
dropped his wet slicker down on the
floorof the vestibule! And through
the open door that led out into the
kitchen she could still see 1t
stretched across the chairs before
the stove, where she had hung 1t to
dry. He must have forgotten al!
about it, and rushed out into the
rain coatless-when she had sent
him away.
what can nave happened to him
in such a few minutes she asked
herself. turning and turning the
leaves of the telephone book with
shaking fingers.
She couldn't seem to think what
number she was looking up
Oh,oyes. that was 1.-THE taxicab
company!
"Durham no." she called It, and
asked for a cab Immediately.
She was still sitting, staring into
space with wide dry eyes, when 1t
drove up before the house. She dld
not even hear it come.
There was dull and dreadful ache
in her breast. For if she had not
cared for Tom Fitzroy as woman
loves her sweetheart, she was deep
Nv attached to him in quite another
way. All her life he had been a
sort of older brother, pal, play
fellow to her.
she had adored to be with him, al
ways-except when he became sem
tinental and lover-like. He had given
Z her almost all of the good times she
had in her narrow life.
He had taught her to skate years
and years ago, and to-swim, and to
nlav tennis. She could see him now,
in her minds eye, dashing across
tennis court with the sun in his
blue gray eyes and on his crisp red
hair
Impossible to think that a creature
so active, so swift, so filled with the
ioy of being alive should be stretched
out. hurt and helpless, on a hospital
bed.
The front doorbell rang, rousing
Mary Rose.
IN be ready in half minute
she whispered to the taxi driver,
and rushed upstairs to get into her
wraps.
"Who's downstairs, Mary Rose? l
thought l heard some one--or was
dreaming?" her mothers voice came
sleepily through the open door of
the darkened bedroom across the
hall.
mo, you weren't dreaming" Mary
Rose came into the froom and stood
beside her bed. Toms been hurt.
He's at the hospital and they've
sent for me. There's a cab down
stairs. "Goo-by, darling. I'll be
right back"
but 1 don't understand" she
heard Her mother say vaguely. as she
ran down the stairs. But there was
no time to explain further.
Tom might be dying, right now,
for all she knew
There's been a fine young wreck
down here at the corner" the taxi
driver said to her as he helped her
into the cab.
And, sure enough, when they
turned the corner there was a pile
Of wreckage heaped UP against the
curb, cleaning in the rain and the
unsteady glow from a swinging arc
light.
Looks as If two cars bumped,
doesn't it?" the driver called back
TO her. "Some of these fools
shouldn't be trusted with" The
wind took the rest of the words out
of his mouth.
It wasn't until hours afterward
that Mary Rose realized that one
of those two wrecked and twisted
cars was the powerful black road
ster that Tom had always insulted
by the name of "stink.wheel."
The smell of ether and carbolic
acid in the halls Of the hospital
made Mary Rose a little sick and
dizzy as it always did when she went
into hospital.
A dark haired nurse, all in rus
Ting white. came clicking down the
Wide, bright hallway on her white
heels.
I'm Miss Sims. I called you up
while ago." she said to Mary Rose,
and put her arm around her. as II
she saw that the girl was almost
ready to faint away. ''Dr. Fitzroy
says to come right upstairs"
Hes not unconscious, then?''
Mary Rose asked as she stepped into
the elevator. Toms not uncon-
scious?'
Miss Sims smiled and Mary Rose
found herself wondering how any
body could smile who lived in place
GO ~ m ~