The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-23

purely business arrangement, hers
and mine"
Flossie was too surprised to speak
when he ceased. She couldn't be-
lieve what she had just heard with
her own ears. So Mary Rose was
right And all this time Dexter had
been leading up to a proposition
like this! He had never once thought
of marrying her! Or of divorcing
that old high-hat of a wife of his.
Dexter took her silence for con.
sent. He tried to laugh and Flossie
heard him murmur something she
had heard before, about without
benefit of clergy" He slid over in
the seat and took her in his arms
once more, his face buried in her
hair. his lips on the nape Of her
warm soft neck.
F1ossie put one hand behind her
and quietly opened the door of the
car. Then slowly she managed to
get one foot in its golden slipper
out on the step.
One moment she was in Dexter's
arms and the next one she was out
on the road running as fast as she
could away from the darkened au.
tomobile She heard him coming
after her
Then suddenly he caught hold of
her. Don't be a fool, Flossie,'' he
painted, grasping her by both arms
and shaking her. Whats the mat.
ter? Are you crazy?"
Flossie was crying again. Eyes
i think I am" she sobbed. LET
me go, or I'll kill you and she
hit him full in the face.
| The blow brought Dexter to his
senses quicker than anything else
in the world could have done it. He
dropped her suddenly and stood
looking at her as If he were seeing
her for the first time.
II thought you honestly cared
for me, Fiossie," he said. with his
hand to his smarting cheek. You
were just playing me for a boob, all
this time, weren't your"
What were YOU playing me for?"
IFlossie cried, with a flash of her
usual spirit. That's what I'd like
to know
Dexter laughed harshly. IT sup.
posed you knew it would come to a
showdown like this, sooner or
later he said. 1T always does
doesn't it. when a girl goes around
with married MANI"
Flossie was too angry to go on
listening to him. She turned on her
nigh heels and started away down
the road toward the brick pave.
ment.
She was sure that presently he
would come driving after her. to beg
her to get into the car and to ask
her pardon for the insult he'd of.
rered her And then she'd have him
under her thumb again!
But he didn't come.
And only when she saw the 1iebts
or his car flash as he turned it. and
then vanish in the opposite direc.
tlon' dlo she realize that he had left
her. Left her fiat in the black coun.
try road at one o'clock in the morn
| ing
She stood there for n minute or
two, shivering in. the thin satin cane
that dld not begin to cover her
| short chiffon ballet dress as is should
have Then she started to walk
| home along the bricks.
After the second mile her feet be.
gan to hurt terribly. Her sliopers
rubbed her heels until one of them
made a blister
/
! She bent and took them off and
limped along in her thin stockings.
On either side Of the lonely road.
the trees doomed black and weird.
Every now and then Flossie passed
a house but she was afraid to go
in and ask her shelter.
She was afraid to ask any Of the
few automobiles that passed for
lift. too. Heaven alone knew what
kind Of queer birds" were out in
the country at that hour of the
night.
She crept into the bushes until
they went by and then trudged pain.
fully on,
But through all her pain and
misery, the bitter truth forced itself
into her brain at last.
She had no one but herself to
blame for this nights business! She
had brought it all on herself
At half-past one that morning.
Sam Iessup knocked on the front
door of Middletons' brown house.
Mary Rose, fully dressed, came
down the stairs and opened it. Her
face was flushed and her eyes were
full Of sleep.
II wasn't sure Flossie had her
key with her" she began, and then
saw that he was alone. "Why,
where is she?"
Sans face was haggard and gray
white in the light from the hall lamp.
She didn't come home, them" he
asked and came inside, shutting the
door behind him.
Mary Rose shook her head, and
laid finger on her lips. She was
wide awake now.
Hush she whispered. Don't
let Mother hear I think she's
awake" She led the way to the
| kitchen and Sam followed bar