The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-16

handkerchief and vanity case into
the pocket of her dress and went up
stairs.
on the table in the midst of great
confusion. Papers and books were
piled on chairs, window stills and
upon the tops of steel filing cases.
Getting things Strengthened out,
Sam?" Mary Rose asked.
Flossie gave him no chance to
answer. mo, we're having a grand
old row. she said holly, and swung
around on the table, swinging her
slim legs in their thin stockings.
Her face was flushed and her eyes
Nsparllled with anger. Sans ding,
donging at me again about getting
marriedi'
Mary Rose gave a half-laugh.
"You talk as If he were insulting
you, Floss she said.
Doesn't she?" Sam appealed to
Mary Rose as his ally. you'd think
didn't have a right to ask the girl
I'm engaged to, to get married."
"And you haven't, either!" Flos-
sic almost shouted at him, In her
fury. mot on $50 week, you poor
sap!-. How do you think we're going
to get along on $50 a week?''
Lots Of people do it. and live
well. too Sam answered her mild
ly. six months ago when was
getting $40 you said you'd take
a chance"
Flossie smiled a secret, scornful
smile at him. "Six months ago
yes" she said, and her voice was
liquid silver, again. But I've
changed a lot in six months. I've
been looking around and-I've seen
things 1 want. Things that you
couldn't begin to buy me on $50 a
week.
Sam stared at her, his mouth
working. He adored Flossie Middle
ton as one man always adores the
Flossie type of girl, who is nothing
but beautiful toy to other men
blindly and worshipfully. For him,
she was the only girl in the world.
what things, Floss?" he asked.
F1ossie tossed her head with it's
golden simmer, OF curls. She didn't
answer.
But Mary Rose knew exactly what
she meant. She meant the things
that Hilary Dexter had given her
French perfumes and American
Beauty roses, Coty's perfumes and
$40 dinners, gold vanity cases and
star sapphire rings.
She knew that he had created in
F'lossie an unquenchable thirst for
these things. And that F'lossie was
like baby tiger that has tasted
blood had tasted luxury and
was satisfied with the paltry gifts of
Sam no longer.
AS Mary Roses fingers found the
gold vanity case that even now lay
hidden in the pocket Of her dress,
she hated Hilary Dexter as she
never had hated any one in all her
life.
Encouraged by F'lossie's silence,
get a four-room fiat somewhere"
''Four-room f1atr' Flossie broke In
angrily. "A while ago you were
going to buy cottage out in Brook
amar! Now you're talking four
room fiat! After while you'll be
down to two rooms up over ga
rage, I suppose. Well, you can live
in EN-, yourself. Because won't
marry you. l won't-do it,"
Her voice was suddenly as cold
and as measured as the slow drip
ping Of an icicle.
Sam looked helplessly at Mary
Rose. 81 don't know where she's
going to find anybody with more
money than / have" he said, with
pathetic pride. There's not fell
low in our crowd who makes $50 a
week."
-Flossies scorn of their crowd.
was in her voice when she an
swered him. I'm our crowd! Don't
you suppose I know any men out
side our crowd?"
Sam looked at her and he seemed
TO forget that Mary Rose was there
in the room with them. He got
down from the table and took Flos-
sic in his arms. For a moment she
melted against him and raised her
mouth, that was just the shape of
kiss, against his mouth. Then she
pushed him away. with a harsh lit
tie laugh and a shrug of her perfect
shoulders.
"Oh, ! like you, right enough
she said carelessly, ''but I'm not 60
ing to marry you"
She turned to Mary Rose. Think
of the nerve Of him! He wants to
get a. marriage license today!
Wouldn't that knock you Cor crepe!"
Mary Rose turned to Sam. "Sam,
will you let me talk to her for a
minute?" she asked. "Alone?"
There's no use in talking to me.
My mind is made up" Flossie cried.
$50 you may as well stay here,
Sam But Sam was all ready half
way down the stairs.
What's your mind made up to
dO?" Mary Rose asked her. sTo