The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-24

tears in her voice and in her eyes.
1t won't do any good, lovey. Tell
me what happened"
F'lossie raised her swollen. tear
stained face and looked at her. '"Oh,
I've had the most horrible night"
she began and burst into sobs again.
Suddenly she lifted one of her feet
and held it out toward Mary Rose.
There. look at that, if you want to
see something she said. pointing
to it.
The stocking on it was torn and
dirty and three of Flossies toes
peeped through it. There was a
smear of blood ACROSS the instep.
AS Mary Rose looked up at her,
Mortified, she began to cry again, |
and to beat her breast with herr
clenched fists in frenzy. Can you
imagine me - me- ME - walking
home from an automobile rider" she
asked. graspingly. Just like the
girls in the jokes-who have to walk
home because they forgot to take
along their mad money for carfare?
Can you imagine it?"
! She threw herself down on the
led and buried her head in the pill
low. But her shaking shoulders
showed Mary Rose how violent were
the wrenching sobs that were smoth-
cred in it's downy depths.
Better let her have her cry out"
she thought sensibly, and went to
work, drawing off Flossie,s torn
stockings and bathing. the dirty, bills.
tered feet with warm water.
She was filed with an immense
sense of relief. If nothing worse
had happened to the girl than a
long walk home. there was much to
be thankful for. The nights adven-
ture could have had a far more
tragic ending, as Flossie's next re.
mark proved.
Think of that simp making love
to me one minute so that 1 was
scared to death and the next one
telling me how much he thought of
his Wife, she said, sitting up and
wiping her eyes with the palms of
her hands.
As she did it. Mary Rose caught
the glitter of a ring on one of her
fingers. 1t vas the star sapphire
that Dexter had given her long ago.
Il thought you'd given that back
to him long ago." she said sharply.
! You promised me you would"
Flossie looked down at the jewel.
Il did give it back to him." she said.
But he wouldn't keep it. He said
1t belonged to me, because it was
the color of my eyes"
But you're going to give it back
now, aren't your" Mary Rose asked
but Flossie shook her head
) Not on your pay envelope!" she
answered. That's about all I've got
out of this affair as far as can see
that and a few other knick.
knacks," She Tipped her vanity dase
carelessly from her lap on the floor
And I'm going to keep 'em! I'd
like to see anybody try to get 'em
away from me-" She set her small
chin, stubbornly.
\ At that moment the front doorbell
rang briefly. The person who
touched it must have barely laid his
finger on it.
That's SAM Mary Rose whis
pered, jumping up. "He said he'd
come back and tell me if he found
you' He's been looking all over Gre
alton for you, for two hoursr
Tell him l phoned to say I'm
staying with one of the girls. all
Aght," Flossie answered. The first
thing she thought of, in a tight
place, was a fib, always!
But Mary Rose hated a lie. and
she told Sam as much of the truth
as she could when she opened the
front door to him a moment later.
Floss is all right, Sam. She's
been home for fifteen minutes" she
said and her voice was full Of tbe
very real pity that she felt for him
as he stood there, the picture of
misery. Even the cigaret, drooping
from one corner of his mouth.
looked detected.
Where was she?" he asked
quickly.
But Mary Rose slowly shook her
head. Iii let her tell you all about
It, herself. tomorrow" she an.
swered.
AS she spoke, F'fossie's light voice
came floating down the staircase:
GOOD night, Sambo. Run home and
go to bed like good little boy"
Without answering, Sam turned
ana walked down off the porch. At
the loot OF the steps he seemed to
remember himself, for he said
Good night, Mary Rose" in a low
Tone ana. ran out to the wheeler
that stood painting at the curb.
what do you suppose allied the
old KID, that he wouldn't say 'epod
night to me?' Flossie asked airilv
When Mary Rose came upstairs
hes not going to get anywhere
| with me acting like THAR,