The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-01-27
CHAPTER XXXV
r z was holding out his hand,
III but Barbara did not see it.
Her eyes were on his face.

Her eyes were on his face.
Hello, Babs" he cried.
She. stammered, Hello, Mr.--er--
Byers. How did you know was
here?"
His face wrinkled again in a grin.
rOh, I have the hotel beat now.
How have the mighty fallen! From
dramatic editor I am denoted to the
humble duties of a cub. But the
Telegraph is running short Of help
these days and we're all pressed into
service, so l saw your name on the
register this morning"
Barbara had recovered her breath.
: TITS awfully good to see you. Yours
is the first familiar face I've seen
since / came last night. I was be-
{ ginning to think that | must have
{ dreamed that Indianapolis was once
my home. For there are no signs
Of the people used to know here.
Byers shook his head Funny
how a town does change in little
while. But you'll find several old
friends at the Telegraph office.
There, are some new people, Of
course, but few of the old ones too.
Your friend Wells is gone for good
died last month. But McDermott and
Jimmy, the office boy, and your
friend, Miss Badger, are still with
the ship, to say nothing of myself
and a few other humble reporters"
Barbara smiled. I'm almost
afraid to go to the office" she said,
= he o1ot ,oI,
that I shan't be able to believe L
ever worked there. It's a CHASTITY
: feeling, this walking about in places
that were once a part. of your every
day life, and finding that everything
is the same, yet nothing is the
same.
you can't tell whether it is your
< self that has died, or the people
around you"
For heavens sake, Barbara,
brace up. That's maudlin rot you're
talking. Get your things and come
on over to the office. You won't be
allowed to feel like dead one over
there You'll be the lion Of the
hour. Shouldn't wonder if Mac
would demand an interview on how
it feels to be a New York success
and all that"
Barbara laughed somewhat shril-
ly. But she went to get her hat.~
The Telegraph was in the midst
Of it's morning rush when they en-
tered. Barbara looked eagerly about
her as they stepped out Of the ele-
vator into the editorial room. She
shifted the tobacco-laden air, and
her eyes shone.
Jimmy was the first to catch
sight Of her. He was running to
the composing room with his hands
full Of copy when his eyes fell upon
1 her. Eli, there, Miss Hawley," he
shouted, making a dive toward her.
The new city editor, young man
with thin nose and stern eyes be-
hind spectacles, raised his voice.
James, hurry that copy to the
composing room"
Byers whispered in Barbara's
ear. That's Holcomb, Wells sue
cessor-a college journalist, by
God!'
QAAIAlly 1IlclQO IL Qdol 1OI Inc COIL
posing room and returned through
the swinging doors like a steam en-
CINE. BY this time the staff had
gathered around Barbara, shaking
her hand, asking questions, and
looking ad1niringly at her clothes.
Only Miss Badger remained at her
desk, with her back to the group.
Under the influence of their ad-
rniration and envy. Barbara talked
gaily. The color came back to her
cheeks. She glanced toward Miss
Badger and laughed
"a rCome, admit whispered Byers
'that the Badgers cut is pleasing
you more than the others adula
tion." Barbara frowned at him.
During the Ievee telephones rang
unanswered and the austere city
editor looked through his horn
glasses and called one after an.
other of. his staff without getting
a response.
AT length he rose and walked
across the room. Touching Byers OF
the arm, he said audibly, "Will yol
please inform me as to the identity
OF our visitor? Is she Russian
grand duchess or merely a motion
picture star, or yet an Atlantic City
beauty, that the entire machinery
of the Telegraph should stop at he,
entrance?,
Byers laughed impudently. "Gues
again, Holcomb This is Miss Bar
bara Halwey, former member of thi
same, humble newspaper staff, bu
now one of the props Of metropoli
tan journalism; in short, a stat
writer for the Footlights Magazine
Bow, Barbara bow
Barbara was taken aback. TIL
city editor glanced at her with in
creased disapproval and rond7