The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-04-09

mullins burn I'm headed for ever
lasting bliss, aren't 1, Joyce?"
you surely are" said Joyce find
ing that she was very hungry.
Frankly drove her down to the
hotel and Joyce went to her work
with more light-heartedness thar
she would have believed possible.
Half way through the afternoon
she saw a familiar figure approach
ing. Her heart beat almost to suf
location. Carter was standing at her
desk, smiling down at her with non
CLAIMANT ease.
How are you, Joyce?" he asked
Perfectly fine" Joyce said, hop
ing that her tone matched his for
GOODNESS.
1.-THE less said about last night
the better, don't you think?" he
went on.
"That means he doesn't intend to
try to get the pearls back" Joyce
thought rapidly. She nodded her
head to his remark.
II want to tell you something
else, Joyce" he said, lowering his
voice and bending a melancholy look
at her.
"Yes?" Joyce's voice was a little
impatient. She wished he would go
II can never tell you how sorry
am for what happened last night. /
was entirely mistaken in my con-
ception of you. I ask your pardon
most humbly. knowing that I do
not deserve any consideration from
you whatever. But, 1 do ask that
the many happy hours we have
spent together may plead for me
against that one miserable night.
You have enjoyed being with me
this winter, haven't you, Joy?"
His tone and words softened
joys judgment in spite of herself.
Eyes, have" she agreed.
81 am going away now" he went
on. Going away to give you a
chance to forget this whole miser'
able business and I ask just one
thing, Joyce-that you will let your
self miss me a little. Will your
"I'lr try" she promised, moved by
his evident earnestness.
"Then, good-by," and he reached
his hand down to clasp hers.
Joyce let hers rest in his a mo-
ment. She glanced up to see Matte
Truesdaye taking in the scene with
malicious relish. Joyce flushed with
embarrassment and was relieved
when Carter moved away without
further word.
Back in his rooms at the club Car
ter sat thinking. He had been too
hasty. His pose of polite cavalier
during the winter had been over
done. His offer to Joyce had Of
Tended her by its suddenness. He
had not given her enough taste of
luxury to whet her appetite for the
feast he spread before her.
"a course in dining, dancing and
fine clothes is what she needs" he
told himself. He was not a little
annoyed, too, at the loss of the
pearls, but to recover them meant
risking a chance of exposure and
ridicule, so he wisely decided to let
sian embassy was the stupidist kind
the matter rest, first ascertaining
that Butch had used an ordinary
skeleton key to gain admittance to
the apartment.
This he did by having a lock
maker compare the key joys land
lord had given him with the usual
skeleton key sold openly by key
makers. Having satisfied himself on
this point, he bought a skeleton key
and added it to his ring. The duplt
cate key to joys apartment he re
turned to the landlord with bill
and q word of thanks.
"All that l must do" he told him
self, sis to watch that she doesn't
marry Deke too soon"
He went into his bank and asked
for a report on the affairs of the
Deacon Chemical Company and
learned that they were in a bad
way. Humming to himself, he left
the bank and returned to his club
where his valet had transportation
to the Bermudas waiting for him.
II might as we'll wait in warmth
and comfort" he told himself as
he boarded a train later. I'm sure
of the outcome in the end anyway, .
and he consoled himself with pic
lures of joys loneliness On the jour
ney east.
Joyce felt an even greater sense
of relief that night when scanning
the evening paper she saw this item
Mr.. Carter Deland departed today
for a sojourn in the Bermudas.
IT hope he stays a long time,
she told herself. And for the time
being she meant it, quite honestly
Her pale face alarmed Deke wher
he met her after work that night
They were to spend the evening a
the Deacon home.
Good Lord, JOY" he said, "wha
have you been doing to yourself?
wish I could flatter myself that it..
sympathy for me. Pretty UP a LITTLE
or the folks will be wanting to take
you to Florida with them, and
| couldn't stand that"
I'm all right, just a little tired,
she answered.
Deke thought rapidly and reached
his own conclusion. Undoubtedly
there was some connection between
joys pale face and Carriers unex
pected departure for the south seas
I'm glad she's sent him packing,
| he told himself. Hes bad medi
cine for little girls" and he reache,
over and patted her hand.
Joy found the sight of Mr.. Dea
cons helplessness more than sh
could bear in her present unnerve'
state, and she shed frank tears whel
she had left the sick mans room.
Mrs. Deacon put her arms aroun'
the girl. "There, there, my dear,