The Indianapolis times., 1927-05-02

father and we are living very con.
tentedly together, all except me. And
I am very lonely for you; Deke. I
know now that I love you.
Can you understand when I tell
you that one reason I left Cleve-
land was that / realized that I loved
you and couldn't bear to have you
tarred with the brush that black
ened me.
II do love you, Deke. And I long
to hear from you.
JOYCE"
"P. 81 love your calling me Joy
girl. 1t made me cry. But it made
me happy. too"
She sealed the letter and called
Frankly from the kitchen.
Where shall send it?" she
asked. ITO the house or the fac
tory?"
Frankly thought moment. ITO
the factory" she decided. Hes
there early and late. Come on. I'm
going down with you to mail it."
They left together for the post.
office and although Joyce knew they
were being observed there was such
strength in Frankys presence that
she no longer minded the prying
eyes.
"A special delivery stamp, please"
Frankly demanded from Mrs. Elkins.
Must be in a hurry" the post
mistress said, taking the letter and
scrutinizing the address. "You re
quite a stranger here, amt you?"
to Frankly.
Arrived two hours ago and am
crazy about the place." Frankly rat
tied back at her with a smile.
"Knowed the Darings long," the
postmistress asked.
"All my life." said Frankly. Joys
my best friend. And I'm tickled to
death to see her."
She looked around the store. 1t
was not very inviting, but she bought
some fancy canned things and a
box of chocolates that had been pin.
ing on the shelf for six months, some
olives, a tin of assorted cakes and
other commodities that Mrs. Elkins
seldom sold.
Can you send them up?" she
asked Mrs. Elkins when the pur.
chases were all made.
Nom, we can't. I'm sorry"
Joyce heard the first courteous note
she had ever detected in Mrs. Ell.
llins' voice.
Can you find boy after school
| then and give him that for bring
ing things up to Mrs. Daring's?'
Frankly asked. laying a bill on the
counter.
Reckon I kim" said the postmis.
tress with cordial smile.
The girls left the store. You're
a wonder, Frankly" Joyce said
That's the first pleasant look I've
ever seen that woman wear. How
did you do it?"
Money talks said Frankly care.
lessly. "Is she the girl who's been
plastering your name all over the
town"
Eyes. some one sent her a cleve.
land paper with the story Of the
shooting in It,"
Frankly whistled. 'Looks like
Matte Truesdales fine hand. Wait
till I get back to Cleveland. I'm
going to make mother take Mattie's
name off the Junior Assembly list.
Mothers chairman and she eau do it..
Then watch Matte write"
Joyce was hardly listening. "When
do you think I ought to hear from
Deke?" asked Joyce.
Frankly laughed and squeezed her
arm. II think you'll have a wire
some time tomorrow, IL know any
thing about Henry Deacon" she
said.
What do you think it will say?"
Joyce asked.
"Oh he'll probably order a million
kisses and say he's coming to collect
the order himself" Frankly teased
mo, tell me. Do you think he'll
come here?"
"I know he will, honey. just as
fast as the train can carry him.
Deke's had a tough struggle with
the business this winter, but he told
me he was just about out of the
woods with it, so you two ought to
have a glorious start together"
But no wire came the next day,
nor the next F7rankv staved da1y
longer than her impatient father and
mother wished her to, in the hope
that Joyce would receive word from
Deke.
When she left the third day after
Joyce had mailed her letter, she took
with her the vision Of a white face
In which two large gray-blue eyes