The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-16
CHAPTER XIII !,

tn o closely did Vee-Vee feel her.
III self identified with a girl she
0 had never seen, of whom she
had scarcely heard until three days
before, that it seemed that shg was
reading about herself as her eyes
took in the big headlines:
DETECTIVES SEEK MISSING
CRANDALL HEIRESS."
In the center of the front page
was a picture of Vivian Crandall
with the caption: vivian Crandall
until three weeks ago the Princess
Vivian, wife of Prince Ivan Polaski
OF Russia's repudiated royalty, is the
object of a nationwide search by
private detectives, according to in
formation received from friends in
the confidence of her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Rufus Worrell Crandall
northumberland society leaders oi
New York and Newport"
The column of front-page type
gave little more actual information
than the caption under the portrait
The picture might have been a
photograph of herself, Vee-Vee
noted with fresh wonder.
1t showed the Princess Vivian in
decollete evening dress, with three
strands Of pearls about her Lroud
neck, jewel-studded coronet on her
bobbed head.
One paragraph of the small type
declared prince Ivan, the hus-
band whom the Princess Vivian di-
vorced in Paris, is ir. New York
registered at the Plaza Hotel. The
Prince declares that the heiress di-
vorced him without his knowledge
and that he has come to New York
to find his former wife and to plead
for a reconciliation and remarriage
"He scouts the idea of foul play
in connection with the Princess
disappearance, and is convinced
that she will reveal her whereabouts
in her own good time. He also
SCOTS at the rumor that the for
mer Princess is in hiding with q
lover whom she intends to marry
as soon as convention will permit
He declares that he has the high
est possible opinion of his former
vvife's honor"
Trying to court her through the
papers, Vee-Vee decided scornfully
"It's a pity he didn't have more
concern for his own honor. She
might not have divorced him If he
had"
Detectives securing the country
for a harried woman who asked
nothing but solitude. Then fear for
her own self pushed aside her right
eous indignation for Vivian Gran
DALI
At any moment now the detec-
tives might get on the scent of the
girl at the Minnetonka whom all
the guests, and even the manage
ment, believed to be Vivian Gran
dali
She Jumped out of bed, ran to her
desk and began to write with furious
haste telegram to Jerry Macklyn
But before she had finished her
| frantic appeal for him to come and
stand by her in the threatened dis
aster, she stopped and clenched hei
cold hands against her pounding
heart.
Why wire him at all? Why not
simply pack up and leave? Terror
sent her hands 6yiny through the
desk drawers, searching for a sched-
ule of trains to New York. There
was no train until the 1852 p. m.
the train which Mrs. Bannister ano
Nan Fosdick had taken last night.
She felt trapped; then came the
slow, insinuating thought that she
was glad she could not get away
until nearly midnight. She woulc
have, would be forced to have, one
more previous day with Schuyler
Smythe.
she would pack, would be ready tt
leave on the midnight train, but the
day at least was hers-and Schuy-
ler's.
She was taking dresses of theil
hangers to put them into her ward
robe trunks when the telephone
rang.
rs that you, vee-vee? You
voice sounds so odd, darling,
Schuyler Smythe's warm, deep voice
came caressingly over the wire.
| CT don't feel very well. Oh
it's nothing. I'm just tired, I sup
pose," Vee-Vee. answered, relaxing
weakly against the heaped-up pill
lows Of her bed.
"I've been waiting for you," his
voice came reproachfully. Have
you forgotten that you were to play
golf with me this morning?"
She had deferred playing golf as
long as possible, conscious that hel
game was extremely amateurish
undoubtedly miles below the prac-
ticed performance of Vivian Gran
| dali.
When she had made the engage
ment she had not intended to keer
it, had intended to suggest some
other form of diversion at the last
minute. But now she took thu
plunge desperately. She might al
well let her golf betray her as any
thing else. -.
It'll be dressed and down In ter
minutes, Schuyler. Awfully sorr.
to have kept you waiting she tols
him.
She was about to leave the room
her heart beating quickly at tn,
thought she would see Schuyle
Sn1ythe in just two more minutes
when knock sounded upon tn,
door, a discreet, deferential knock
She thought it was the waiter
come to remove her breakfast ira,
and table, called. Come int
blithely.
But 1t was not the waiter. 1t wa
the hotel manager. Mr.. Thurston
4 his bald forehead plisteninp will