The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-04-16
CHAPTER XII
On the Trail

On the Trail
For Joyce. slowly realizing the
power that was hers with the pos
session of small fortune, the days
began to drag YEARLY.
"Why should | keep on working
like this when very soon 1 can do
all the things I've wanted to do all
my life," she asked herself more
times than one.
Some feeling that she would be
violating her confidence to Judge
Perkins kept her at work, however.
q If she left her work there were sew
eral persons to whom she would
have to make explanations, to Deke,
who was looking thinner and more
worried than ever on the eve of his
business trips; to Davey, who came
in once a week from his sales trips
to watch her rather gloomily and
make her feel that she was treating
him badly; to the girls in the sewing
circle at the hotel who were curious
about changes their little fraternity
made; to the other group of girls in
the reading circle for the Old Ladies'
Home who were doubly curious now
that Carter Deland had returned.
Much as she longed to take the
time to rest, to realize her indepen-
dence to the full, she felt that for
another month at least she must
pursue her ordinary course of con-
duct.
She had spoken to Carter only
once. He had paused by her desk
to shake hands with her and ask
after her healthy After that she saw
him several times in the lobby with
Catherine Sherwin, or with Mrs.
Fitz-Simons or Matte Truesdale.
The girls on the board had told
her of the projected house party at
the Anvil Club. They had heard in
vitations and excited acceptances,
and INDUCED in their usual slangy
gossip about the things they guessed
would happen at the affair.
Joyce was piqued at Carter's cut.
ting her. She told herself she was
glad Of it. But secretly she Won
dered that he had recovered so
quickly from what had seemed vio-
lent attraction for her.
AS yet she would not write to her
father still pursuing his search for
his wife of the freedom she would
soon have to join in his search. She
did, however, write him that she
expected to join him in New York
soon.
81 am very tired of staying here
alone" she wrote. "I think that
very soon 1 will come to help you.
Perhaps we can find her sooner If
we hunt together. l will write you
more of this later. Now l can only
tell you that I am making all my
plans to give up my work here by
the middle of April and come east
to set up a home somewhere to-
gether again"
She left him to infer that she was
now ready to use the money her
mother had left her for the purpose
she had dedicated it to in the fall,
Just after Mrs. Deacon's disappear
ance.
Deke came to see her the evening
before he left for the east. He was
looking haggard and worn and
nothing she could do seemed to give
him any encouragement.
ut looks as though I've about
reached the end of my rope" he
told her modify. Were still pay
ing war time prices for raw ma
terial, and we're having to sell at
peace time prices. That's one thing
/ want to iron out on this New York
trip. Then our western sales force
has simply laid down on the job,
and our former midwest and far
west trade has pretty nearly died. If
/ can pep up that sales force out
there and rewrite our eastern con-
tracts we may pull through, other
wise I'll be, looking for a job in a
couple of months
Does your mother suspect any
thing Of this?" Joyce asked.
Deke shook his head. mo, I've
been careful to keep my letters
cheerful She writes that father IS
improving right along. 1 borrowed
money last week to send them and
20 buy the clothes the girls say they
need this spring. I'm going to keep
everybody going Just as usual until
June; then if things smash I'll prob
ably spend the rest of my life pay
ing debts"
I'm thinking of giving up my job
here and ioininP NV father for "A
while this spring" Joyce told him.
Yes? Well 1 wish you luck. I've
wanted to follow that tip about
Butch Settler and your mothers dis
appearance all winter but haven't
been able to find the time-or the
money" he finished after a momen-
tary hesitation.
They were silent for a time. "You
don't want to wear my ring yet?"
he asked her presently.
II do wear it," Joyce said shy1y.
She pulled 1t from beneath the front
of her dress, where it sparkled on
thin gold chain.
Deke smiled at her. I'm glad you
keep it near you."
I'm going to wear it some day.
think" Joyce went on. lust let
me find my mother and settle her
and my fathers affairs, then I'm
well, I'm pretty sure that I'll come
here to you"
Deke took her hand and held It
closely. I'll know where am by
that time too" he said. cts best