The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-01

your SERVICE" he answered taking
off his hat and bowling with flour
ish.
Joyce held out her hand, the one
| he noted she had been cuddling
against her cheek. So he held 1t
close. II do remember" she cried.
"Deke-you were nearly sent away
for calling Miss Haste, the Latin
| teacher, Miss Hurryup-I was there
studying when you did that in class
that day."
Deke laughed, and continued to
hold her hand. I'm the guy!' he
said. you've got better memory
than have. for l had forgotten how
pretty you are"
"Oh, I've improved-too," said
Joyce mischievously, withdrawing
her hand.
''Thanksw Deke looked at her
again. Pretty and smart, too. And
to think of falling into such luck
at the beginning of his summer va
cation. Let me take you home"
he said. 1.-The old milk wagon can
still go. And I hope you live a
thousand miles from here"
Just two blocks" said Joyce. de-
murely. And I'm perfectly able to
walk"
ooh, come on. be generous" urged
Deke. Wen go around the block a
couple of times and land at home
in time for dinner"
"Td like to-" said Joyce, soberly,
but my father is awfully strict and
doesn't let me go out at all.
Maybe 1 can get on the good side
of mother then" said Deke.
Mothers away until late every
night-she works, you see," said the
girl. dad won't let me even go up
to meet her in the evening, so !
have to slip out the back door to do
that"
well, suppose we take ride now
and I'll let you out as near home as
you care to have me. Then some
night soon I'll drive down to the
corner when you expect your mother
and you can introduce me and see
if she approves of my face and fig
ure.."
Joyce giggled. "All right" And
for an hour they exchanged banter
and admiring giances, the eternal
coin of youth.
Deke recalled this ride in the soft
spring sunshine and thought of il
regretfully as he stopped now be-
fore the apartment where the Oar
ings lived. Joyce leaned across her
mother and opened the door.
Thank you, Deke," she said. -
can't bear to remember even yet
that minute when Butch pulled me
into his car, but 1 do thank you
more than can tell YOU"
Wont you come up with us for
few minutes, Mr.. Deacon? I'm sure
Mr.. Daring would like to meet yor
and thank you for saving our little
Joy from those terrible men tc
night" Mrs. Daring's voice was
honeyed and though Deke wanted tc
go, he felt a moments distaste fol-
the call. His desire for few mo-
ments more with Joyce conquered
however. He climbed Gown from the
car. Joyce said nothing, though her
mother whispered, why don't YOU
ask him yourself?"
II told you Davey's there" she
whispered back. She did not add that
! she feared the effect of Dad com
Portable in his shirt sleeves, his shoe
less feet propped up on the reading
table, his smelly pipe in his mouth
on the fastidious Mr.. Henry Deacon
Tripping over this thought came
the realization that Dad would GER
tainly dislike Deke. and that she
couldn't bear for Deke to criticise
Dads. Dads was a dear, for all his
informal ways and his tyranny over
her. She loved Dads. Suddenly she
felt the tears smarting against her
eyes. She had undergone too much
today Before she could get herself
in hand, Mrs. Daring had opened the
| door and pulled Joyce with her tear
| filled eyes into the stuffy living
room, and turned to give Deke a wei
| coming glance.