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

and slipped the flask in his pocket.
''Now for the dancer he said.
AS they went up the steps of the
high school building Deke pressed
Joy close to him. II don't suppose
L know a soul here" he said. Il
only bought a ticket because I
thought you'd be here. I'm not an
alumnus at all. But my father is,
so I'm really going on his reputa-
ton tonight
Joyce gave a little skip. All her
dancing up to this time had been
done in the afternoon with the girls
in her class. Now she was here,
not with one of the boys, but with
an older man who would catch the
envious glances of all the other girls.
They swung onto the crowded floor
few minutes later. Deke held her
firmly and led her light feet after
him with unfailing grace. II know
now why 1 learned to Dance" he
whispered into her ear.
Joyce smiled at him radiantly.
Look at JOY, say she's real swell
tonight, isn't she?" asked one Of her
classmates dancing by with another
girl. ME for a dance. She's sure
some peach tonight"
Don't forget, every other dance
is NINE" said Deke as various
youths came up to ask Joyce to
dance.
"You must dance with some of
the other girls too," said Joyce. "I'll
introduce you"
Must I? Do you want me tor"
asked Deke in a tone of boredom.
Joyce nodded. sit would look
funny If you didn't" she said.
For Joyce the evening took wings.
She seemed to herself to be float
ing on cloud Of happiness. Her
feet barely touched the floor. The
whole world was beautiful. She
knew the other girls were wonder
ing about Henry Deacon. She knew
some of them were whispering spite
fully about her. But she did not
care. Nothing mattered save that
she was happy. She had every other
dance with Deke. The end of the
evening was far away.
The last dance came. Deke swept
her out into the midst Of the dane
ers. "Sorry it's nearly over?" he
asked. Joyce nodded her head.
Deke frightened his arms about her.
Sweet thing" he murmured. "Joy
that's what you are. Pure Joy for
any man to hold in his armsv'
The dance was nearly over. Like
all high school dances 1870 marked
the closing hour. Surely he could
persuade Joy to prolong the evening
another hour or more. They would
drive out into the country. And he
would give her taste Of the intoxi-
eating beverage called love
AS they neared the door he felt
Joyce stiffen in his arms. He fol-
| lowed her glance. There in the door.
way stood the sober-faced youth she
called Davey that memorable night
in the fiat two weeks or so ago.
| What could he want here-oh, yes,
he had been the chosen swain for
the evenings party until Father
shut him off. WELL" thought Deke.
"I've licked one tonight. Tougher
than this one, too. But 1 hope I
won't have to. 1 like his face"
Joyce waved hand, rather a
shaky one, to Dave. Dave nodded
back. When the dance was finished
Joyce and Deke walked toward
Davey.
''Lo ,Davey. You see I got here
after ALL" Joyce tried to speak
saucily, but her voice sounded hol-
low, even to herself.
Poor kid" thought Deke. "She's
in for bad time of it. Maybe I'd
better get her home as soon as i
can"
He held out his hand to Davey
who took it mechanically. "Howdy
do Mr.. Tompkins. Sorry 1 couldn't
have brought you along too. Quite
a nice party we had, with Joyce
here the belle of the ball"
Davey flushed a deep red at the
bantering tone. Joyce felt herself
somehow siding with Davey at this
moment. Are things all right at