The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-05

you don't, Joyce darling. That's
what came to tell you. Joyce, you
know I've always loved you. I'm
only earning forty dollars week
now, but 1 have only myself to take
care of. If you think we can live
on that and will marry me we can
be married today. Will you, Joyce?"
| Joyce looked at Davey through a
mist of tears. How good of him!
How wonderfully good of him! Dear,
good, kind, slow, old Davey. Safety
again! That was what Davey and
men like her father meant in life
only, well, Dads hadn't kept her
mother safe. And how could she be
sure she loved Davey? Maybe she
did. But then maybe she idn't.
So she pressed Davey's imprison-
ing hands and shook her, head.
"Davey, / can't. It's wonderfully
good, marvelously kind of you to
ask me. I'm not sure that love
you. / like you better than anyone
know. But marriage-that's differ
ent. It's for life, even if" the hor-
rible example of her own home
dawned before her. Marriage wasn't
for life for some people then.
Now Davey was speaking again.
what are you going to do, Joyce?"
"I don't know, Davey," she said. II
honestly don't. And I wish you
would go now and let me think of
it, for 1 have to decide very SOON"
Then Davey, the slow, the kind,
found himself and took the girl in
his arms. He kissed her, held her
close, murmured her name against
her hair, called her his sweetheart,
over and over. "Joyce, Joyce, l love
you. Let me take care of you. Tell
me that you do care for me little"
Joyce shook herself free, fright
ened by Davey's tenseness. Don't
do that again, please, Davey. Not
ever"
mot ever?" asked Davey, trying
to control the shaking of his voice.
II don't know" said Joyce in
low tone. But I'm not ready for
it now. And if ever am-Well, you
would know, wouldn't you, Davey?"
Davey Strengthened himself. Yes,
would, Joyce. I'm sorry. I'll go
now and you must let me know what
you do, where you are, and if you
ever need help. You know there is
nothing in the world I wouldn't do
for YOU"
He opened the door after a quick
handshake and went down the stairs.
Coming up and passing him was lit
tie Mary, the druggists daughter.
She knocked at the Darings' door
just os Davey passed into the street.
There's a Teller wants to speak
to you on the phone over at the
store" said Mary shifting her chew
ing gum.
ITO me?" cried Joyce. starting.
"Who can it be-"
She followed Mary down to the
drug store. Mr.. Smith was super
intending the installation of a new
showcase. Got you to thank for
this" he said genially, indicating the
open door of the phone booth.
joy: Hello?
Voice: Is this Miss Joyce Daring?
Joy: Yes, what is it please?
Voice: This Ia Henry Deacon,
Deke, Joy.
Joy: oh. Deke
Deke: How did you come out last
night? 1 hardly slept for worrying
about you.
Joy: I'm all right.
Deke: Your voice sounds funny.
I'm coming down to see you. Any
body home?
Joy: No, no, Deke. Don't come
down now. Please!
Deke: Why not? feel as though
I got you into this mess partly by
running off with you last night.
Please let me come down to talk to
you. 1 won't stay.
can be down in ten minutes.
Joy: / oughtn't to let you come
oh, well! Come on. But you can't
stay.
Deke: Righto. That's the girl.
I'll start right away. Good-by-see
you later.
Joy walked slowly out Of the phone
booth and into the warm spring sun
shine. Sitting in car parked at the
curb was Butch Settler, an ungly
lump swollen on his chin. He got out
of the car as Joyce left the store
and stopped her. "Say, Joyce" he
began, 81 heard your old man chased
the old woman out last night and
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