The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-21
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XLVII

"TTERES a letter from your
IL caretaker," Bessie told Ber-
tie Lou when the latter came into
her room. at was downstairs. I
guess you'd better open it.
A moment later BERTHE Lou an
nounced that Mr.. Brown was quit
ting. "Well, I think it's a good
thing" Bessie declared openly.
eyes, it isl BERTHE Lou admitted.
att makes it easier for me. I won't
have to tell him to CO."
Bessie frightened. 80 you were
getting on to yourself, were you?"
she said.
BERTHE Lou smiled. "I haven't
been kidding myself, Bessie" she
answered. ''But before Mr.. Brown
leaves NIoonf1elds you've got to help
me prepare surprise for him."
"I'd like to know who's going to
help prepare a surprise for me, F"
Bessie demurred. Because some
one will have to use influence or
I'll never have the surprise of get
ting past Saint Peter at the gate.
I'm as full of lies as porcupine
is Of quilts"
Gust a few more little ones"
BERTHE Lou pleaded, "a good cause"
what cause?"
Mine and Mr.. Browns"
HIN. Say, don't you ever give
Mr.. Palmer a chance to bat? That
guy could hit home run with me
any day."
BERTHE Lou had no time to talk
about Marco. "I want you to send
Mr.. Brown telegram" she said
excitedly. mo, wait minute; we
can telephone to one of the neigh
bors. Do you know the name OF
the people next door?"
"Sure, it's Neighbor," Bessie
grinned. mo foolin'."
BERTHE Lou jumped up and hurried
out of the room. "I'll get the tele-
phone book" she called back, land
we'll see if they have a phone"
Soon she was back with the direc-
tory and they looked for the name
Neighbor under the listings for
Moonfields. 1t was not there. Then
they went down to the telephone
it was in the lower hall-and asked
for the information operator. She
gave them the number.
Bessie good-naturedly transmitted
BERTHE LOUIS message to Rod, though
she pretended to be distressed over
doing it.
"Never mind" BERTHE Lou consoled
her. ''This will be the last time,
Bessie. And you've been a darling.
I won't forget it,"
mot even when you're Mrs. Marco
Palmer?" Bessie leased.
"You and Marco seem to have
that all settled" BERTHE Lou smiled.
persistence wins, they tell us at
the store" Bessie retorted.
BERTHE Lou looked at her like one
who has suddenly come face to
face with an undeniable fact of ter
rifying import. Would Marco
finally break down her resistance?
She had thought he never would
bother with her again after the
sudden leave she had taken Of his
party on Long Island. But, though
he complained of it, it had made
no difference in his determination
to marry her.
However, why worry about that
now, she asked herself. Before any
thing Of the kind could happen she
would have her hour with Rod.
She wouldn't think Of anything
else! 49,
"You won't fall down on this?"
she asked Bessie doubtfully.
Bessie bridled. "I'm a perfect
liar" she boosted.
ayes, you've gone beautifully >
BERTHE Lou assured her. "But you
aren't in sympathy with Mr.. Brown.
You might make him suspicious If
you aren't careful"
Don't worry. I'll tell him just
what you said.'
And she did.
The next day Rod came in an
gwer to the telephone summons. He
understood that the owner Of the
cottage had read his letter and
wanted to see him in regard to his
resignation from his Job.
But the owner was away, and
though he looked searchil1gly at
Bessie as she told him this, he found
nothing in her expression to arouse
his suspicious about the business.
'"That's odd" he said. "I always
seem to just miss him. He's kind
of an elusive bird, this Mr.. Baker
BERTHE Lou, too. had assumed a
name. For his benefit. She feared
ne would hear her own from her
neighbors. She did not know them
but she surnlised that they would
inquire about the ownership Of hel
cottage.
Fortunately, the houses next tc
hers had been started later. She
prevailed upon the development
company to keep her name a secret
and call her Mr.. Baker. She took g
chance on Rod hearing it from those
who had learned it before she hao
any reason for concealing it.
Another circumstance in her favor
was Rods desire for solitude. He
did not care to nningle with the fast
growing population of Moonflelds
so he missed hearing people say
that, otis Baker who owns that
place with the lovely flower beds;
thought it was Dryer, or something
like that"
"He's busy person." Bessie