The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-04

her complexion than in the pearls
themselves.
Still, his breeding would not per-
nit him to express his true opinion
of them, which was in accord with
Lila's. Turning them over in his
hand, scrutinizing them closely, he
cast about in his mind for some
genuine praise tho bestow upon
them.
Rod was watching him with fas-
cinated intentness, waiting for the
denouement. He expected the
Frenchman to show surprise, to be-
come embarrassed. Instead, Mon
sieur Clavier returned the pearls to
Lila with the remark that they
we're very we'll matched, indeed, and
oof really good color.
They're the irridescent pearls
that are found in the Pacific, near
Australia" he told Cyrus. mo 9TH
ers could be so suitable for Madam'S
fair skin"
Lila took them in a limp hand.
She did not look at Rod, who sat
with rather foolish expression of
amazement spreading over his
countenance.
Cyrus alone thanked Monsieur
Clavier for his opinion. Then the
company burst into an excited chat
ter that covered their relief over a
threatening cloud dispelled.
~.
their hostess was disturbed, but at
least there was no further cause to
dread the subtle sense of trouble
that had lowered over them.
Lila did not turn her head toward
Rod until the dinner was ended.
In rising, while he stood to pull
back her chair, she let her eyes
meet his with great reluctance. Rod
gazed back at her from a frozen
visage. A slow flush stole up Lila's
cheeks as she turned quickly away
without a word.
Rod contributed very little in
conversation to the half-hour the
men spent at the table over their
black coffee after Lila had taken
her women guests away. He sat,
still frowning, over his cigaret
while the other men told their
stories and drank their liqueurs.
When they went to the drawing
room he was black proved with sus-
picion. Lila was seated before the
piano, half-heartedly trying a new
jazz piece. She seemed to know,
without looking up, when Rod en-
tered the room. Someone twitted
her for the harsh discord she drew
from the keys, and Lila stopped
playing.
Bridge followed, but Rod was
among those who did not care to
play. Lila played indifferentIy, alb
stractedly, and Rod was not sur
prised, about an hour later, when
she was dummy" to see her rise
and make some excuse for leaving
the table.
He also rose from a nearby chair.
and when Lila opened the door that
led to the small grilled-in balcony
off the library he was close behind.
Lila stepped to the edge and stared
down at the city. Rod closed the
door.
Lila did not lift here head even
when he stepped up beside her. For
a few seconds he stood there, wait
ing. Then he put a hand on her
wrist and turned her around to face
him., She saw a new Rod. There
was hard purpose in his set ex-
preston and accusing eyes. It
caused her to shiver slightly with
fear.
you'd better tell me all about it,
Lila" he said with ominious quiet
ness.
For moment Lila was silent. The
! impulse to lie that had seized ker,
the lies themselves that she had
been formulating since leaving the
dining room, slipped from her mind.
Rod could not be deceived, she
realized with unmistakable Ger
tainty.
With this knowledge sinking like
a poisoned arrow into her heart,
Lila became wild creature fighting
with its back against the wall. She
tore her wrist free with a Quick pcs