The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-22
CHAPTER xLv111

CAAUSASA VIC WAO44S 11OuSS. 1IlaL wax
absurd. This was Bakers place, al
right. But what was going oni
Who could be here?
why. Baker, of course" he tolc
himself, though still puzzled. He'c
never thought about the possibility
Of the man having a wife. This
looked like woman's work. But
it was funny they hadn't waited I'M
til he was out of the house. Per-
haps they wanted him to leave at
once.
He was still in the hall when sud-
denly he was rooted to the spot by
a greeting called out to him from
the kitchen. Was this an halluci-
nation?
Rod, is that you?" the voice
sounded, a bit shaky. Come out
and help me with the steak, will
you?"
Rod moved on into the living
room, feeling Just as he should
have felt-completely bewildered
This couldn't be! Now he knew
he was the victim Of his own mind
His brooding over the past had
brought him to the verge OF in
sanity.
That table. He stood staring at
1t, without answering the voice from
the kitchen. Oh, he was still too
sane for thatl OF course there were
no places laid for two, no gorgeous
red roses, and lace cloth.
Then he shifted. ooh, Lord" he
groaned, "do only imagine that
heavenly smell?"
well, aren't you conling?" The
voice from the kitchen was growing
impatient-just Ike a wife's. For
answer he moved over and touched
the roses. Their feel was unnis-
taxable. Did people imagine they
felt things, too-things that weren't
there? Rod had touch of panic.
He drove out to the kitchen like
a veritable mailman. He would find
out if he could see the owner of
that voice! If he could then
there was no doubt about it {.
he was ready for the straitjacket.
He saw her, standing before the
kitchen table, fussing with thick
steak, and not trusting herself to
look up at him. He lifted his arm
and drew his coatsleeve across his
eyes.
BERTHE Lou waited for him to say
something. She heard only a half
suppressed sound of helpless misery
that brought her head up with a
jerk
Why, what's the matter with
you?" she cried and rushed over as
though she feared he was going to
fall and she could save him. Her
touch on his arm had strange eff
feet. What happened then was far
from BERTHE LOUIS plans.
Rod simply took her and held her.
Held her as a drowning man would
hold to life. BERTHE Lou could
scarcely breathe. And she couldn't
think at all.
A humorous phrase came to her
nind-"this is SO sudden" It made
her laugh. And the laugh, though
it was barely audible for lack of
strength behind it, was a sound of
pure happiness. No, she was not
thinking.
But she had to breathe, and when
she finally struggled out Of Rods
embrace she remembered in a rush
all that she had forgotten in this
last moment.
And Rod remembered too, BERTHE
Lou belonged to Marco Palmer.
Rods eyes instantly became points
of anguish of the soul SO intense
that BERTHE Lou was compelled to
look away from him.
''Why did you do that?" she said
brokenly.
Because I love you, BERTHE LOU"
Rod answered, his voice vibrant with
emotion.
ooh, but you don't! she cried. "If
you did you never could have be-
Ieved what you told Lila!
''Lila?" Rod repeated duly.
eyes" BERTHE Lou faced him
with her head high and her checks
afame. Lila told me what you
saw at Marco Palmer's house. L
went to her when I learned that she
had been out here. Oh, Rod" she
hurried on in a rush, "how could
you believe such a thing?"
Rod stared at her a moment in
dumb questioning. hen: my God,
what a blind fool I've been," he ex-
claimed bitterly. "Bertie Lou, you
will never forgive me, will you?"
BERTHE Lou sank into a chair and
buried her face on her arms. Rod
came over and knelt beside her.
Listen to me, please" he begged.
BERTHE Lou did not raise her head.
Neither did she draw away from
the hand he put tentatively on her
arm.
81 must have been mad" he went
on, "but I have some excuse, BERTHE
Lou. I had been disilluSioned, and
I was sure you didn't love me. You
went away in such an unaccounta-
BILE fashion; you hardly wrote-just
short, cool notes.
Il knew about you and Lila" Ber-
tie Lou interrupted in muffled tones.
81 found out before I went away"
There wasn't anything to find out
then" Rod said with painful hon.
esty.
Now BERTHE Lou raised her head.
"You told me a lie," she charged
him reproachfully. 81 asked you
why you we're late, and you said you
had worked at the office, or some
thing. And you had been to Lila's
apartment"
Eyes," Rod admitted. II had, but
I couldn't tell you why, BERTHE Lou.
I didn't want to worry you"
"Aad you were there when called
your rffice just after I got that tele-
gram from home" BERTHE Lou added.
1T knew then that you were in love
Sry;%I1 ale ~