The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-17
CHAPTER xiv

"WELL, that is the condition.
w Bessie asked Rod in reply tc
his statement that he would &C
cept the Job at the cottage on one
condition.
Simply that shall be at liberty
to quit whenever I choose" he eX-
planned. "And I'll agree that the
owner may discharge me without
notice"
Bessie hesitated.
II haven't the slightest idea
whether or not I can endure living
here alone" Rod went on, but he did
not add that his doubt was inspired
by the fact that the cottage re-
minded him so much of BERTHE Lou
Bessie had decided that BERTHE
Lou would want her to meet his
terms. I'm sure that will be all
right with the owner" she said.
"He wants you to leave your adj
dress and the name of someone we
can ask about you"
She smiled in friendly fashion,
but Rod did not return the smile.
tive no references" he said
shortly, "but I've lived for several
weeks at my present address. You
may inquire about me there If you
wish
well, Of course, it's a funny way
to do business" Bessie declared,
merely for the sake of appearances.
"But if you've just come to town
That was All explanation for his
lack of references that she brought
out in order to make Rod believe
she assumed it to be the real one.
It wouldn't do to let him suspect
they would turn over the house to
an unvouched-for stranger.
Rod let it pass. If they wanted
to investigate him, let them. 1t
was an absurd thing, anyhow, his
taking such a job. He didn't really
know why he did it, except that
the opportunity for some physical
effort appealed to him.
It would be a relief to have a
chance to work with his hands, out
doors. But five dollars week
would scarcely maintain him. He
had a little money. He'd have to
use some of that, and he mustn't
wait until it was gone before seek
ing a position in his own field.
Here's the address, and the
name of the landlady," he said and
wrote them down on piece Of
paper torn from notebook. when
will you let me know?"
Tomorrow night? What's your
telephone number? If everything
is all right I'll give you ring"
Rod gave her the number and
she jotted it down.
'Tell the owner that I'd like to
put in a garden" Rod said when he
was leaving. I'm not working just
at present and I'll like to be busy
around the place"
When Bessie repeated his request
to BERTHE Lou, the latter smiled. But
the smile was erased when Bessie
informed her Of Rods conditional
acceptance.
"He's afraid maybe he won't like
the simple life," Bessie added, using
her own words. Into BERTHE Louis
mind flashed an Interpretation that
killed little of her pity for Rod.
So he still longed for Lila, did he?
That was what it meant The
simple life hadn't much attraction
for him. Perhaps if he were not
down on his luck he would be back
with Lila and her friends, in the
night clubs.
BERTHE Lou thought she could
guess pretty we'll what had hap
pened. Cyrus had discovered that
Rod and Lila were in love with each
other.
Rod had lost his position and
Lila had cast him aside when he
began to slip down the ladder it had
cost him so much to climb. The
cost had been chiefly her own, BERTHE
Lou reflected.
But could Rod be such poor
fish that he regretted losing Lila?
Couldn't he see, since Lila had not
been turned out by Cyrus, along
With him, that she preferred her
rich husband to poor lover?
She must somehow have put all
the blame on Rod, and managed to
convince Cyrus of her own inno-
cence. BERTHE Lou despised Rod at
the moment she told herself these
things.
She despised him, but still she
"pitied" him. And the next day
she telephoned to his landlady, as
a matter of form, and made a few
inquiries about him. All that she
could learn was that he was a salts
factory tenant
That evening Bessie called hin
and announced to him that his ref
erences we're o. K. He could have
the Job if he wanted it, and wher
would he go. out? Rod replied thai
he would be- at the cottage the mex
morning.
Make it tomorrow evening-at
half past eight and I'll be out there,
Bessie answered and Rod agreed.
"You can go ahead with the
garden" she told him when he ar.
rived at the house promptly on the
half hour. Here's the keys. Bt
sure you don't go away and leave
the doors unlocked. And there
some bacon and eggs in the icebo1
for your breakfast, but there ism
any Ice. Oh yes, here's your frs
weeks pay and two dollars to bu,
seed for the garden"
Rod thanked her and offered tt
walk to the station, with her, bu