The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-21
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bad to be alone"
She gathered her wrap quickly
! about her shoulders and shivered.
But you have no man." laughed
Ashtoreth.
Mon"
NEADEMOISELLE sat up quick
WI ly and locked her long brown
arms about her knees. For a mo-
ment she stared across the dark
water. Then, rousing herself,
Sprang quickly to her feet.
Shall we have a drink" she
asked. THE bar is open. 1t will
warm us"
Ashtoreth had never been in "a
bar before. Afraid of seeming un.
initiated, she agreed. A little du-
bieuSly.
To her surprise the bar" was an
informal lounge where the pas
sengerS sat about small tables.
Some of them were playing
bridge, with tall glasses at their
hands. Everybody looked up when
she and MademoiSelle came in. And
three portly females left the room
Followed shortly by two thin ones
Mademoiselle led the way to the
table just vacated.
"Old maids!" she pronounced, her
glance following them through the
door. you can always tell, eh}
Because old maids are born, and
not made"
She chuckled quietly at her lit
tie joke, and Ashtoreth found her
soft laugh delightfully."- thrilling.
Most womens," she observed,
ARE good because they never had
chance to be anything else. And
that makes them angry, ma cherie."
She called for whisky and soda,
and sandwiches. But Ashtoreth, re-
Numbering Maizie's parting admo-
milton, declined the proffered drink.
Maize had put her arms about
her and whispered in her ear,
Don't do anything, Baby Lamb,
you wouldn't want mother to know
about"
And Ashtoreth. with a lump in
her throat and hot tears singing
her eyelidS, had pressed her mother
closer and promised, like a little
child.
"All right, Nuns, I'll be good"
Mademoiselle chatted inconsequen-
TALLY, and began to tell risque stories
Ashtoreth never knew whether or
not they were really bad, because
she had neither native appreciation
nor training for crude jokes.
But mademoiselle laughed her pref
ty, throaty laugh. And, when all
the respectable women had left, the
first officer joined them at their
table. 1t was then that AShtoreth
excused herself.
I'm so sleepy" she begged, you
don't care if I go DOWN."
Mon. Non, pauvre cherie." Made
moiselle placed her two brown hands
on Ashtoreth's slim white fingers.
Sweet dret ms, mon petit chou"
TINE first officer laughed. do
Il you know what Mademoiselle
called you?" he asked Ashtoreth.
"Her little cabbage!"
The Frenchwoman slipped her
hands up Ashtoreth's wrists.
1T is the sweetest little word I
Know" she said. Mon petit chou"
That is what lovers call each other
in my country. 1t is pretty, eh?"
Ashtoreth regarded the first Off
Ger superiority. She was annoyed
because he had not joined them
while there were other passengers
about.
His arrival, she knew, had been
discreetly timed. She hoped that
Mademoiselle would not favor him
with her enhancing presence on the
deserted deck.
loftily, that it's an awfully cute
little word"
She babe them good night and
went 70 her stateroom. The CLAM
our of the mysterious lady was all
about. Pervading the little cabin
with exotic scents and warm en-
chantment.
TO Be Continued
Who is the mysterious lady? Be-
fore the night is over Ashtoreth's
curiosity has been aroused. Yours