The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-25
CHAPTER VIII.
A Husbnd at Her Heels

TIER B ERT!" whispered Lila
L l. warningly In Dorothy's ear,
as she nodded toward the studio
door, where the knocker sounded
inperatively.
Dorothy, who had started toward
the door with the intention Of open
ing it, stopped dead in her tracks.
Lila, her mind working frantic
ally, addressed the puzzled and half
angry Mr.. Jackson:
IT must go now-at once-or I
shall be late for my dinner-party.
Perhaps, after all, you'd better call
again tomorrow. Make it around II
o'clock, please"
He looked at her suspiciously.
She could fairly see him thinking:
"Ahal That's so you'll be sure to
be here!" Or was it only her guilty
conscience2
'T'u have the papers for you to
see," she told him sweetly, per-
Suasively. Somehow, she would have
to find time to go to her fathers
house and rummage in that old
equipment and souvenirs.
"I'u run now, Dot" she said to
Dorothy, as she made for the door,
She opened it quickly and almost
managed to whisk herself out before
Herbert stepped across the threS-
hold.
A heavy velour curtain partially
RIoz kt,A vy9o 1F
from the doorway, so Herbert
caught only glimpse Of Dorothy
in her cleaning gown.
But even that glimpse revealed
her as very lovely and radiant, not
at all the harassed and worried
young woman who was supposed to
be attempting to stem the infatua-
ton Of an unWanted sutton.
His quick glance, resting sharply
on Mr.. jackson, told him that the
man was not the type to inspire
jealousy in husband who had
every reason not to underestimate
his own good looks.
But, as Lila hurried him out,
clinging prettily to his arm, and
chattering viyaciously, he heard the
man say to Dorothy:
well, then, you tell Miss Latham
to be sure to meet me at IL o'clock
tomorrow"
Herbert put Lila into the car be-
fore he opened the attack. Even
in the throes of suspicion and jeal-
ousy, he wouldn't be late for dinner.
u 4
NTOw, Lila, what's thls?" he de-
IN manded. THAT chap referred
to you as Miss Latham"
Lila was taken aback, but she was
ready.
ooh, yes" she assented brightly.
HE knew me as Dorothy's friend,
before was married, and I dare
say she never thought to tell him
about our marriage. 1t wouldn't
have interested him, anyway"
"Indeed?" remarked Herbert, icily.
eff he has no interest in you, why
then does he except to meet you
tomorrow morning at IL o'clock?"
"Oh, heavens, how much did he
hear while I was rattling on?" Lila
groaned to herself.
She explained slowly, sparring for
time: 81 want to talk to him to-
morrow very seriously about Doro-
thy. There wasn't time tonight.
You see, darling, I didn't want to
keep you waiting"
Her hand sought his, and she
lifted her lovely little face, her red
lips fairly begging for kisses.
But Herbert was not to the Ca
ioled.
eff you meet this person, you
must consent to my accompanying
you. Remember that have rather
old-fashioned views about marriage,
refuse to permit my wife to make
engagements with other men,"
'But, darling, he's so old and ugly.
"You can't possibly think"
what you think and what I think
is not always what the world
thinks"
'But, for Dorothy's sake, I must
see him." walled Lila.
81 am not sure that Dorothy is a
proper friend for you, Lila" said
Herbert, with dignity. 81 know
nothing about her morals, but it
strikes me that she's very careless
Of appearances when she chooses to
live without a chaperon and to re-
ceive men in her studio"
r lila was too distressed over her
IL own problem, at the time to
resent this criticism Of Dorothy
but she resolved not to forget 1t.
what would I have done with
out Dot In all this beastly mesS?"
she thought, "I'd even fight Her
bert, for her sake"
Before the car drew up at the
home of the friend with whom they
were to dine, she had thought of a
way to see Mr.. jackson without
Herbert's knowing Of it. Or so she
hoped.
She slipped her hand under his
arm and said, with all the inno-
cence of a child:
you're right, darling. About
that man, I mean. I'd better not
see him, perhaps"
That wasn't exactly lie, she
comforted herself. She certainly
wouldn't see him, if she didn't have
to, because her sixth sense predicted
disaster in the interview with Mr.
Jackson.
'Then you wOa't2" demanded