The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-13

SnOOC, MAD, she COnCurTeQ ami
ably. "Only don't let's sound like
a couple of ham tragediennes."
Mabel bit her lip angrily.
you're absolutely insulting" she
remarked evenly will you please
put down that powder and rouge
until I get through talking?"
Sybil slipped them in her bag
and sank comfortably into the
great chair near the fireplace.
II beg your pardon, dear" she
murmured. Honestly I didn't NEAR,
to be rude
She swung one slim knee over the
other and reached a dainty foot to
the blaze.
"Oh, gosh, NAB, I've got a drop
stitch! Look at that. And a brand
new pair of stockings, too. Gee
that makes me mad-the very first
time I've worn them. Five dollars.
How much did you pay for those
you have on, Nab? They're lovely
and sheer"
Mabel stood with her back to the
fire and contemplated Sybil as al
outraged woman scorning frivolits
DO you know what you needp"
she asked politely. "You need some
hulking brute to wiring your neck.
There are women like that. It's the
only thing that stops them. And
I guess you're one of them, Sib.
I'd just be wasting time talking to
you. J was going to try to stir up
some appreciation of Craig Newhall
in your shallow little heart. But
Craig'S too good for you, Sybil. I'm
through trying to wish you on him.
I like him too well"
Mabel paused irresolutely.
You're an awful darn fool, Sybil,"
she concluded, and turned with a
great air of f1nality to face the fire.
IAN awful darn fool. And that's
all I've got to say"
The room grew very, very quiet.
The fire died down, and smouldered
softly. And the only sound came
from the little clock on the mantle.
Tick tock." it said. Tick
took. ....." and went on eating time
noisily, as clocks do when every
thing else is still.
THEN, suddenly, Sybil sobbed. A
Il muffled little sob, smothered in
the palm of her hand.
ooh, Mabel" she cried, and
reached up to clutch the hem of her
sweater. I'm not hard-boiled,
NAB. Honestly I'm not . can't
bear to have you talk to me like
that, Nab. Besides, you're alto
gether unreasonable. Don't be so
intolerant. Say what you've got to
say, and I'll listen to you. But for
heavens sake be reasonable.
"A girl doesn't get a sweetheart
back from the grave every day you
know. You certainly wouldn't eX-
pect me to turn my back on a good
substantial ghost like John Law
renee. A nice, handsome ghost,
NAB, with gorgeous blue eyes and
lovely blonde hair All the men
I know have bald spots, Nab"
Sybil was wheedling prettily.
And John, my dear, was the best
of all possible lovers. 1t would be
a rare woman, Mrs. Moore, who'd
run away from a ghost like him"
"Oh, I don't know that there are
any bells on your little friend"
Mabel pumped down on the divan.
when you loved John Lawrence, he
was regular Galahad, wasn't he?
Well now, my dear, he could show
Don Juan his stuff. He's a second
rate shiek-that's what he isl"
And how" inquired Sybil icily,
did you get your inside informa-
tion?"
"I heard one of the girls at the
real estate office talking about him,
if you must know" Mabel defended
herself with a clustering little air
of righte BUSINESS. "She said his life
was simply one woman after
another. -. Now, Sib, hadn't you
rather. keep your illusions about
young Galahad? I should think
you'd had enough Of philanderers
If Richard EuStis didn't teach you
a lesson, you're hopeless"
But, Mab," cried Sybil, "it was
such lovely romance I. had with
John!"
"Wes-well, hadn't you rather the
memory of it stayed fresh and
sweet? What do you want to dig it
up for? 1t will only tarnish and
grow cheap"