The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-14

contemplated Ashtoreth humor-
ously.
and I bet" she added, you're
just as hard to make. Oh, well.
God played favorites with us VIM
min. That's all I got to say"
II don't know that life's been
using you too badly" consoled Ash
toreth. st haven't seen any ten
thousands coming my way"
"You will" prophesied Sadie,
"sure as God makes little apples.
You're too dam ornamental to ever
go hungry, or anything like that,
you know, Kid.
well, I'll be getting in touch with
you bimeby. So long, Ashland
don't you be shedding any tears over
my tough luck. Here's one I'll baby
knows how to take care of Sadie"
e Il
A SHTORETH waited on the cor
L n ner for a street car. One
thought was paramount in her
mind. To keep Sadie from telling
Mr.. Hart any further details of her
childhood.
Not that I'm ashamed" she told
herself. But being poor is like
having funny relations. You just
sort of keep quiet about some things.
Everybody does"
She wondered how she should ex-
plain to Mr.. Hart the details of her
protracted visit with the MortonS.
How tell him of her fathers death?
Or the miserable months where she
and Maize subSisted on the charity
of neighborS?
When Maize went out working by
the hour. Accommodating, she
called it. But, for all her gay pre-
lenses, Ashtoreth knew that she had
scrubbed floors and washed a thou
sand greasy dishes.
There were many things that
Hollis Hart must never know. Not
that there was anything shameful
about having been an errand. girl
in the five-and-ten.
Of course there wasn't! But
neither was it anything a girl who
looked like an heiresS boosted about
particularly.
IF he thinks I've antecedents,
and education and culture like the
girls Of his crowd, what fool I'd
be-" vowed Ashtoreth, ito disillusion
him."
She left the car at Park street and
walked briSkly down to State. Mr..
Hart had left the office when she
reached there, and she spent the
afternoon copying a tiresome report
assigned by Mrs. Mason.
Suddenly she became panic
stricken.
Maybe he has another Stenog-
rapher! Maybe he'll never talk to
me again!"
At five o'clock, when she closed
her desk, she was Shivering inward
ly. Half expecting Mrs. Mason to
inform her, on the way out, that her
services would be no longer required.
To be given two weeks pay in lieu
of notice.
But Mrs. Mason smiled when she
said good night.
"Mr. Hart wished me to thank
you for him." she said.
THANK me? What for?"
Mrs. MaSon's lips twitched in
polite and efficient smile.
II don't know" she admitted.
"But Mr.. Hart spoke as if you would
understand"
AShtoreth powdered her nose and
pulled her hat over her eyebrows,
while her heart pounded madly in
transport of joy.
She had not, then, forfeited his
interest. Tomorrow, perhaps, he
would ask her of Sadie's plans.
And she would be able to tell him
that she had advised Sadie to make
no trouble.
II may be only stenographer,"
she rejoiced, "but can do mil
lionaire a favor!"
VXTARMLY grateful to life and
w it's largesSe, she stopped at a
confectioner's on the way home and
ordered for Maize a pound of as
sorted bonbons and caramels with
nuts.
She bought the newest movie
magazine. And a box of face
powder, highly scented and pink
as tender watermelon. Then she
stopped at the circulating library
and procured a copy of Edgar Wal
lace'S latest.
1t was Maizie's little joke that
Mr.. Wallace keeps more women
awake nights than any man living.
Maize had roast beef hash for
dinner, and cottage pudding for
desert.
Let me drop an egg for you,
honey" she wheeled. Mice coun-
try eggs. A $1.10 dozen.
She deposited a quaking mound
of yellow, surrounded by an aura
of quivering white.
There! Don't that look nice?
And here's real cream for your
coffee. No top of the bottle tonight,
dear"
Ashtoreth frowned.
whats the celebration, Mother?"
Maize wiped her hands on her
apron.
Monty English is coming over"
she said. II saw him on fremont
street this afternoon. I got in just
a few little things. thought may
be you'd like to give him little
snack, honey"
She smiled ingratiatingly. Cheese.
And a can of tomato soup, to make
an English monkey. And some nice
fudge cake from the Woman'S Ex-
change"
AShtOreth threw I'm her hands