The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-23
CHAPTER VI
The Guilty Conscience

4 room happened to be aJar as
she talked over the telephone to
Dorothy, and that Herbert hap
pened to be passing through the
hall at that moment, was one of
those maddening condolences that
occur in real life with even more
devastating surety than in fiction.
He had paused at the door, ar
rested by lover-like impulse to
kiss Lila before going to his dressing
room.
They were dining out, and he
had lust come from his office, with
only time enough to change-to
be late for an appointment was to
Herbert the second of the seven
deadly siIis-but his infatuation for
Lila was strong enough to make
him risk it.
With his hand outstretched to
open the doro wide, he heard Lila's
voice:
"Dot, you frighten me! Whist is
It? What has happened"
And, o moment later, with a
hint of panic in her voice:
what man? I don't {.
No, no, don't tell me over the tele-
phone, it's-it's Yes, III come
at once. At once, Dot!'
Herbert saw her hang up the re-
ceiyer. He saw also that her hand
was shaking. And then he spoke
sternly to her.
She whirled around to face him
Her face was drained of color, but
she forced welcoming smile to ner
pale lips.
Darling, I didn't hear you come
in" she hurried to him, ner slim
arms outstretched. He kissed her
rather coldly, held her at arms
LENGTH. and searched her face with
his candid gaze.
"What were you saying to Dor
othy?"
The necessity for a quick fib near
ly made her dizzy.
"Oh-I-she wants me to come
to her at once. She-she's IN some
sort of trouble"
''You said you were frightened"
he reminded her sternly.
eyes, yes-for her." insisted Lila
feverishly.
"You mentioned man. What
MANI"
ST wish I knew!" thought Lila
desperately. Aloud she said hastily,
"Thats Just it. It's a-er-a man
who's bothering Dot, pursuing her,
you know. She-she can't get rid
of him. You know what I mean"
she ended lamely.
Herbert's eyes were stern. A
flicker of jealous suspicion had lit
in them.
81 know of no one more capable
of taking care of herself than Dor
othy Game. 1t strikes me that She
could handle any man pretty we'll
mot this one," insisted Lila des-
perately. "I've got to go to her,
Herbert. Really, must, darling. 1
promised"
Herbert took out his watch DELHI
erately.
"In half an hour we're due to
leave for dinner. You know can't
tolerate hardness. You haven't time
to go to Dorothy"
ooh, but I have. I'm nearly
dressed, you see. All but my gown.
I'll simply throw 1t on and rush up
town and be back here again before
you're ready yourself"
Herbert studied her face deliber-
htely, noting her suddenly flushed
cheeks, her aYerted eyes
II will go with you," he an
bounced.
DANIC seized Lila, but she chung
i chung to q semblance of out
ward calm.
mo, no, darling. 1t isn't at all
necessary. I can make it so much
quicker"
IF a man is annoying Dorothy, F"
he accented the if in way that
gave Lila sudden chillS, ''you will
need me to send him properly about
his business"
"Oh, Dot wouldn't like that!" de-
clarCd Lila. "She-
Herbert took her by both arms.
"See here, Lila" he said quietly,
you're not telling me the truth. If
there's man at Dorothy'S studio,
he's somebody you know and want
to see; he's an old sutton, maybe
a f1ance" Jealousy was burning
now in Herbert's eyes. His fingers
hurt her arms.
On sudden desperate impulse,
Lila took refuge in tears.
"You-you're i-inSulting. You
s-suspeet me of awful things. /
wish I'd n-never unmarried you!
With her face buried in her hands.
she wept convincingly.
They were the first tears that
Herbert had ever seen her she'd
They terrified him. He was routed
He asked her pardon, dragging her
hands from her face and kissing
away the drops that fingered on her
long lashes.
Lila seized her advantage in
Stantly.
I'll forgive you," she promised
prettily, eff you prove you trust me
by letting me go to Dot-alone
Anyway" she played another trump,
We SOAAS44 4lActhC ~ bOSSbIlGI anu
be in time for dinner. So just let
me run. .....
IN the car-forunately it had not
4 been returned to the garage after
bringing Herbert from downtown
Lila tried to gather her thoughts.
Now that she was alone; terror
took possession of her. She shiv-