The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-06
CHAPTER XXXIV

laugh. I'VE can forget everything
that's happened" she said softly,
"and just take our happiness in
our own way. Hold me in your
arms, Rod, please. We've a right
to each other"
Rod jerked himself free Of her
embrace and took a step backward.
He came up sharply against the
grill railing. lila, you're crazy"
he said. "How could there be any
happiness for us together?"
Lila looked at him with touch
of scorn. "Must I literally throw
myself at your feet?" she tainted
him.
"But there's Cy and BERTHE
LOU" Rod reminded her with great
simplicity.
what do they count?" Lila fared.
ICY ought to know what an old man
gets when he marries young girl!
And BERTHE Lou doesn't care a snap
of her fingers for you'll"
Gwen so, we're married to them,
Rod replied, a trife YEARLY.
Lila drew in her breath and
pressed closer to him. what of
that9" she asked. Marriage needn't
keep us from being happy, need it?
Oh Rod, don't sacrifice me for two
people who don't know what it
means to be in Lowell"
"Are you going to leave Cy?" Rod
asked her. st couldn't let you do it
for me, Lila. I just couldn't, that's
all. Cys my friend.
Lila ran a smooth finger along
his cheek and curled it over his
ear. "I don't intend to break his
heart, Rod" she said, "but he's 60
ing on trip next week
"NIy God, Lila, haven't you any
decency?" Rod cried, breaking en-
tirely free of her clinging arms. His
words were like a lash across Lila's
face.
st didn't know you were squeam-
ish," she fired at him. "You ought
to divorce BERTHE Lou if you think
SO much Of decency."
Rod moved toward the door with
out answering her but she was be-
fore him like darting flame and
stood with her back against the door
handle.
$50 that got, you, did it?" she
Knocked him. cit isn't so pleasant
to hear a truth like that, is it? All
right to talk to me about decency,
but how about man who permits
his wife to fall fer another man and
makes no effort to prevent it?"
Rod fairly trembled with out
ragged feelings as he stood before her
and listened to her scathing denun-
citation.
you've led me into this" she
went on. Everyone knows you don't
care What BERTHE Lou does. Well,
why shouldn't you care
unless you wanted to be free to do
the same? You're big fraud with
your talk Of decency. I'd like to
know how you get that way!"
Rod tried to brush past her. ooh,
no" she stopped him, you'll hear
the rest Of it, Mr.. Good. You told
me yourself that BERTHE LOUIS gone
out to Marco Palmers place." she
laughed shrilly.
"a house partyl Are you kidding
me or yourself? Decency, ha, ha.
I'm not good enough to get on with
you, but your innocent little wife,
who belongs to Marco Palmer, is
good enough to be married to
Move, or I'll make you," Rod
ordered in voice that vibrated with
suppressed fury. Lila threw her
cad back and closed her eyes.
You'll have to make me-" she
dared, The next instant she was
rudely and very forcibly thrust
aside.
When she righted herself Rod was
gone.
But his destination was given no
thought in the blind horror that
possessed him. Lila's words scared
like red hot irons into his con-
seriousness.
Oh, how damnably sure she had
been! BERTHE Lou and Marco
Palmer! Fool, fool, fool! Could he
see? 1t wasn't true! God, it wasn't
truel
He found himself at home. Not
one step of the way he had ira
versed remained in his memory. He
might have walked miles or blocks;
he couldn't have told which had
he not known the distance.
The apartment was unbearable.
He went into BERTHE LOUIS room.
That was the worst place of all,
with a beaker of faded roses on the
dresser.
Two hours later Rod was driven
out of the place by his mental tor
ture. Where had he left his hat?
He started without it, but saw 1t
in the hall and put it on. When
he reached the street he hailed a
taxicab.
Strangely, the driver knew where
the Palmer estate was. Get me
there, and don't let anything stop
you," Rod ordered recklessly.
cts some ride, brother" the man
returned. He had his doubts of this
wild-eyed fare and he had no relish
for long country drive with no
pay at the end of 1t. A fight, maybe.
Get there" Rod flashed back.
tits ten bucks in advance"
Rod dug out the money, handed
it to the driver and climbed into the
cab.
He drove that car with every
nerve in his body, straining for
ward for more speed, now and then
speaking to the man at the wheel.