The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-04-08
@ 1929 By
hEA Service Inc

This IS Stephen Arlnltage, ana IL
you must know, I'm certainly not
the girl in his young life"
HAROLD put his hands on her
II shoulders and held her firm
ly, though she had tried to move
away.
IF you mean Pamela, he said
( tensely. don't let her worry you.
I She plays with every new man she
meets. She's even putting the spell
on Huck Connor"
/ Mildred's eyes blazed. That's
just it, She wants them all. But
! I should think that you. as her
brother, would put stop to her
having anything to do with Mr..
Conner. 1 tell you he isn't right"
You oughtn't to say that unless
you know something against him"
Harold objected
He seems o. K. to me. Takes his
drinks and his losses like q gen.
tleman, as they used to say. Pretty
decent sort with the girls. too. I
watched Pamela work. She tried
her darndest to make him start
something, but he kept as cool as
any man could"
! "Oh, we'll - Mildred de-
SPARED of convincing him that
Huck was dangerous. He could
have no conception of a man whose
emotionalism was buried so deep
that a pretty girl could not awaken
it against his will, she realized.
L suppse you'd like to ask me to
| 60" Harold said as Mildred hest
/ tated over warning him any further
against Huck.
! "Oh, no." she answered quick
Iy; please stay"
Harold scowled darby. want to
play me against Armitage?" he
asked suspiciously.
Don't be so stupid" Mildred told
him impatiently, hoping he wouldn't
want to make an issue of the mat
/ ter.
She feared to have him go now,
after the scene they'd been
| through, feared that his jealous,
hopeless mood would lead him into
dissipation. But she knew if he
| guessed what was on her mind he
would go.
Il tell you Mr.. Arnitage is Moth
ing more than a mere acquaintance
to me-" she said earnestly.
Then you might have told him
Won were lust starting for China or
Bagdad"
Mildred smiled. Having no seri-
Gus designs upon either you or Mr.
Armitage, I didn't see why you
couldn't have a party" she said
sWeetly.
Get busy and see if you can't
bring in something amusing on our
set while I change, will you? That's
a dear"
Dear enemy from now on" Har-
old grumbled. Il still think I'm a
sap to stay
"A fine friend you would be to
| leave" Mildred called back from the
door. "Ste. Mr.. Armitage
might meet you on the way out
and think I'd cleared the deck for
him."
wouldn't that be too devastat-
ing?" Harold jeered, but Mildred
was gone. GA mere acquaintance!
A string of ha-has."
n
TITS sarcasm failed to ease the
Z A ache in his heart, however, and
when Mildred came back, looking
charming in the new dress she had
bought to wear to the theater with
Stephen, Harold cursed Stephen
Armitage silently and fuently. Sud-
denly he knew that he couldn't stay
end watch her being agreeable to
him.
I'm going to clear out" he said
firmly.
Mildred vainly urged him to stay,
but in her heart she knew she'd
rather be alone with Stephen.
Still she worried over Harold I'M
til Stephen rang the doorbell; then
she completely forgot him.
She opened the door herself, for
her mother was busy with mending
in her room.
She said good evening just as she
would to any one at all who wasn't
unwelcome, but Stephen saw some
thing in her starry eyes and flushed
cheeks that spoke a warmer well
come.
Mildred put out a hand and he
took it. Then he kissed her. She
did not utter a sound or Squirm
from his grasp, but when he re-
leased her she caught her breath
and stood off from him in word
less confusion while she fought for
calm.
Stephen looked at her question
ingly. His impetuous act had sur
prised him as we'll as her. He had
not planned to kiss her. She had
looked irresistible, and he had not
resisted. He expected anything
then except what actually hap
pened.
I'm sorry you did that" Mildred
said quietly, and Stephen had sense
enough to know that she meant
it. 1t made him feel awkward,
and the awkwardness was uncom-
Portable. Being uncomfortable, he
said the wrong thing.
Didn't you like it?"
Would it surprise you to know
that I didn't" Mildred retorted,
not altogether truthfully.
The caresS would lay sweet upon
her lips as long as memory lasted.
but back Of the sweetness just now
there was lighted the fire of out
ragged pride.
He'd somehow managed to make
her feel cheap. 1t might be his way
I ~ hi i,J