The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-08
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A4 FLFANOQ EARLY WY @ 1929 By NEA JerUee Ire
J ~ FlFANOR Harry

! ment. The baby, soft and pink and
/ beautiful, slept rosily in her small
pink bed. Bob had come home for
| dinner, but left shortly afterWard to
keep an appointment with a client.
Rita was smoking cigaretS and
making animated conversation.
You oughtn't to smoke SO much, "
protested Molly. "It- makes you
cough"
Rita laughed unpleasantly.
Tobacco won't hurt me any,
she declared.
Then, nerYously, she scuffed out
the cigaret she had just lighted.
Its t. b." she said abruptly.
That's why I wanted to see you.
"a couple years ago I had an
X-ray. The doctor said if stayed
in bed, I might be able to arrest it,,
But, lord, who wants to stay in
bed! It's no fun living, if you have
to be careful all the time.
80 I kept on working, and I
never told Bob or any one. And I
was kidding myself that I wasn't
getting any worse. Then l began
feeling better. BY and by Rita was
born. I started getting worse aft
erward. .'
Last week went to see the doc
tor again. It's in the other lung
now. And that that's cur
tains."
Mortified, Molly looked at her.
But, darling, have you been TO
only one doctor? Maybe he's
wrong"
"Oh. no, he's not wrong. X-rays
don't lie. But it's about my
baby want to talk to you. When
I die, Molly, will you take her?"
TINE bomb shell launched, Rita
L sought Molly'S eyes.
Its no use asking any one else, :"
she continued. Bob couldn't. He's
just helpless. He can't help it. 1
don't blame him. I shouldn't have
married him in the first place. Bob
wasn't the marrying kind. He isn't
family sort of man. Responsible
ity SmotherS him.
They've given me twelve months
to live, Molly. There's no danger to
little Rita. I've had her under con-
slant observation ever since she was
born. She's 100 per cent perfect. If
Rita has a chance she'll be all right.
Its a question of environment
with children. When I was little,
Molly, there were times when I
didn't get enough to eat. No milk,
no eggs-those are the things chill
dren need. That's why I'm asking
you to take my baby ="
MY dear my dear. q.
Molly's arms were around her friend.
IN do anything in the world you
want me to. But you mustn't talk
about dying, Rita! You need a rest.
A complete change. Come to Italy
with me-"
Rita laughed mirthleSsly.
God love you, you haven't the
sense you were born with. IF it's
impedimenta you're after, why don't
you take your mother?"
"She wouldn't go. You've no idea
how she diSapproveS of me-"
RitaI chuckled.
Its marvellous how a few caba-
retS and a good dreSSmaker can
change a woman's point of view.
Paris would do your mother a lot
of good. 1t was outrageous the
way she acted the night your play
opened but honestly, Molly, it's a
shame. about middle-aged women
sometimes. They're just too respect
able to be human
That's exactly what I think, "
agreed Molly. I've decided there
must be something redeeming about
sin. Something that inclines sin
ners to pity and understanding"
"It's lucky for you," observed Rita,
''ycur mother never guessed what
precocious child she had. It's
dreadful the way mothers. and
daughters drift apart. I know more
about this mother stuff than you
do. Molly. know what it means
to have a child. If I should live
to grow old. and see my daughter
turn away from me, as you've
turned away from your mother. l
swear I'd rather die than chance
it."
But I didn't turn away from
herl" protested Molly. 'You know
perfectly we'll, Rita Melnotte, that if
she were a normal parent she'd be
proud of me, instead of despising
me-"
Rita smiled. Parents are old
fashioned" she declared. You'd call
me modern, wouldn't you? Well, Id
be sorry if Rita, when she was 10,
should turn her adolescent attention
to crime. You were petty young, you
know, when you get through COLI