The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-30
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doubt it will be a delightful potion"
Don't be so sure" countered
Sheridan with a grin. "By, by, till
Thursday"
A NDY MASTERS sat up in bed
IA and pressed a hand to his fe-
vered head. With a groan, he
kicked off the bed clothing and
swung his pink silk, pajama-clad
legs to the floor. His eyes roved
slowly about the disorderly room.
The floor was white with cigaret
and cigar ashes. A half-overturned
chair slanted drunkenly against the
wall. Scattered on table and dress
er and window sill were drinking
glasses, some tall and thin and
others gracefully expansive on slen-
der stems, some half-filled with
liquid mixtures which still exuded
a faint alcoholic fragrance. A cock
tail shaker lay amid a cluster Of
tall bottles on the table.
Tied in a bow knot around the
neck of a statuette on the dresser
was a sheer silk stocking Of pale
green hue. Andy looked at it I'M
comprehendinxly for a long time,
then smile parted his lips.
"Huh!" he muttered. 81 don't
remember Mercy's taking of her
stocking. She musta been well
picked. Wot a party! Wot a
party!"
He pulled himself to his feet,
walked to the door and looked into
the adjoining room. 1t was clean
and orderly, in striking contrast to
the bedroom.
"Ha! I see efficient Ike has been
on the job out here" he said. Rails
ing his voice, he called: IKE; Ike!"
The scraping sound of a hastily
moved chair followed by quick foot
steps heralded Ikes advance from
the kitchen. Andy Masters bach
elor apartment was in one of those
roomy, old Pennsylvania street man.
SionS which of late years have been
made over into fiat buildings. 1t
consisted of large living room, two
bedrooms, bathroom and small
kitchen.
Ike Sellers, who occupied the
smaller bedroom, was Andy'S COM
bination chambermaid, cook, valet
and confidant. In character and
manner he was queerer combina-
ton than that.
He had been recruited from the
walters in a former downtown
restaurant that was frequented by
theatrical folk and race horse and
prize fight fans. The proprietor
was also sports promoter and
nearly all his walters were amateur
or semi-professional pugilistS whose
fighting days were over.
Ike, in his day, had been a fistic
battler of no mean proves, as
cauliflower ear and bashed-in nose
bore witness. There was ludicrous
incongruity in his truculent appear
ance and the solicitous, ingratiating
Servile habits of speech and man
ner acquired in his restaurant en-
ployment.
Andy frequently referred to Ike
as his Keeper" and to his apart
ment as the "madhouse." Neither
term was altogether inappropriate.
IKE came into the room bearing a
Il tall glass containing an amber
colored liquid and handed it silent
ly to Andy, Tho sank into an easy
chair and gulped it thirStily.
Ike" said Andy between gulps,
you're a damn good guesser. An
eye-opener is my most crying need.
Now, If you will provide me with a
memory-reviver, I will be truly
grateful"
II never mixed one, SIR" replied
Ike seriously, "but if you'll tell me
the ingredients"
Don't pull any wisecracks, Ike.
I'm not equal to them this morning
after the night before. What 1
want to know is why did Mercedes
| ~N~'~A wa eS&hC vi 4lC4 SlOChlIlk ana
decorate the statuary. 1t must be
Mercy's, because none of the other
girls wore that color"
Wei, you see, sir" began Ike,
Miss Mercy, think, had taken q
drop too much. Her glass was al
ways empty and she never refused
refilling when passed the
drinks"
"She wouldn't" Andy interjected.
II ] may say so, you didn't
either, sir. 1t was after you passed
out. Miss Mercy got very sad. She
sat down and cried. She said it
was a shame that brazen Venus
hadn't any clothes on.
Then she began taking of her
stocking. I tried to stop her, but
Mr.. Mention said to leave her alone.