The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-09-02

I you've what?' she cried.
Read Ashes of Desire he re-
peated patiently. Your book. !
never read it before, Molly"
She stared at him.
Il don't know what you're talking
about" she told him foolishly.
"Rita's gone, Jack Bob's taken her
away. What shall I do?"
"Rita?" he repeated. Il didn't
come to talk about Rita"
Natsu and Marie had disappeared,
and the two we're alone. Simply, as
though he had done it only yester-
DAT, Jack put out his arms. And
straightway, like a child, Molly
nestled in their circle.
"Dearest!"
He held her closely, as though he
could never let her go.
At don't understand" she MUIR
INJURED. Did Red send you? Do
you know about Rita?"
He shook his head.
mo, darling. I went back to New
York, when learned you had left
town. I didn't ever want to see
you, nor hear of you again. Red
Flynn had sent me Ashes of De-
sire. I never meant to read it. I
meant to return it to him. But last
night-oh, Molly, it was an awful
night! 1t poured and poured, and
the wind howled. I tried to get you
out of my mind. I didn't want to
think about you. darn near went
crazy, trying to forget you. Then
I picked up your book, and I
glanced through it.
MY Lord; Molly, hadn't read
dozen pages, when I realized! You
wrote that book for me, didn't
you?"
IETE raised her head from his
4 Il shoulder, and putting his fin
gers beneath her chin, tilted her
head back, so that he might see her
eyes.
Tell me, dearest! Tell me you
wrote it for me-"
"Of course I wrote it for you'
Jack"
and those fool reporters thought
It was for Bob Newton!" He
laughed shortly. Il don't under
stand, sweetheart. You weren't
really engaged to Bob, were your"
YES" she admitted. Il mean no.
That is oh, Jack, he's taken
Rita"
Il don't understand" he re-
peated.
Neither DO l." she confessed.
"It's awfully mixed up, isn't it? 1
love you Jack
"Oh, darling, know you do. It's
the most wonderful thing in the
world. And, Molly, never stopped
loving you, sweetheart"
But you wouldn't marry mel!
she moaned.
ct was just a darn fool" he de-
cIared. Lets get married today"
"Oh dear!" she cried. IF / only
had Rita, I'd be the happiest girl
in the world"
"I'n get Rita for you,' he prom
ised. III do anything in the world
you want me to, Molly
But you can't get Rita" she
walled. because she belongs to Bob,
and he won't let me have her, I'M
less 1 marry him."
$50 that's it! That's why you
got yourself engaged to Bob?"
You wouldn't marry me" she
said. And I didn't want to marry
any one else, so it didn't make much
difference"
He kissed her hair the way he
used to.
you're cuckoo" he told her ten
derby. "You may be bright young
woman on Broadway, but you're
only little nut after all"
Come in my sitting ROOM" she
proposed. Red will be here any
minute. I'm afraid he'll think I'm
tickle, if you don't stop kissing me.
Last time I saw him, I was engaged
to Bob. Oh, dear, If I only
knew about Rita! There are about
a million things want to ask you,
Jack Wells"
What sort of things?" he asked.
"Oh. that dreadful Mrs. Bulwer-
Eaton for one"
Molly, you didn't believe that
ORWELL" He regarded her sternly.
mo-" she said, "of course I didn't.
But you've a lot of explaining to
do, just the same"
Well, she was rich as old lady
Croesus," he declared. and I was
poor young man, trying to get
along. Besides, 1 did some swell
houses for her. I got paid pretty
well for my time, of course
That's as it should be-" she de-
creed. You didn't ever kiss her,
Jack?"
mo! Whatever made you think
of thing like that?"
ooh, I didn't really think so,'' she
assured him. II just wanted to be
sure. I'd hate to have had you
kiss her. 1t was bad enough the
way you held her hand the night
Sacrifice opened"
Il didn't" he protested, flushing.
Honest, Molly. I never did a thing
but draw plans for the old lady,
and pick up a lot of Italian an
tiques."
IT KNOW" she whispered. "And
l. it wasn't my darling's fault, if
the silly creature went and fell in
love with him.
Gosh, she didn't do that, Molly.
Don't talk that way. She's a great
old scout. Honest she is. I told her
all about you. and she's awfully
anxious to meet you. We ought to