The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-29
CHAPTER XLI-CContinued)

DOIl V 90 llldl! Silt u tCu. w uy
Bob. you couldn't do that!'
"Oh. yes, could" he assured
her grimly.
"DUT. Bob. there's nothing in the
ID world 1 wouldn't do for Rita!
You wouldn't take her away-de-
prive her of ali I can do for her"
He returned her agonized stare
steadily.
DO YOU know what sea-
snemone is. Molly? Rita and I
have watched them at the aqua
rum. They look like delicate flow
ers. They're pink, or yellow, or
iilac-colored. And they float on the
surface of the water as gently as
blossoms. Dainty, quivering things.
You'd never know to look at them
that they are cruel and relentless.
They reach. suddenly. and grab
what they want. They send out
showers of stinging. tiny darts. And
when they've paralyzed their prey,
they take the things that feed them
y
You're like a sea -anemone,
Molly. You paralyze with your
charms. You take the things that
feed your vanity. and discard the
rest. You threw Jack Wells over.
You're playing now with Flynn. You
use Rita even, to slack your thirst
for alteration. You'd consume me,
Ike the others. If you could. But
YOU can't, Molly. Because I know
what it's all about, you see. And
the rest don't. They've never
watched a sea- anemone."
oh, Bob" Molly tried to laugh.
"You can call me all the names YOU
please. I'll be an anemone, or a
shark, or any old thing. Only it's
Just too silly to talk about me throw
ing Jack over, and playing with Red.
You simply don't understand"
Don't you suppose I know that
Red kissed you out there in the
hall?"
What If he did? You don't think
that's being ea-anemone, do you?"
IT'S not right" he insisted stiffly
That's no sort of carryings-on, with
an innocent child in the house.
Molly laughed intellectually.
My dear Bob, you's simply funny!
OF all the prigs a reformed rake is
the priggiest. That you should talk
about 'carryings-on!'
well, now you know the way I
feel about it. I tell you, Molly,
shsn't have Red Flynn kissing you,
not while Rita's around"
But Rita doesn't. think there's
anything wrong about kisSingi
Neither does Red. Neither do I. My
dear Bob, you're being perfectly
ridiculous! What's a little kiss be-
tween friends?"
DUT Bob was in no mood for
I'D testing.
I've said all I'm going to say" he
announced. IF you want Rita badly
enough. 1 guess you could see your
way to marrying her father.
wouldn't bother you much, Molly
ice learned a lot about marriage
and women, since I married Rita.
haven't talked to you about love
But you know how I feel. I'm sc
crazy about you that I'm out of my
head half the time When I talk
like a fool it's desire for you that's
driving me insane. Well, We
won't talk about that. 1t isn't pro-
testations you're looking for.
You've had time enough now to
think things over. Do you want Rita
enough to marry me, Molly? Be
cause If you don't. I'll take her. and
clear out Of your life. III leave you
to Red Flynn"
Leave me to Red" she cried
But Bob. you silly thing Red
doesn't want to marry me"
MOI" Bob looked at her sharply
We'll I'm not surprised. Molly. He
never did strike me as the marry
ing kind Why DO you play arouno
with him? If you know he never
means to marry you. should thins
you'd be looking somewhere else.
She laughed at his simplicity.
And YOU say you've learned
about womeni Don't you know, my
friend. that women don't pine for
marriage these dayS?"
THE right sort usually get mar
ried." he countered. IF Red Flynn
plays loose with you, Molly. you
lust let me know.
Reds my best friend. Bob. Don't
be an old woman" she admonished
We'll. leave him out of 1t then
What do you say? Will you marry
me?"
you wouldn't take Rita away
il I should nay No Bob?"
"Yes, I would, Molly. oh, ! know
if,s a rotten wav to talk. But ]