The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-07

there. Here, I'll settle their hash.
She lifted the telephone from thu
table beside her-the phone il
Andy's bedrooms was an extension
You go get some clothes on" she
continued, by that time I'll have
given them what's what"
TT would be painful and tedious
u to repeat verbatim the ensuing
telephone colloquy. Mercy's brother
answered her call, which was
brought to him by a messenger from
the corner drug store, the River
tons having no phone in their
home.
Mercy told him that she had
stayed overnight at the home of q
"girl friend" No, it wasn't any OF
his business who the girl was or
where she lived. 1t wasn't any of
his business either what her future
movements were.
One thing was certain; she wasn't
going near that old Irvington
dump" again-everi She was tired
of being spied on and treated like
a baby. She was through with them
for all time. She would send out
today for her clothing.
Yes, she had a nice, respectable
place to stay, but none of her fam
lily was invited to call. Having i'm
parted this information with many
uncomplimentary observations, she
hung up the receiver, cutting off her
brothers vehement protests.
Over the breakfast table which
Ike spread in the living room Mercy
recalled to Andy some of the Incl
dents of the preceding night, the
visit to the Green Mill, the encoun-
ter in the road, the fight, the in
PREVENTION of Smedley and the re-
turn to the fat.
She did not tell OF her ride with
Sheila nor mention Andy's pro-
poSal of marriage, and Andy'S
comments showed he had no re-
memberance of either.
But what are you going to do
now if you're not going back
home?" Andy asked. You can't
stay here
why not?" Mercy asked sharply,
pausing in the act of pouring thick
cream over q bowl of red raSp-
berries.
Great suffering catnip! Why
notl Good Lord, girl, are your
brains in pickle?"
Moo, I guess that wouldn't do"
replied Mercy, shaking her head
musingly, at least. not until we are
married"
A NDY'S nervous start almost
IA upset the table. Recovering
his balance, he eyed her keenly.
Keeper, she's broke out of her
padded CELL" he said. "Now, what's
the big idea? Who said anything
about getting married?"
81 did"
"Well I didn't"
eyes you did, tool You proposed
to me last night in the car, and, oh,
Andy. you did it SO nicelyl You
told me over and over again how
much you loved me, and you said
we could live here and Ike could
stay on and take care of us both
and you would get me the loveliest
little diamond and platinum en-
gagement ring and"
A long and boistrous laugh broke
in on her recital.
Did honestly pull all that?" he
gurgled. Gee, I musta been 60
ing good! I'm getting better every
drunk; that bootlegger ought to get
bonus. Say, Goofy Gertie. you,
you don't mean to tell me you fell
for it?'
A hard CLINT crept into Mercy's
eyes as she listened to his railery.
You've been going with me a
long time" she said, with a brave
assumption of outraged dignity. Il
had a right to expect that your
intentions we're honorable" She
turned on him fiercely. Don't you
love me?" she demanded.
"Oh, come of the stepladder," he
replied. "Of course, 7 like you a
lot, even when l m sober" His eyes
twinkled teasingly. But L. can't
get married" His tone changed to
one of serious tenderness.
Listen. kiddo. you're a good little
box Of tricks and I'd sooner marry
yeu than any girl know, but just
now I'm over my head in debt, and
if Homer-that boss of yours
doesn't help pull me out, I'm sunk.
ut might even come to the point
where I'd have to go to work. Hor-
rible thought, isn't it? But if every
thing comes out all right. maybe
you and can fix things up. Let
it go at that now, won't you?"
Mercy saw that her battle was
lost; but even a half promise is
better than none, and q battle lost