The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-18
CHAPTER II

CHAPTER II
XGTHEW. I'm tiredl" Nan Car
w roll groaned. as she banked
cushions upon one end Of the big
couch which would later serve as
he- bed, and curled her small body
into the nest. Half past ten, and
this is the first deep breath I've had
time to take today. Be an angel
Willis. and just sit. I want to do
that famous relaxing stunt I'm al
ways reading about. I think the
general idea Is to close your eyes
make your mind a perfect blank
turn loose Of everything and let
every nerve unkink. It listens swell
doesn't it?" she grinned crookedIy at
the man who had settled as near
her on the couch as he dared.
Don't 90 to sleep, honey" Willis
warned her, his gray eyes grave and
tender as they searched the relaxed
weary little face that was cuddled
childishly against a black satin
cushion. 7 told you 7 had some
thing TO say to you and that you'd
better make up your mind to listen.
You can't escape me now as you did
at dinner"
Nice old bully" she gibed droW-
silly. But don't talk for just a few
minutes. or III scream and tear my
hair-Which would be pity since I
paid a dollar and a quarter for this
finger wave Just yesterday. WheW %
And she exhalcd another sigh of
profound fatigue. burrowing still
more deeply into her nest Of cush-
ions.
The young man who watched her
with loving anxiety looked anything
but a bully. but he did look thor
oughly nice" Sand brown hair. a
few freckleS that persisted through
the remains of coat OF summer
tan, and a broad mouth that seemed
to be trying to Offset the boyishness
Of the dimple-cleft chin.
NOR perhaps five minutes Mans
eyes remained closed. then they
few open to laugh al Willis Todd 5
intent anxiey. old SOberSideS!' she
jeered fondly, thrusting out an i'm
pudent small foot to kick him un-
hurtinglv. I'm all rested now, able
to bear up under anything. What's
It going to be-another lecture on
the heinouS crime of breaking ones
dates with ones Steady2 Defendant
pleads guilty and throws herself
upon the mercy of the court"
mo, it's not a lecture, though you
deserve one Willis Todd told her
gently, as he moved near enough to
take her hands. You know darned
well what it is, and I'm not going
TO let you kid me out Of it this
time. he added sternly. When are
YOU going to marry me, Nan? Next
Saturday or Sunday?'
"Oh, dear, Nan sighed, lifting his
hand in both Of hers and laying her
back against it. You're going TO be
fasterful and arbitrary, aren't you
dear2 I like YOU so much better
when you're Just sweet and restful.
You really can't imagine how sweet
and restful you are, as a rule, Willis
darling. There's no one else with
whom 7 can be so natural. Why,
willis, 7 don't even mind your see
ing me with my hair all ont of curl
or q run in MY stocking. Nice boy
And she rubbed her cheek ca iolingly
against his hand.
'Just another good reason why
YOU must marry me, then, willis re-
torted no less sternly. You're kill
ing yourself in that fool job Of
yours, honey, and I'm not going to
stand for it another week. Playing
nursemaid to Morgan's little hellion,
running errands for his selfish wife,
doing al YOUR own work in the Of
fee and half of Morgan's-"
~That's enough, Whilst" Nan in
terrupted sharply. dropping his
hand as If it burned her cheek. I'll
meekly agree to anything you say
about Iris and Curtis Morgan, but
YOU can't say 2 word against Mr..
Morgan. He's the greatest criminal
lawyer in this state. the finest gen
tleman, the most considerate en-
ployer-"
And that's enough from You,
Nan" Willis dared to interrupt her.
Il believe we were discussing you
and me, not John Curtis Morgan
I'm sick of the name. incidentally
Three-fourths of your conversation
is about him and your work
Because I love my work and
couldn't be happy g minute if I
gave 1t upl" Nan caught him up
pasSionately. That's the reason
won't marry you, Willis. You've said
time and again that I had to stop
work when I married you. and !
simply won't-that'S final! I've
spent three years in that Office
every working day OF my life since
I graduated from college, and In
not going to throw over my career
10 get married
Your career?" Willis was becom-
ing angry. That's rather a dignif1ed
name for a lob as private secretary
sEn't it?'
I'm more than a private Secre-
tary and you know It, Willis Todd!'
Mans voice broke on a childish sob
which made her still more angry
''You know good and well that I've
studied night after night so that ]
could become a lawyer. You know
I'll be ready to take my examina-