The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-26

sensing the electric tension, glldeC
quietly to the door and close it soft
ly behind her. Andy opened his eyes
Uncle Bill" he blurted out, I'm
awfully sorry for what I said tx
Shella. I don't know what possesses
me. Everything had been goins
wrong that day and-and I hao
been drinking.
"Oh, 1 know that's no excuse
there isn't any excuse for being such
a cad, but-oh, what's the use; vol
can't understand what a horror i
all is to me noW!" He buried his
face in the pillows.
Wilbur stood for a moment look
| ing down at the bandaged-SWa
head. His mind raced back through
the years; he seemed to be standing
again at the deathbed of his only
sister, Andy's mother, where he hac
solemnly promised to be a father
to her boy.
The look of stern accusation
faded from his face. He sat on the
edge of the bed and laid his hane
upon Andy's.
mo, there was no excuse" HI
said quietly, but I think 1 do un.
derstand that you are sincerely sor.
ry and that's what counts. We
won't discuss it now; perhaps late1
when you are on your feet agar
you can help us straighten it all out
"Sheila has been very fond of you
she has suffered a cruel blow, ano
you can do a great deal toward re-
storing her faith in herself"
Andy turned his head in the pill
lows. He looked at his uncle
through a mist of tears.
you mean it, Uncle Billy?" he
cried chokingly. you don't despist
me! You'll give me another chances
I can't ever undo all I've done tc
you and Sheila, but I know some
thing I can dol"
XXTHBER was gone and Mercy
wv returned to Andy's room,
Andy looked at her with a wonder
ing, bewildered expression in hi!
eyes.
81 don't understand it, Mercy" he
said, 'everybody'S so damn good
SO decent to me, just when I de-
serve the least.
You, taking care of me like this
and Uncle Bill, who ought to have
cursed because I wasn't killed, be
ing such a good sport. I've just gol
to make good now. Listen, Mercy
He plunged into the story of tt,t
stolen diary and told of his sordic
bargain with Mention to blackmai
WILDER of his visit to Sheila anG
his brutal, drunken accusation. He
did not spare himself in the telling
He told of his shrunken fortune, his
wild speculation, his borrowing from
Mention and his final complete sur
render to the crafty lawyers evil Ia
fluence.
81 don't know how Homer got
hold of the diary" he said, "but he
had it in his Office. He showed il
to me and 1 saw him put it in thj
top drawer of his desk. 1t must bt
there now"
III get it," promised Mercy. whit
had listened with wide-eyed inter
est to Andy's long recital. 1--WE go
the keys to the Office doors, but
haven't any key to Homer's desk
and he always kept that locked. Blu
I guess I can pry the drawer open
I'll get it; don't worry. I'll go dow
tomorrow morning early"
You're brickl" Andy exclaimed
you're a real pal" His eyes glowec
in appreciation. She bent over ant
kissed him. He CROPPED for her hanC
and chung to it.
Mercy, it's a rotten deal you'v'
gotten all around" he said; but yol
haven't let out a whimper kiddet
you along. making believe I woulC
marry you some day when hadn'
the slightest intention of doing SO
"I liked you better than any girl
knew, but I was going broke and
thought I had to marry some ont
who had money. That's all of nov
II don't want to marry anybod.
else. and know you wouldn't wan
to marry a pauper. When pay al
I owe. won't have a cent.
I'll have to go to work. and tht
Lord knows I don't even know how
to dig a ditch. It's different witt
you, you're trained to do something
you've lost your job through HON
er's death, but you can get anothel
easily.
you can earn the nice thing
you ought to have and couldn'
give to you. Mercy you're might.
good little sport: you know all this
and you've known most of it eve
since that night you left home, We
you are sticking with the sinking
ship.
"why, Mercy. why? Is 1t possihl'