The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-23

- ment in indeciSion, and fol
lowed her. They met in the hall
In glance Helen had seen tina
Shallimar was not at breakfast
She was going upstairs to seek her
Brent stood in her way anc
stopped her before she reached the
stairs.
"A week, remember" he said
tensely; land don't make any mis-
take about it. It's life or death for
you"
- Helen passed on without a WORD
in reply. She felt cold, as though
breath from an icy chamber had
been breathed upon her. She put
a hand on the balustrade for sup
port; it was SO numb she scarcely
Sensed the wood.
She went directly to Shallimar's
room, where she found her guest
engaged in packing a small travel
ing bag. Shallimar looked up cas-
ually as Helen entered the room
but instantly she cried: Have you
seen a ghoSt?
"I feel ill.," Helen faltered
and collapsed into a conveniently
placed boudoir chair. She was as
white as the handkerchief she lifted
to her trembling lips.
Shallimar rushed to her with a
bottle of cologne, which she hastily
dug out of her bag, and held it to
Helen's nose.
Helen did not faint, but she did
wish that she had gone to her own
room instead of coming in here,
Overestimating her endurance was
a silly thing to do, she told her
self. But it had seemed better to
speed Shallimar on her way as de-
Gently as she could and then face
her problem,
But the problem had not waited
1t had filled her mind with panic
She should have known she must
succumb to 1t. Her sense of guilt
over disturbing her guest brought
hating apology to her lips.
Shallimar brushed it aside with
command to tell her what was really
the trouble.
Helen maintained that she was
physically i'll, nothing more.
well, Shallimar said, and she
was plainly peeved, "if our school
days count for nothing and you
don't want to tell me why you and
Miss Ennis went off somewhere
without me this morning won't tell
you why I'm leaving so suddenly.
You refused to do that before,
Helen reminded her.
Yes, I know" Shallimar admitted
impatiently;; "but I meant to tell
you, really, at the last minute
I'm sorry" Helen said YEARLY
but there isn't anything can talk
about, Shallimar."
CHALLIMAR bit her lip in vexa-
- ton. Something to do with
Bob Ennis?" she insisted.
ooh, please" Helen begged.
VERY we'll" Shallimar agreed;
but if 1t did concern him I could
help. possibly. You see, it's be-
cause he and I have played to the
end of our string that I'm going"
You mean?" Helen looked at her
with an utter lack Of comprehen-
sion. Her mind was too over
whelmed with a sense of disaster
TO take on added trouble.
She did not conclude that Shalli-
mar wanted to insinuate something
unpleaSant-that she was giving
Bob up against his will, for in
stance. or that their little affair
had been a serious one.
Il mean that our playing around
together never meant anything, -
Shallimar explained. I'm sure he's
in love with you, Helen, and I'm
clearing out before the poor bean
gets any chivalrous ideas about me
turning cartwheels in his head.
He doesn't owe me thing in the
nature of an offer. but he's so
darned strict he might think he's
been wasting my time"
She laughed and held the cologne
bottle to her own nostrils, shifting
it daintily. Then she glanced at
her wrist watch. "Ashe gave me a
timetable" she remarked. There's
train in twenty minutes. You
don't look fit to drive me TO the sta
ton. Helen. I'll say AL revoir to
you here, dear" she moved over to
touch a maids bell-"if you think
you won't need me-"
Helen shook her head.
"Ashe will get some one to drive
you to the station she said, I'm
sorry You won't stay, Shallimar."