The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-31
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TO the office! But she could have
sobbed with rage at being stopped.
What are you so sore about,
Nan? Christmas grouch?"
A hand touched her shoulder and
she whirled to face Willis Todd,
whom she had not seen since she
had refused his offer of marriage
that memorable night when Willis
had forced her to realize that she
was in love with a man who was
already married.
Her face cleared somewhat. She
was amazingly glad to see him, had
missed him. Hello, Willis!
I've missed you. Friend or enemy?'
Her brown eyes smiled at him visit
fully.
Friend" he grinned. Lets have
lunch. I've wanted to call you up
a hundred times. but I didn't dare.
Knew you had a right to be good
and sore at me. The Traylor all
right? Won't be many people in
the dining room today. Everybody
snatching a quick bite, but maybe
you're in a hurry. too, with Christ
mas shopping to finish up?'
mo" she answered, following
him into the lobby Of one Of the
most exclusive hotels in the city. Il
want to dwadle over lunch, if you
don't mind Eyerything'S been 50
hectic late UNI Nice table.
Flowers and everything. Thank
heavens, there's no orchestra. d.
You order for me, Willis
It was nice to have him opposite
her at table again, nice to have him
thinking of her, waiting on her.
No one else had ever discovered
that she needed and liked being
waited on But Willis had always
been q dear. Why couldn't she love
him instead of John Curtis Nor
gan, who only needed her but did
not love her? Maybe that was
Why
rs the Crawford verdict in yet?'
Willis asked interestedly. when he
had given the order
Just. Not guilty" Nan answered
stiffly. Now why did he have to
bring that up, just when she was
beginning to relax bit?
Congratulations for you and
Morgan are in order, I suppose, -
Willis said. Il know you two be-
lieyed Crawford innocent, or Nor
gan wouldn't have defended him.
but personally. I believe the big
blonde Windbag is guilty as hell!
How he could have fooled you"
HER pride was stung, but an ir-
l. Il resistible desire to conf1de in
some one made her answer. in low,
rapid voice He didn't fool me Will
lis. I believed he was guilty all
along, but since he was Mr. Nor
CANS best friend"
"a swell friend he isl" Willis
ieered. What I know about CraW-
ford and-But never mind that now.
What's that you're saying about
Crawford guilty? Has the Great
God Morgan fallen and suppressed
a little evidence?"
Nan snatched her hand away, her
eyes blazing. HE still believes that
Crawford was innocent! I don't
know why I started to conf1de in
you Willis. I might have known
we'd just quarrel, because it con-
Germs Mr.. Morgan But I've been
so troubled, so torn with doubts as
to what nay duty is. -. :" And to
the amazement of the waiter who
was bringing the consomme she be-
gan to cry.
Eat your soup, honey" Willis
urged, as the waiter scuttled away.
You're going to tell me anything
you please and I promise not to
fight. l like and respect Morgan
and I love you-love you well
enough not to quarrel with you any
more for loving him, instead of
me. And you have my word that
anything you may tell me will go
no further. But 1 think you know
that. You've done a goodiSh bit OF
confiding in the past, you know"
She smiled at him, dabbed at her
tears with her napkin, and obedi-
emily drank most of her conSomme
before she began her story.
The waiter left them in peace SO
long that Bert Crawford's letter
had been slipped across the table
before the entree was served.
What shall I do with that thing,
Willis?" Nan asked in a small voice
when the young man had finished
reading the letter. Il hurried to
the courthouse with it, so that Mr..
Morgan could do whatever he
thought best with it, in case the jury
had not reached a verdict. But l
was too late. Not guilty" she re-
peated with a shrug, Shall 1 give
it to him now?'
Willis Todd looked at her with
amazement in his gray eyes. why,
for heavens sake? To warn him
that his wife's going to skip out with
his best friend, man he has just
saved from the penitentiary If this
things true, they're going to skip
anyway, and Morgan might as well
not know it till they do. You don't
want him killing Crawford, do you?'
Her gasp of horror answered him.
And you don't really want Nor
gan to have it out with his wife.
and then forgive her, do you Not
if you really love him, you don't!