The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-31
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1t never pays"
But. since pity is akin to love,
Molly was beginning to love Bob
a little. 1t was, undoubtedly be-
cause she was sorry for him. His
pathetic attempts to arouse her af-
lection made her almost cry.
Every time he called he brought
her a gift. Odd little things that he
had way of picking up. A bit Of
old damask. or a piece of rare china.
A first edition of Salome, with illus
trations by Aubrey Beardsley. And
once a Venetian glass sconce from
the Doge's palace. Bob loved beau
tiful things, and he had the happy
faculty Of finding them.
Sometimes he sent her orchids.
Not the common catelya, but the
yellow mashallianum. They suited
her best, he said.
He had rare appreciation of
paintings and Of music. He loved
flowers, and he knew them by their
Latin names. He had made study
of folk lore. And he knew great
deal about the various religions Of
the world. He talked of Buddha
and Confucius and Mohammed, as
people chat of their contemporaries.
Molly was beginning to find him
very interesting. He knew so
many thingsl
He told her facts she had never
heard before, and she found them
amusing and interesting. He told
her, for instance, that every person
has fifty million arithmetical ances-
tors. And that impressed Molly so
much that she wrote a verse and
called it Fifty Million.
The day it was printed, Red tele-
phoned.
They tell me you have verse in
Vanity Fair. How long since you've
been writing poetry?"
oh, it was only little thing"
she explained. II trieed to do it
like Dorothy Parker. The idea was
cute. but it wasn't mine. 1t was
Bob's. He says we have fifty million
arithmGtical ancestors. Sort o.
breath taking, isn't it? Imagine TAX
ing after fifty million people!'
NOURE seeing a lot of Newton
i these days, aren't you?"
We'll, you've deserted me-" she
bantered, and 1 crave attention"
You turned me down. he re-
minded her, But, just to show
there's no hard feelings, I'm going
TO tell you something. Jack Wells
is getting in town tonight. He
ducked the reporters in New York,
and he's kept out of sight since he
returned from Europe. There was
a story that he'd taken an apart
rent in Greenwich Village. but no
body could locate him. Anyhow the
Office had a tip this afternoon. He
has a reservation on the Mer-
chants
Molly's heart was beating madly.
MY goodness, Red, what are you
telling me for?" He's not coming to
see mel"
II don't know about that. any
how, here's the dope. I'm supposed
to meet the train, and get an ex-
elusive interview. Statement about
Mrs. Bulwer- Eaton, and all that rot.
If you say the word, I'll steer Wells
up to your place. Thought maybe
you'd like to get Newton out OF
the way. l haven't forgotten what
you told me the night that sap
brought the cop around. I'd hate
to see you get tied up with him,
Molly. with a couple decent eggs
like me an Wells around
"Sh!' she cautioned. Don't talk
like that over the phone, Red. You
shouldn' say mean things about
Bob. Honestly you shouldn't
why not?'
"Oh, I don't know" she f1oun-
dered. You just shouldn't, that's
all"
"All right. I won't. But how
about Wells? Shall l bring him
around?"
Molly heSitated. 1t would not,
she knew. be quite fair to Bob. She
had promised to play the game.
He had consented to trial engage
ment. on tacit condition that she
observe the rules. 1t was hardly
the thing to Danish even an unoffl-
cial fiance, in order to receive an
old sweetheart. Particularly when
the two were friends, and the affair
would undoubtedly result in embar-
RAISING complications.
No" she said. please don't.
It's awful sweet of you, Red. But
well. I never told you betore-but
Jack turned me down fiat, just be-
lore he went to Italy. Oh dear, it,
awful to talk like this. The oper-
ators listen-I know they do. Be-
sides-no. please don't. 1 don't
want YOU to. That is, 1 do, really,
only YOU mustn't. There are other
reasons. can't talk about them
now. The operators listen, 1 tell
YOU. Anyhow it's horrid to discuss
your private affairs over the phone.
/ think you're foolish to try to get
an interview. Jack will be awfully
nasty, If you ask him anything per
Eonal"
II won't put my foot in it. Don't
worry. Go ahead and spend a nice
jolly evening with Newton, If you'd
rather. Has he been throwing any
more lamps around? Or trotting
cops in on you?'
please. Red!" she besought. BE
careful what you say. I can't talk
any more now. I promised Rita I'd
take her for a ride in the swan
boats. and the poor childs been
waiting for hours. Don't mention
my name to Jack at all. I'd rather
you didn't-truly. Red
MOLLY expected Bob that eve