The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-10

CHAPTER XVII
! CERVANTS came running when
! - Signorina Benvenud called. Sig
norma chafed Molly's cold hands
and pressed brandy between her
lips. And, when she could not be
revived, they carried her to divan
in the living room: and the con-
cierge went on his bicycle for doc
tor
Then Signorina BenYenuti re-
trieved the cable that had fiuttered
from Molly's stiff fingers.
RITA DEAD" it read. IN
SISTED DURING CONSCIOUS
NESS THAT YOU BE NOTIFIED
IMMEDIATELY. BOB"
Tears came to the italian ladys
eyes. Her sympathetic Latin ma
/ ture responded readily to the grief
of any living thing, and for the lit
tie American girl travelling alone
she wept sincerely.
Molly stirred, and her eyelids
f1uttered.
Il have great sorrow for you,
Signorina," murmured the mistress
of the pension. Il have read your
message. and weep my grief
Molly stared with unseeing eyes.
The concierge had returned with
the doctor. And the murmur of
| anxious voices penetrated her con-
seriousness. She raised herself on
her elbow. Everything was clear
now. She remembered the cable,
and realized she had tainted.
MY best friend is dead" she said,
"and I must go home Immediately,
/ TO take care of her baby. I, I hope
I didn't frighten you. 1t was a
/ dreadful shock"
/ signorina nodded understand
ingly.
"To be sure" she murmured. "a
dreadful shock. I shed tears my
self"
She wiped her eyes.
"The bambino?" she asked. you
] viii be mama to the little bam-
! bino?"
Il promised my friend" exclaimed
| Molly, that if she died, I would
| take her little girl. She was i'll then.
/ But I never realized the end was so
near. She did not seem very sick.
I never dreamed :" Molly's voice
broke.
Sometimes it is better" consoled
] the older woman, when death
comes quickly. God knows best.
May He have mercy on her SOUL"
Molly nodded through her tears.
Yes. Rita wouldn't have wanted
to suffer and be i'll. I know that"
She was content, maybe, to die,
when she knew you would be mama
to the little bambino," declared
Signorina. And now if you will
/ have a glass of my wine
She proffered a goblet of purple
liquid. The sun, slanting through
the shutters. filled it with light. so
that it was amethyst and ruby. like
the sweet grapes from which it
came.
1T will revive you" she said.
MOLLY drank it gratefully.
1Y1 Il feel better already" she
( declared. I'm sorry was weak and
silly. 1 must have frightened you.
Do you know, Signorina. when there
is a boat for the States?"
Signorina did not know, but soon
the concierge was busy with sailing
/ lists and steamship tracts. The
Conte Grande was sailing from
Naples on Thursday. He would ar
range Immediately for reservation.
Did Signorina wish to send a cable?
Molly dictated message of SYM
pathy to Bob. 1t was good to have
/ someone do her thinking for her.
Bob's answer was delivered the
next day-the day of Rita's flu
neral. Whatever Rita desired, he
said. should be done. Molly was
very kind. He would meet her in
New York, and they should talk
things over. Thank God. he added.
little Rita was too young for griev-
ing.
Jack cabled too. Bob had told
hmi that Molly knew of Rita's
death. and that she had offered to
/ take the baby. He sent his SYM
pathy. and commended her for her
| generosity. But there was not q
word of love. nor hope expressed
that he might see her in New York.
When Molly read it, she practically
decided TO give the Borgia ring to
Red Flynn.
Red had been wonderful about
writing. Molly fancied that, be-
tween the lines. she could read a
great many loving expressions. But
the letters themselves we're chatty
and goSsipy. She should COM
mercialize her fame, he advised.