The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-10-02
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7 AUTHOR OF Trash ROMANCE~ "

boyish, awkward and wore her hair
cropped short. Her little freckled
face (sunburned, too would have
looked more at home on a tennis
court than at dinner party, but
she appeared to go everywhere and
know every one. She had a way of
drawing original slang which was
highly humorous.
Now she launched into extrava-
CANT praise of the new SaXophone
player. Celia felt that she liked Lisi
better than the others.
Young Mrs. Brooks, whom no one
called anything but eve" was
blond and pretty in a more fragile
way than Evelyn Parsons. Eve
wore a gown of lemon yellow and
looked like a slender daffodil.
There was a young man on either
side Of her, but Celia noticed Mrs.
Brooks darting frequent looks at
Tod Jordan. .s-+
Courtney Brooks was. explaining
something to Kate Duncan and Mrs.
Parsons. Hates gown was glitter
ing white with trailing skirt and a
bodice which had shocked Celia.
The dress undoubtedly was be-
coming to its brunei wearer. AL
most anything. Celia thought, would
look handsome on Kate Duncan,
but her bored manner was a little
frightening.
Dinner was announced. Celia
thrilled secretly when she found
she was to sit between Ted Jordan
and Jimmie Webster. Eve Brooks
was at the other side of Webster
and promptly monopolized him.
That left Jordan to Celia.
Mrs. Parsons, at the head of the
table, took note Of this. The smile
which she turned toward her right
hand guest was not in the least
forced.
EVELYN had felt confident about
~ Tod Jordan. That is, she was
confident that he would serve her
purpose. OF Jordan's actual his
tory she was as much at loss as
for-fifthS Of his acquaintance.
She had said truthfully that she
had met Jordan on the ocean liner.
She had chatted with him in a deck
chair, strolled occasionally in the
moonlight and watched him in
variably winning at cards.
Being obServant, Evelyn had no
ticed Jordan was usually to be seen
with young women who had large
bank accounts, and with men he
met in the card room.
His working hours, she decided,
were those he spent at cards. Was
his name really Jordan? Evelyn
doubted this, but Of course, there
was no proof.
He seemed to know the right peo-
pie, and he was tremendously eff
fective on romantic deck at night.
The widows reasoning was simple.
At present Celia Mitchell was useful
to her, but that usefulness would
end soon. Jordan was exactly the
aid she needed. Evelyn Parsons was
playing her, cards we'll.
The dinner. that evening was very
gay. The table with its flowers and
silver and crystal was more festive
than anything Celia had ever seen.
The colors Of the 4woInen's gowns
added glamour to sthe scene. No
one in the room realized that this
was the first party Celia Mitchell
ever had attended.
Jordan talked of the races. polo.
and a recent aerial trip he had
made which ended in excitement
But you haven't told me any,
thing about yourself!" he reminded
her.
There's nothing to tell"
That is quite impossible" ~
Again CeIia's cheeks colored
Without a smile, without the least
change of infection, Tod Jordan
managed to convey implications
His dark eyes watched the girl.
But there really is nothing to
tell" she laughed. "You see, New
York and everything here is new to
me. I've been in school until a
month ago. I've never seen any,
thing or been anywherel That's
why it's so wonderful to come to
this party"
Again Jordan's eyebrow did the
little trick OF raising and then low
ering itself ever SO slightly.
Are you a relative Of Mrs. Par
sons?" he asked.
mo, mol Only she and my father
are old friends. Fathers coming
down tomorrow"
''Really?"
Celia would have been astounded
to know that Tod Jordan could
quote her fathers financial rating
precisely. He had considerably more
information about John Mitchell
than had Mitchell's daughter.
"But all this time you've been IN
school you must have been doing
something" the man persisted.
"I2w do you amuse yourself? Ten
MI Like TO swina9 Danceg"
no good at tennis. Celia