The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-15
CHAPTER TwENTY-THREE

ct TNUSUAL?" Miles repeated,
~ frowning. He was little
short with me because he was busy,
and, suspect. a little jealous be-
cause I'd come calling on Mia"
He broke of abruptly, in obvious
distress.
Look here, Dumdeel didn't
mean to say that, but I suppose
you'll find out sooner or later.
Well, the fact is, the whole crowd
knows Ralph Hammond was alb
solutely made about Mia Selin.
Wanted to marry her, and made no
secret of it, though we all thought
or hoped it would be little Penny
Grain.
Hes been devoted to Penny for
years, and since Roger Grain made
a mess of things and skipped out,
leaving Penny and her poor mother
high and dry, we've all done our
best to throw Penny and Ralph
together. But since Nital came to
town"
"Was Mia in love with Ralph?"
Dundee cut in, rather CURLY, for
he had q curious distaste for hear
ing Penny Grain discussed in this
manner.
Sometimes we we're sure she
was" Miles answered. "She f1irted
with all of us men-had a way
with her of making every man she
talked to think he was the only
pebble on the beach. But there was
something special in the way she
looked at Ralph.
eyes, think she was in love with
hinl But then again" he frowned,
"she would treat him like a dog.
Seemed to want to drive him away
from her-but she always called
him back-Oh, Lordl'' he interrupt
ed himself with a groan. Now I
suppose I have put my foot in it!
you've got the damnedest way of
making a chap tell everything he
would cut out his tongue rather
than spill, Dundeel But Just be-
cause a young mans in love, and
happens not to show up at a party,
is no reason to think he Sneaked
up to the house and killed the
woman he loved and wanted to
marry.
For I'm not so dumb that I
haven't seen the drift of your dam
nable questions, Dundeel Do
you know Ralph Hammond, by any
CHANGER" he concluded, his round
face red with anger.
n
ATO-but I should like to meet
IN him." Dundee retorted. He
seems quite hard to locate this eve
ming"
well, when you do find him."
Tracey Miles began violently, his
blue eyes blazing with anger, you'll
soon find you've been barking up
the wrong tree! There's not a
cleaner, finer, straighter-"
I'm fact, he is friend of yours,
Miles" Dundee answered soothing
ly, land I respect you for every
word you've said. BY the way,
did all of you go to the Country
Club for dinner after you left here?"
Somewhat Modified Miles an
swered: "All of us but Give HAM
nond. He said he was going to
have a look around for Ralph him
self. Seemed to have an idea where
he might find him.
And, oh yes, Sprague disappeared
in the scramble. He hasn't a car
aod nobody thought of offering him
a lift. Guess he took a bus into
Hamilton. All, here's Lydial
i. Hello, Lydial" he called heart
lily to the woman who was standing,
tall and gaunt. in the doorway.
Mighty glad you're coming to look
after the kidsl''
From behind the black veil which
draped her ugly black hat and hid
her SCARED face, Lydia answered in
the dull, harsh voice that was char
acteristic of her:
THANK you, sir. I'll do my best"
She made no protest when Dun
dee, with a word of embarrassed
apology, went rapidly through she