The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-06-16
CHAPTER ELEVEN

~AREY, staring after her, delayed
~ an instant. That instant was
Just enough to enable his new
father-in-law to seize him by the
arm. Old Tom SAWYER, while he
could not possibly be termed drunk,
was lowering over that delightful
border line between sobriety and in
toxication.
She's my little girl. Dean" he
said solemnly. Rather give her
to you than any young chap I've
ever known, but not too anxious to
have even you take her away from
me. Never know. until you're
father yourself, what it means to
have daughter marry. You be
good to her"
Don't worry about that" Carey
replied. IF I'm not a good hus-
band, it won't be for lack Of trying.
Don't you think that now would be
a good time for me to get out Of
this gang?"
For he had seen Cynthia, after
a slight pause on the staircase,
vanish around the bend, followed
by the maid. No anger had en-
tered his feelings at his wife's
strange behavior as yet; but he felt
something which he could not have
defined, but which was akin to
pique, at this sudden flight from
him.
His bridegroom's natural vanity
was hurt. The wise husband dis
covers after years of matrimony,
that it is impossible to achieve utter
and exclusive possession of a wifes
mind. Delightful as a companion
ship may be, other occasional in
tereSts arise.
But the bridegroom, in that first
flush of high romance, is offended
st any interest, however faint or
however necessary, that does not
center upon himself.
But SAWYER shook his head.
IF you want to get quietly away,
don't start when they've just seen
Eleanor leave the room. That would
make them all suspicious, and I
know they want to wv rice and
do every other fool thing that seems
proper to the moment.
Stick around minute, and
they'll think Eleanor is coming back.
Then you can leave quietly and meet
her upstairs"
Carey yielded to the argument,
and so it happened that Cynthia
went upstairs without pursuit.
She managed to maintain a Sc
date pace until she knew that she
was out of sight Of the guests; then
she ran. For Mary, the maid, had
been in a state of high excitement
when she greeted her on the stairs.
Telephone, Miss Eleanor" she
had announced. "Of course" she
went on. Il wouldn't let you answer
any ordinary call. but the woman
told me to tell you that it was a
matter of life and death. Said to
tell you that it was Cynthia speak
ing. and that you'd understand"
Cynthia shrewdly guessed that
Mary had not been more impressed
by the telephone appeal than by
the opportunity TO witness the scene
of gayety in the SAWYER ballroom.
For the maid fingered mo-
ment after Cynthia had cut short
her explanation by ascending the
stairs. Buffers and second men and
parlor maids, pressed into service on
an occasion like this, have oppor-
tunities for sophisticated boastings
sbout the sights they have seen; but
6 personal maid frequently can
match their recountals.
So. Mary would have fingered on
the stairway minutes had it been
possible.
=
A S it was, she was a few yards
IA behind Cynthia when her
pseudo-mistress entered the bedroom
upstairs. Cynthia glanced swiftly
about the room in search Of the
telephone. She expected it to be
IN some obvious place of easy &C
cess; not seeing it at once, she
4 turned to Mary.
She was about to ask the maid
where the instrument was, when
caution. momentarily dispelled by
anxiety. returned to her. She leaned
against The wall, hand pressed
1gainst her heart
7 ran unstairs too faSt." she