The Indianapolis times., 1930-07-01
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOuR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
TIE was just a wee bit too de-
A Il liberately casual. Bennie
Thompson always would fall short
of complete artistry in everything
that he attempted Had he hurled
the question at her, Cynthia, in the
relaxation that always follows upon
victory. might have answered him
in a fashion that would have rem
0ered futile all her denials.
AS it was. the slowneSS of his ut
terance warned her. She shook her
head as though in pity.
Il think you need long vacation,
from Broadway" she told him.
There's a medical name for that
disease where a person gets one idea
in the head and can't get it out"
He gave her one last look and
then the door slammed behind him.
She seemed suddenly to have be-
come very small: huddled in the
chair. she was a most pathetic fig
ure. The strain of the interview
had been greater than she realized
while it was going on.
Sitting there. she would proba-
bly, have comforted herself with
what her grandmother would have
termed a good cry" had it not been
for the ringing of the telephone.
It was the unappreciated artist
downstairs announcing that the taxi
man had arrived. She pushed the
trunk open, took out the dress and
coat she had Just discarded, wrig-
gled out of the flannel frock she
was wearing, and had accomplished
a complete change by the time the
taxi man knocked on the door.
Five minutes later she had left
the apartment house. No blessings
we're showed upon her by the ele-
vator man or telephone clerk, for
she had not enough money with
her even to pay them the smallest
tip.
Her dollar and a half was barely
sufficient to convey her and her
trunk to the Pennsylvania station
and to pay the check fee for her
baggage.
once she would have started on
the long walk uptown, but famil-
iarity with wealth breeds contempt
for the obstacles that are insur-
mountable to those who have no in
timacy with money.
So she entered taxi, drove home.
and on arriving there ordered the
butler to pay and tip the taxi man.
An hour later. Dean interrupted
her attempt at a nap by knocking
gently on her door.
Come in" she called.
He entered her room. This was
the first time that he had crossed
the threshold. and his difhdent en-
barraSsment made her feel a rush
of pity.
What a rotten deal he was get
ting! And badly as he thought
himself treated. how much worse
were the actual facts! Also. not
being entirely devoid of healthy
vanity. she knew that the negligee
she wore was most becoming and
that this did not mitigate the Situa-
tior.
"xIOUR father telephoned while
L ago." said Dean. The old
gentleman seemed pretty much up
set over his talk with us last night.
He told me that he felt that he had
been unforgivable impertinent.
II assured him that was net
angry. but the only way that I could
convince him was by promising to
dine with him tonight. All right?"
Cynthia nodded.
There will be other people there.
and YOU haven't seemed to care
about meeting any one." said Dean.
II haven't. but now do" she re-
piled.
Early. I think he wants US to go
to the theater," said Dean.
'Tll be ready at 7:15," she
promised.
He fingered a moment in the
doorway. That coolneSS of glance
which he had managed TO summon
TO his eyes each time they encoun-
tered each other, in the last three
weeks was gone now.
He seemed to be awaiting some
word from her. Then, as she uttered
none. he turned with most obvious
reluctance and left the room.
This truce. she told herself. was
going 70 be harder to endure than