The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-28
DELLA

hopefuls who once had competed for
the pleasure had long since with
drawn to more receptive fields.
But more than ever before, Mary
Della felt the need of the crowd and
the music and the gayety of the
park dance and, there was, she re-
Elected, more ways than one to skin
a cat.
MARY Della" said Mrs. Chubb
when the supper dishes had been
cleared away and the vase of arti-
fetal American beauties set in the
center of the table, me and your
Pop are going to the pictures"
Mr.. Chubb, far from comfortable
in a stiff collar and his best suit,
was stealing a few minutes with the
evening sports pages. while Mrs.
Chubb made her customary elab-
crate preparations for the weekly
visit to the bright lights of East
Main street.
And" Mrs. Chubb resumed,
you'd better go right to bed, like
you promised me this morning you
would. There's rings around your
eyes and you said yourself you didn't
sleep good last night. Well be back
about 1870 if your pop don't run
into any of the men from the shop
and stand on the street talking half
the night"
When they had gone, Mary Della
caught her dress, croSs-arm fashion,
and pulled it over her head. Then
she went to her room. Three min
utes later she came out in a smart
little frock of rose chiffon with a
double-tiered skirt that shared the
same aversion to knees that all
Mary Della's frocks enjoyed.
She looked at the clock It was
1870. Four hours. If Miriam only
stayed in the city Saturday night
/. but there was no time to specu-
late upon ifs.
At the center she waited impa-
tiently for trolley. A coy coupe
stopped by the curb to wait for a
green light and Mary Della recog-
nized Bill Derwin. She knew he
was on his way to the park to take
charge at the dance and she was half
tempted to ask him if she might go
along, but she merely smiled when
Bill bowed. Nice boy, Bill, but he
might think she was fresh.
A T last the East Main street
IN trolley arrived and there fol-
lowed a mad rush for seats. It
looked like strap for Mary Della
until she spied Eddie keenan, hold
ing down three side seats by the
simple expedient of squeezing him
self into them.
Gosh, Eddie" Mary Della
called. wiggling down the aisle,
cant you give a poor girl a chance
to rest her feet?"
Eddie got up with surprising
agility and made a courtly bow
Help yourself and bring a friend"
he said, laughing: Look sort of
lonely tonight. Mary Della. Where's
that bird you've been running
dIOAlAl0 WAtAA ~ h4l4S
Il don't know" Mary Della re-
piled. Whats your opinion?"
Excuse me, there's Doc O'Hara
crowding the door. I want to find
out about that two bucks he owes
me-" He showed of in the packed
car and Mary Della was left alone
once more.
Leaving the trolley at the park
she wondered whether she should
60 in alone or wait outside until she
saw some girl she knew and tag
along with her She she barely
asked the question when some one
ran up out of the group leaving the
car and caught her arm. 1t was
Jimmy Fitzmoan.
"Whoopiel" cried Jimmy, who had
once lost his heart to Mary Della
and got it back again with no
effort on his part. This is like old
times, Mary Della. AL by your
lonesome?"
Not quite, Jimmy. You're COM
pany of sort. Are you taking me
to this dance?"
And how! But If I don't know
how to act. you'll know it's because
I haven't been out with a girl since
you gave me the air"
'Hokum." said Mary Della. 81
see Sharkey's throwing out the usual
delegation of newspaper boys"
Mary Della saw many familiar
faces inside and there was no lack
of dancing partners. Which was
not surprising when you consider
that she was about the prettiest.
Snappiest little article on the floor.
Her one great problem was persuad-
ing Jimmy that he ought to dance
with some of the other girls.
But what's the use2" Jimmy