The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-03
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

"IGI was the only one who at
NJ tackled the delicious meal with
any enthusiasm. Dundee wondered,
with some embarrassment, if it was
his presence which prevented the
relief the whole party must have
been feeling from expressing itself
more exuberantly.
And he wondered, too, which face
might betray its owner if he should
say, suddenly. Regardless of what
Captain Strawn says, don't think
Doris Matthews murder has been
solved"
Not that he had any intention of
throwing such a bombshell. Of
course. His mind was a maelStrom
of questions, unexplained and APP
parently unrelated facts and half
formed suspicious. But as yet he
had no more idea who killed Doris
MatthewS-if Johnson did not do it
than had his parrot, the Wat
son" he hoped was even now on
it's way from the Rhodes house.
mo, no, Wicket! Take it away!
The very sight of food makes me
I'LL" Mrs. Berkeley protested, as the
butler bent over her with vege-
table dish. But do eat-all of you!
MY beautiful. beautiful pearlSl
And my pigeon-blood ruby! If 1
could get my hands on that vile man
And he seemed such a gentle
man. too! I mean, for valet"
Cant we talk of something else,
Abbie?" George Berkeley interrupt
ed coldly. Your jewels were in
sured. They can be replaced"
But Doris can't!" Mrs. Berkeley
walled. dabbing at her eyes. do
you think you can get me another
maid just as good, dear Mrs. Lam
bert?"
I'm afraid not" Mrs. Lambert
saio coldly.
DON'T Mother" Dick Berkeley
| groa ned, then, without excusing
himself, he kicked back his chair
and bolted from the dining room.
when 1 think the poor darling
| ulCQ u yu1S W ACAC1lQ l4y JOWSAo
from that wretched-" Mrs. Berke-
ley went on, her voice quivering.
You wish you hadn't slapped her
don't your" Gigi cut in cruelty.
George, are you going to let that
child talk to me like that?"
Sorry, Abbie!" Gigi apologized
courtly, her eyes blazing. TITS just
! that I can't bear"
That will do, Gigi," Mr.. Berke-
ley commanded sternly.
THROUGHOUT the meal Clorin-
i ola Berkeley and Seymour
! Crosby spoke not at all, except for
murmured acknowledgements OF
Wicketts services. But Clorinda's
silence was the stiffness of deep
happiness and peace-or so it
seemed to Dundee.
Her magnificent dark eyes were
softly radiant and an unsupported
gentleneSs and sweetness lowered
over the beautiful mouth that had
been so arrogant.
Crosby was silent out Of weart-
ness and profound depression-a
silence which not even his exquisite
courtesy could goad him to break.
Mrs. Lambert dutifully Sympa-
thized with Mrs. Berkeley in her
broken, semi-hysterical complaints
against johnson. the fact that the
big party could not take place and
the unfairness of life in general.
But only her lips sympathized,
conSoled, reasoned. Her blue-gray
eyes, looking abnormally large now
because of the purplish shadows,
were infinitely remote, infinitely
weary. But twice, when Mrs
Berkeley mentioned Doris name
Mrs. Lambert glanced upward at
Wicket and each time their eyes
held.
And Dundee knew that, for the
moment, butler and former mistress
communed silently and sorrowfully
as two friends who had loved a girl
who was dead.
He watched cannily for any tiny
clew that might betray her muir
derer, if indeed he-or She-waS in
that room. A word. a facial eX-
preston, the hypocritical overstreSS-
ing of a note Of grief. -.
But there was nothing, or if there
was, he could not detect it. And he
was glad when, the dessert served,
but not eaten, except by greedy
Gigi, Mrs. Berkeley rose.
Il suppose" she sighed, 1--WE must
all try to get back to normal. OF
course everything Is at skies and
sevenS. and have so much to do
I hardly know where to begin.
"Gigi, will you play tennis with
dear Mr.. Dundee, or take him over to