The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-02
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

dAaAHAtAs
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
1.-THE matter? Is it strange that
Il a wife asks her husband not
to quarrel?"
You're not a wife. and I'm not
a husband" he replied. Let's not
drag that farce into this"
But we agreed. for three
months"
He interrupted her And sup
pose that I don't choose to keep my
agreement? Suppose that I make
up my mind. long before three
months are up, that 1 won't waltz"
What do you mean?" she asked.
There was fright in her tones.
I mean that 1 may decide that
/ don't want you, never will want
YOU"
But even such a decision needn't
force you to be rude
He relaxed now. leaning back
against the cushions. He shook his
head as though bewildered.
4 never thought I'd hear you talk
this way" he said.
What do you mean?" she re-
peated her question of a moment
ago, and once again their was fright
in her voice.
You don't seem yourself.
I'm quarrelsome. you think?"
well. yes. At least, as long as
I've known you, you've never shirked
a quarrel. Have you forgotten how
many times you were angry with
me before we we're married."
She essayed lightnesS: Doesn't
the man always blame the woman?'
I don't mean to be unohivalrous.
But at least there can be between
us common honesty
"All right. I won't be angry now.
"Thats Just it. You seem So
different" he told her.
Because I'm amiable?" She tried
hard to keep the quaver from her
voice.
He shook his head again.
Not that. I don't mean to be
rude. But Just now, when you asked
me not to quarrel, you seemed SO
strange-almost as though another
woman were in the car
We'll. if you look closely at me,
she daringly answered, you'll see
that there's been no change
Now now. don't mean 1 dom
know Just what I do mean. 1t isn't
that YOU seem to have changed just
now. It's as though you became
somehow - different - some time
ago. but that I just realized it now.
That danger which she had felt
was on the running board was now
we'll inside the car. Something III
her voice. or manner. or being. had
finally broken through his blind
ness.
It was as though leveeS had helc
back to current of truth and thai
now there had been a leak in the
dam. But leaks. if taken in time
may be checked.
The longer We know people the
more different they become. Yot
aren't any one that knew month
ago. she said.
THE daring of her double enten-
i DIRE steadied her nerves. She
was. Il seemed TO her. one of those
persons whom inaction dulls. This
afternoon. confronting Bennit
Thompson. her wit had been quick
and keen.
Now the very elasticity of the thin
ice beneath her brought her GER
tain mental agility. Years ago, If
Ohio. she had watched daring lit
tie hoys skate ''tiddlsdies" on the
skim ice of the pond, through which
one would break if one stood still
but which, bending and yielding
and apparently stretching, would
support one at full speed.
She seemed TO be now one OF
those juvenile skaters. and the more
dangerous her position the safer she
felt. It was only when danger was
unexpected that she feared it.
7 suppose that's it, Dean re-
piled. The edge had left his voice
How could Dean have any definite
suspicion? Bewilderment only would
be in his mind unless-or until
something happened to replace be-
vilderment. But it was as well tC
meet that bewilderment and disSi-
pate 1t as often as it appeared.