The Indianapolis times., 1930-05-27
DELLA
W JUETE ANN MOORE f4SNg5E 1aog57noH2 2.2 .2nsocAzE

{ for his own and withstood his COM
petitorS. He was in an ugly mood
The boy friends on deck" he saio
shortly. Hes been here since you
did your dance and he got plenty OF
dirt in his eye. You ought of seen
the look he give me when L turned
around and found him standing be-
hind me-"
Forget it." said Mary Della.
Forget it, will I? Well, let me
tell you something, Mary Della. Joe
Speaks has had all the chance he
wants to ask you to dance with him
and he hasn't been around. You
know what? I think he's been wait
ing around so she could break in on
me-"
You're crazy, Timmy," Mary Del
la declared. There wouldn't be any
sense in his doing that. Why would
he pick on you?"
Because he's always picked on
me since he found out I liked you.
He cut in on me the last time we
were out here, didn't he? And he
knows nobody else cuts in at these
dances. Sometimes Till"
"All right" said Mary Della.
Have it your way, but you know
what you promised me-"
That's all right, too," Timmy
agreed. I'D do anything for you,
Mary Della, and I'll fade out if he
wants to take you home. But I'll
tell you one thing. If Joe Speaks
tries to cut in on me tonight while
we're dancing, he's going to be out
of luck"
KEARY DELLA saw Timmy spin
1V1 around suddenly, leaving her
standing foolishly, alone. On
Timmy'S shoulder was a clenched
hand, and glowering before him was
Joe Speaks. more angry than Mary
Della ever had seen him before.
80 I'm out of luck if I try to cut
in, am -" Joe was snarling in
Timmy's face. "Well, Two-cents,
I'm cutting in right now and I don't
see how I'm out of luck. Get out OF
here before I break your neck"
He gave Timmy a rough shove in
the direction of the door. But it
was like stretching a rubber band
and abruptly releasing it. Timmy,
who seemed SO weak and impotent
before Joe Speaks, tore into him
with both fists, landing telling blows
before Joe realized what had hap
pened.
Both blows caught Joe in the
vicinity of the right eye, and he
stepped back quickly to guard him
self against the next attack. Timmy,
now a vicious little wildcat, con-
tinued to swing his arms madly, too
angry to think of protecting himself.
Joe took advantage of wide OPEN
ing and swung with all his strength.
But by an accidental movement,
Timmy stepped to one side, and the
blow went wild.
BY this time the dancers had be-
come aware of what was going on
and were crowding around, greatly
excited.
Mary Della saw policeman hur-
rying from the door. She tried to
catch Joe's coat and pull him back,
but as she reached out he moved
forward with a jerk, and she saw
Timmy fall back against the spec
tatorS and slip quietly to the floor.
Disorder in the park pavilion is
unheard of. and it soon was regu-
lated. Several young men took
Timmy up and carried him to the
door. The policeman followed with
Joe Speaks in custody, and ordered
every one else back on the floor.
Mary Della ignored this command
and trailed after them.
TIMAIY regained consciousness
l. after a few moments in the cold
air. and got to his feet.
Who started the battle?" the
policeman asked.
Joe pointed to Timmy. THAT
little sap did" he declared. "Socked
me in the eye while I was talking
to a girl. He must be nutty.'
Pretty small bird to be socking
you for nothing" the policeman
said. I'D been ashamed to hit him
if I was you"
"Is that SOP" Joe replied con-
temptuouSly. We'll. any time
fresh bird like him comes poking me
in the mug when I'm tending to my
own business :"
You weren't attending to your
own buSineSS!" The group turned
to face Mary Della, standing with
her fists on her hips. "You-you
worml" She was looking directly al
Joe Speaks, her chin quivering as
she talked. You thought you'd lie
out of it because Timmy didn't want
to get me mixed up with the cop
didn't you? Well. here I am and il
the cop don't take yoa in I'll &C
down and prefer charges Of assault
against you.
Joe's Lip curled up until his teeth
shone. Why y0u-