The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-30

hungrily. It was so much better
than thinking that he might have
:. might have 49,.
Beryl tried all the outside doors
and found them locked. Then IN
despair she sat down on the front
steps and thought about life with
out Tommy.
He might never come back again.
There was nothing to hold him to
the town.
Presently a finger Of pink pointed
upward in the eastern sky and
Beryl realized that day was dawn
ing. Here she was out on the
streets. clothed in beach pajamas.
and all alone.
She might even meet the milk
man. He knew her, and Beryl had
sense enough to understand that
he was likely to put a damaging
construction upon the incident.
She arose and hurried away,
keeping to the shadows of the tree
lined streets.
Getting back TO her room was
not quite so easy as getting away
from it had been, but she managed,
with a goodly tear in her pajamas
and a skinned knee.
Quietly she changed to sweater
and skirt, and left the house once
more. This time she went out
through the kitchen and sat on the
back porch. She could not bear to
be under a roof closed in by four
walls.
1t was quiet in the house. Irene
must have gone to bed. Beryl could
picture her, curled down in the
sheets that their mother had tinted
pink for her.
She would be sleeping - oh yes,
Irene would be sleeping. She was
going to marry Prentiss Gaylord.
She would want to enjoy her
dreams.
They must be gorgeous dreams,
Beryl thought. Filled with rich and
costly things. Thered be no room
in them for boy with hurt eyes
and sag in his young shoulders.
1t was better out here. The early
morning hour belonged to people
who wanted to be alone. 1t belong
ed to boy with tears in his heart
and girl with tears in her eyes.
The tears ran unchecked down
Beryls cheeks as she lifted her
face to the Frightening sky. 1t was
a blessed relief not to have to hide
her feelings, as she would when the
family were up and about.
They would not think it strange
to find her away. She would leave
signs Of having breakfasted, in the
kitchen, and that would allay their
suspicious. She frequently went
alone on early morning walks.
When it seemed not too early to
be abroad, Beryl went inside and
busted herself for a few minutes in
the kitchen. Then she left, without
having eaten.
II
CHE returned to the Hoffman
~ house, but she did not linger
there. She was convinced Tommy
had not spent the night at home.
There was place, a diner, where
some Of the boys of Tommys age
hung out, she remembered. She
went there, walking by as slowly as
she could without attracting atten-
ton, but she did not see Tommy
within the brightly lighted car.
She started toward the theater
No, he would not be there now. She
did not know where else to look
for him. Tommy hadn't been in the
habit of frequenting gang hang
outs.
Well, she'd have to give it ur
until she could see his uncle. But
she didn't feel like going home
Her mother and Irene would be
prattling and Dragging of Irene'S
conquest.
Beryl turned her steps toward tbs
beach, as almost always when her
heart was heavy and she wanted
complete solitude.
And there, by the rock where shs
had seen Tommy sitting with Irene
on that night so long ago - there
she found Tommy.
He was lying on the sand in 6
heap. Beryls heart contracted WITH
sharp fear when she saw him, anc
she rushed forward with a cry
Tommy did not answer. She knelt
by him and turned his face towarC
the morning light.
1t was an ugly face. There wa;