The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-07

you? Leave the coffee. That's all"
He drained the cup and poured
another. That made him feel bet
ter. Good party last night, but his
head was paying for it.
Robard reached for the pad on
the table by the telephone, hitch
ing his plum-colored dressing gown
closer about his waist.
Who'd called? All, that fool of a
debutante he had met last week.
Wanted him to call back. Fat
chance! He sat, drumming on the
table. A cigaret made him feel bet
ter. He inhaled gratefully.
Funny, Lame hadn't called. That
note he'd written had been calcu-
lated to bring her. It had been
hell of dumb thing to do, but
he'd taken the chance.
I'm i'll, and I want to see you be-
fore I go. Won't you just telephone
me?"
Yes, he had trusted to her tender
heart. Evidently he'd been wrong.
You never knew women even when
you thought you'd got them all fig
med out.
A S he threw his cigaret into the
IN fireplace the bell tingled. Ro-
bard reached for it. Even that
movement Jared his head and he
froWned darkly. His hello was
little less than surly, but the tone
changed instantly.
Eyes, it's 1. A wretched cold" He
coughed. Doctors forbidden me to
go out and I wondered if YOU
wouldn't stop in about 4. I'm having
some people for tea"
There was a pause, during which
he coughed again.
i know I've a nerve to ask YOU.
but it'll be my only chance to say
goodbye. I've been ordered to STAY
indoors till Saturday. See you then?
All, fine Voir."
There was a smile of triumph on
his face as he put down the tele-
phone. He shaved and presently
could be heard singing in his bath.
The oriental cleared away the
debris Of the breakfast things and
swept up the Uttered CRATE, bringing
fresh logs for the fire.
1t was a pleasant apartment, high
Celled, with a gracious, old-fashioned
air about it. You knew instantly
that it had been a drawing room of
the spacious eighties.
The marble mantlepiece told that
and the tall, recessed windows now
skillfully draped in silk and color
Of jade. A mans room and vet a
subtle one.
Van sang out from the bathroom.
Ito! I want you to get freesia.
Heaps of it. And yellow roses. Two
dozen. Buy thousands of little cakes
while you're about it and better get
some grenadine."
He would give the scene the air
of a party. His histrionio sense
rejoiced in the scheme.
Il
THE stage was set when, a few
Il minutes after 4, the door bell
rang softly. Van disposed himself
in a big chair, trusting he wore an
invalid's pallor.
He could hear Ito's sibilant greet
ing to the visitor and in an instant
she appeared between the curtains.
He sprang up. forgetting his role,
to greet her.
Lame looked pale and fower-like
in a black suit with a little black
hat pulled down over her bright
hair. She wore silver fox slung
across her shoulder.
Don't get up" she insisted. He
said, coughing little, "You were
an angel to come"
She glanced around. Am I the
flrst?"
you are and that's my good
luck. hadn't time to ask you all
the questions I wanted to the other
day.
81 thought you'd sailed by this
time"
He looked away. 1.-THE date was
put over. I managed that"
Instantly she was all concern.
What does the doctor think?"
He did not dare to look at her,
lest he smile at this. ooh, I'll be
all right in a day or two. Only,
you know, these spring colds are
treacherous things"
It know"
He made her sit in the chair be-
hind the urn. He took her fur, her
gloves.
1T seems wonderful to have you
here. So natural"
4
CHE flushed. She turned aside in
~ panic. Was she wrong to have
come? Where were the others OF
whom he had spoken? She looked