The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-21
CHAPTER XIV
THE big man announced. young

THE big man announced, Young
Il lady to see you, lieutenant"
At the SCARED desk sat Shane
McDermid staring as though he'd
seen a vision.
The girl advancing was enveloped
in a smoke-colored coat fitting her
snugly at the waist like a Cossack's
uniform. Little smoke coIored tur-
ban from the close frame Of which
bronze curls escaped. Small, ex-
quisitely fitting shoes.
There was a subtle scent in the
big, grim Office with the unWashed
windows. Shane stared, and small
wonder that he did. He got to his
feet stumblingly.
Miss BaTett?"
Eyes" The vision smiled.
you're all grown up" he said
marveling. you were a little girl
last summer"
"And you've been made a lieu
tenant. I'm almost afraid Of you
now"
He laughed, but was pleased and
f1attered, too. mot a bit Of it. Well,
well! Is there something I can be
doing for your"
She told him. Between breaths
he made deep sounds of anger.
THE dir-rty-" He caught him
self in time You'll have to ex-
cuse me. THE rats! Tell me
what the Teller looks like" he COM
manded.
Lame ruffled her forehead in an
effort to recall the least clew. Hes
dark like a Spaniard-or Mexican"
she said haltingly. "He has a tiny
mustache. He is beautifully mani
cured"
mo rings? JeweIry?"
mo, 1 don't think so. Oh, he
had a little gold watch charm. I
remember he kept playing with it.
Shaped like a tiny lion"
"Um." Shane McDermid pom
dered. Tuesday, you say?"
THAT was what he said. Yes"
THE Alexis Club. That's a new
place. now. Johnny Badbados. I
know Johnny. He's a Greek. Not
a bad one, either. Now, look. Don't
you worry your head about this.
1 go something on Johnny. He
won't want me to get down on him.
Just you stop worrying. I'll see
to it, yes. It looks mighty funny to
me-" Shane McDermid pondered.
They know about old Cleespaugh's
will and that's not generally known,
you say. And they're aware you've
no money. It looks as if you're to
be scared out. Well, leave it tome. -"
Lame rose. He seemed to be dis
missing her.
You think it's all right, them"
I'm tellin' you not to worry, an
1 mean it. Johnny Barbados. Well"
Shane saw her to the door. He
said, Call me up tomorrow. Maybe
Ill have good news for you"
Il can't thank YOU" Lame man
aged to say. She was fumbIing for
a handkerchief.
well, there. You're a good girl
and like to help good girls. Don't
see one any too often" He laughed
awkwardly.
G. HE went out into the street feel
~ ing rather dazed. Half an hour
ago she had been quite sick with
fear, with foreboding. Now the
cloud seemed, momentarily at least.
to have lifted.
What a good fellow Shane NIcDer-
mid was. Her heart warmed to
him. She wished she might tell
Give all about him. But she
daren't-at least, not yet.
Lame felt, she thought, an enor-
nous affection for Shane McDernid.
It was nothing like the feeling she
had for Give. No, that was fond
ness, comradeship. She loved to be
with Give. They laughed at the
same jokes. He made life seem
casual and amusing.
Nor was it like the white-hot
emotion that smote her when Van
Robard appeared on the scene
Vans presence could make her
palms cold and her face feverish
When he appeared she said artif1-
cial things, acted a part.
She wondered why her emotions
couldn't be steadier. She hated her
self. feeling light and frivolous anc
unstable.
I'm the wrong sort of girl" she
nc ANrevxrrp IT.