The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-16
CHAPTER THREE

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MARY was too surprised to move
1VA for an instant. What could
be the matter with Cornelia, that
she should behave Ike that?
Dirk growled. Don't make a
damn fool of yourself, Con. And
keep your voice down, will you? Do
you want everybody to hear?"
I don't care!" Cornelia subsidized
into childish shifting. Just then
she looked up and saw Mary watch
ing them. Mary thought she had
never seen any one look so silly in
her life.
Cornelia hadn't expected Interrupt
ton, that was sure, from the dumb
founded look on her face.
AT Mary's call, Dirk wheeled about
SO abruptly that the clinging girl
toppled and almost fell
Come quick, Dirk! Something
terrible has happened" Without
backward look, Dirk came running
and took the steps to her side in a
single bound
What's wrong? You look scared
to death, honey" he asked, wor-
riedly. The terror in her eyes
stabbed him with concern. His arm
went about her protectingly. They
drew away, out of Cornelia's hear
ing and lowered their voices some
what.
Mary poured out her story in an
excited tumble, almost crying with
the JOY of relief.
do you think it's anything to do
with Eddie?" she asked anxiously.
Listen" said Dirk. who is this
EDDIE you're talking about? You
don't mean the kid brother?"
Mary said yes, of course.
But what has he to do with it?"
Il don't know = nothing, I sup
pose. But he may have been in the
house-he was in trouble"
Dirk laughed and patted her
shoulder. In spite of herself, Mary
felt treasured. Dirk seemed to wipe
the whole nightmare away.
THAT kid? Why, you're all mixed
up. This is something else. That kid
wouldn't hurt a fyl" He pressed her
hand Comfortingly and they started
for the house.
Dirk called sharply, Coming, |
Connie?"
'Cornelia, still standing where he
had left her, moved forward con-
Yulsively at his command.
They had reached the loggia,
when Teddy Doulton numbered to-
ward them out of the darkness,
cursing earnestly, and seized upon
them as an audience for his griefs. |
Damned idiot" he exclaimed
fervently, rubbing his dropping
shoulder. Ran into me down in
the bushes and knocked the breath
out Of me. And not word to ex-
cuse it-not a world"
They did not listen. Have you
seen Mr.. Jupiter?" Mary paused to
ask.
Have I seen him? No. Ask me
if I've seen Jack Dempsey. Yes!
Who was the fool, anyhow? Whad-
daya ask such people for?"
"Who?" They could not wait for
his answer. 1t was all meaningless
chatter anyway-he was drunk |
enough to have collided with the !
side Of the house.
THAT fool l just met. Listen!"
he called, plaintively, after them
"You know what"
Keep still about Eddie" Dirk
said to Mary in low voice as they
entered the house, "till we see what's
what. No use mixing him up in it
unless we have to. He might have
a bad time"
TINE ballroom was deserted now,
Il except for the musicians, who
were packing up their instruments.
The subdued babble from the din
ing room indicated that supper was
still going on.
In other parts of the house, how
ever, activity was intense. Two
men in uniform pounded up the
staircase in the wake of the butler,
creaking with leather and breath
ing as if they had run.
Police, in the sacred precincts of
the Jupiter mansionl One of them
turned and called to third who