The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-11
MAD MARR|AG.a| .
by LAURA LOU BR00knAN AUt6or 0ff7EApT HLQ6Rl'eh

on your mind2" His tone was cool,
composed.
Gypsy's dark eyes sought the
mans. Her face was colorless ex-
cept for the red lips which strug-
gled to keep from trembling.
Il want to tell you I'm sorry
about what happened last night"
Gypsy could hardly recognize her
own voice. 1t sounded strange and
far away. Il shouldn't have said
what I did"
Before Crosby could reply a
waiter was beside them. "WhatTl
it be tonight?" he asked breezily.
Got nice vegetable soup, baked
beans, hot ham sandwich. Whatu
it be?"
Gypsy shook her head. Moth
ing for me-" she said. The thought
OF food was unbearable.
Ham sandwich and coffee. /"
Crosby ordered, but when the food
was set before him he barely tasted
it.
The waiter left them. Now was
her chance.
"Oh, Alan, I've been miserablel"
Gypsy exclaimed. "You know I
didn't mean all I said last night.
I don't know what was the matter
with me. I was excited, I guess.
Say you'll forgive me and that
things will be the way they were
before"
Crosby looked as though he feared
another scene.
Forget It'll" he said stifdy. cit
was my fault, too. Just don't think
about it any more"
The tragic look faded. Gypsy was
smiling.
"Then everything's all right
again?" she asked hopefully.
The young man agreed. There
was something about his expression
that should have warned her of
troubles ahead.
"Oh-Tm so gladl" 1t was a
happy sigh.
Crosby toyed with the handle of
his coffee cup. A moment later
he looked up and said briskly, well,
I'll have to be running along now"
The look Of panic in the girls
face must have made him repent.
The young man glanced across the
table. Tt was one of the few times
during the interview that their eyes
had met. Crosby looked uncom-
Portable He leaned forward.
Gypsy" he said, there's some
thing I've been meaning to talk to
you about. We used to have some
good times together before I went
away, didn't we?
"Took ourselves pretty seriously
then. Thought we were grown up.
L'ord-do you remember how we
used to argue over every topic under
the sun? Oh, it was fun! Grand
fun, only it seems crazy now.
What I mean to say, Of course,
Is, 1t was just kid stuff. School bow
and school girl affair. You feel
that way about it, too, don't your"
"Why-yes-"
1t was what he wanted her to
say. 1t was what he expected of her.
GypSy's head was swimming.
Zine. I was sure you did only
well, / thought I'd better mention
it. You're a great little kid, Gypsy,
and I like you'll Great kid. Pretty,
too. Got lot Of new beaux I'll bet.
Marry a rich one some day and
forget all about the struggling
young artist you used to know" OBJ
viously the strain had been removed.
Crosby was smiling, speaking with
animation now.
The girl tried to play the part.
Pride-Surely she would cling to
pride yet. She smiled-at least her
lips tried to smile. Crosby did not
seem to notice the grotesque result.
"Of course, Alan, I know it was
just kid stuff"
eyes, but we had great times.
I'll never forget them. I've got to
settle down to work now. Work
hard. That's one reason I'm NOV
ing away from Mrs. O'Hare's."
A pain like a knife thrust cut
Gypsy'S heart. Was it all a night
mare? Was she really hearing these
words?
Crosby's face had become a cloudy
blur.
Where are you going?" she asked
uncertainty.
East Twenty-third street. I've
got room over there that isn't
much, but it will do. Moving in
with another fellow from the
Office"
Crosby, thus launched on a con-
f1dential vein, continued: "MrS.
Langley's going to introduce me to
lot Of people who can help me
people who have influence. That's
what it takes to get ahead in New
York.
"She been great to me, Gypsy.
Naturally you can see how I felt
, last nights But don't worry about
that now-everything's all right.
I'm going to see her tonight"
BY clinging with both icy hands
to the edge of the seat Gypsy found
she could endure the pain.
Tell me about her." she said.
A shade of embarrassment
oroScnd tho xyoYYr,o, y,no,1,c foca