The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-19

others about her had gone on. She
crossed the street hurriedly
Funny clothes" that girl had
jeered. Norma caught the refiec-
ton of herself in plate glass win
dow Well, she probably looked
funny" to Natalie Prices crowd
because her coat wasn't an exclusive
creation from Fanchon's or Monet's
Her hat, teo-that was funny
because it had been bought from
bargain table and reshaped accord
ing to Norma's own taste
She forgot her mornings errands
and walked a block past the five
and-ten store where she was to be-
gin her purchases.
What right has Natalie Price to
set herself up as a judge of other
people?" Norma ragged inwardly.
What has she ever done to make
herself better than any one else?"
She knew without need to hest
tate the answers to those questions.
Natalie's father was rich. Natalie
was lin society" her name and pic
lures in newspaper society columns
frequently.
But those were not the things
that mattered. What gave Natalie
Price her tremendous advantage
was the fact she belonged to the
life Mark always had known before
his marriage. If Natalie sneered at
Marks bride it meant others would
do so.
Was she so pitifully a failure?
Was she a hindrance to Mark?
But he married mel" Norma told
herself defensively. ''He knew Nat
allie first and instead he married
me-"
The mood burned only little less
fiercely when later she stood at a
counter piled high with dishes and
selected blue-flowered saucer to
take the place of the one she had
broken lucky to find the same pat
tern in stock. Well, the oil cloth
was next on the list.
Norma moved across the store.
She was buying and 10-cent sup
plies for Marks kitchen while Nat
allie Price and her friend might be
trying on gowns that cost hundreds
of dollars, fur coats worth fabulous
sums.
"Oh, what do I care!" Norma told
herself a little too insistently. She
was remembering that only yester-
day she had declared nothing was
lacking from her happiness. That
was when Mark had praised the
Thanksgiving dinner she had
cooked.
She said to the blonde girl behind
the counter, Il want a yard and a
half of that blue oil cloth. No, the
plain piece"
MARK TRAVERS looked up as
1VA the newcomer leaned his
elbows on the lunch counter.
why - Johnson! I'm blue
nosed baboon if it isn't the old boy
himself How're you, Johnson"
The newcomer drew back and
thrust out a hand in greeting. Glad
to see you, Mark" he said heartily.
This is a SURPRISED Didn't recognize
you when came in. I'm very
well, thank you. Looking f1rst-rate
yourSelf!"
Mark laughed. Sure, I'm o. K.
Tell me, Johnson, how's the old
place bobbing along? Miss me down
there?"
They were sitting at a drug store
lunch counter. "A half consumed
sandwich lay on the plate before
Mark. He raised a heavy porcelain
cup to his lips.
The man beside him was middle
aged. He wore gray hat and dark
overcoat. Beneath the rim of the
hat the lose-clipped hair showed a
grayish tinge. Johnson had the
manner of a quiet, efficient man
who has spent most of his life exc
cutting other mems orders.
He had done that johnson for
fifteen years had been reliable cog
in the smoothly operating mechan-
ism building up F. M. Travers' real
estate holdings and F. M. TraverS'
annual dividends.
At SIS Johnson was in charge of
the department to which Mark had
so casually and briefly lent his serv-
ices the few months he had been
in his fathers employ. And at SIS
Johnson received a salary consider
ably less than that which had been
paid to Mark.
Traditional homage to all persons
and things associated with the
name Travers colored George John
sons voice.