The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-22

AFTER the long day in the Office
neither had much energy for house
work, yet both enjoyed the feeling
that the two-burner gas plate and
minute ice box constituted a real
kitchen, that their shabby quarters
were a home.
Their weekly rent included maid
service-a desultory weekly sweep
ing and busting by a ponderous
German woman named Helga.
Marketing was joint affair, with
strict accounting and settlement Of
the budget on Saturdays.
Generally Chris did the cooking,
because she enjoyed it and dis
played a real knack at it. Norma
would set the table. perhaps peel
the vegetables, and leave the rest
to her roommate.
She made up for this uneven dis
tribution of labor by experimenting
Helga's busting and keeping the liv-
ing room at rights.
1t was a square room, nearly
twenty feet both ways. The win
dows looked out on a row Of houses,
once impressive, but now as dingy
and nondescript as the one in which
Norma and Chris lived.
Most of the structures were board
ing houses or Haunted furnish
rooms" signs.
Inside the apartment was cheer
full. There were lemon yellow cur
tains, made Of theatrical gauze, at
the windows.
Lamp shades, the cretonne
spreads over the day beds and a
linen scarf across the gateleg table
repeated this bright color note. The
furniture was a haphazard asSort-
ment.
DINNER that evening was quick
- ly prepared and eaten. AS
soon as the dishes we're washed and
put away, Norma hurried downstairs
and returned with the puppy. She
gave him a saucer of bread and
milk. Then she sat down on the
floor to watch him eat.
A bell rang sharply, signifying
that one of the girls was wanted
downstairs. Chris went into the
hall ano looked down over the bal
lustrade
It's for you, Miss Saunders.
Telephone!" Norma could hear Bes-
sic Hawthornes nasal voice float
ing upward.
Chris descended. Five minutes
later she had returned.
That new salesman wanted me
to drive somewhere tomorrow eve
ming for dinner" she announced.
Aren't you going?"
Chris shook her head. I'm not
interested" she said.
But why not?" Norma urged
tits getting so you don't go any
where" She added, TITS certainly
not because you don't have plenty
of chances! Why don't you go?"
ooh, I just don't want to. He's a
nice enough sort, guess. SelbyS
his name"
well, I think it would be good
for you to step out and have some
fun"
Chris did not answer. After
she said, I'll tell you
what I will do. If you think you'd
like to meet him I'll invite him
out here some evening. Or I could
fix up date"
Norma shook her head. NO"
she said mot right now, anyhow.
haven't been very nice to Bob
lately and I wouldn't want him to
think it's because I'm interested in
any one else. I don't want to hurt
Bob's feelings"
Presently she took the puppy
down to his quarters in the base
ment. There was an old piece of
wooden blanket on the floor to make
a warm bed for the dog. Norma
left him curled up and cycling her
mournfully.
When she was back in the apart
ment she heard Chris Splashing in
the bathtub. BY 1890 both girls
were in bed and the lights had
been extinguished.
The last thought which entered
Norma's head before sleep crowded
everything before it was that she
must remember to buy copy of
The Press early next day to read
her advertisement. She wondered
dreamily how long it would be be-
fore there would be an inquiry
about the dog.
THE first inquiry came much
l. sooner than she had expected.
AS the girls entered the hallway