The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-21

said, and looked again at Mary
Frances, and did some more recon-
structing, and finished, shot. Well.
I'll be shot," repeated Mr.. De Ar
mount.
They parted, but not forever, out
side the drug store at 5 o'clock. She
had agreed to meet him that night,
as close to 1890 as he could make
it, under the big walnut tree in the
yard-the one corners from
the Carmichaels' house, where Fem
wick avenue joined Chestnut street.
There could be no harm, he had
urged, in getting better acquainted.
A S Ann put on her coat in the
L a Mushroom at the rear of the
office the day behind her was
long tired disappointment, and the
empty evening stretched ahead
paralleled with a frightened wonder
ing as to whether or not she might
hear from Phil.
And yet, when the telephone bell
rang, just as she was opening the
front door to start for nome, and
she was greeted by Phns voice,
pleasant and sure, she was aware
only Of irritation and a dismaying
petulance.
Ann, dear" he said, ut is spring"
She answered stupidity, 1T lisp"
and thought that it also was after
5 o'clock, and that if the bill
collector had not come in she
wouldn't be in the Office to receive
this news.
Phil had a plan. The car was in
running order again; he thought
he might stop in town and get two
of those box lunches, and then come
for Ann, and he and she would
drive out somewhere into the coun-
try, and find some woods and
stream, and eat their suppers to-
gether out there all alone under
the trees.
you know 7 can't, Phil" Ann
said. This is my week to get din
ner and do the evening work, and
have to go home and do it."
u thought" he explained, chat
Cecily might be a good sport this
once and let you off. 1t is a grand
day. I'm wild to get out of the
city and into the woods"
"Cecily is always a good sport,
Ann returned. But it happens that
she Just called me and told me that
she is going out somewhere into the
country for dinner with Barry Nc
Keel"
"Oh, the wild Irishman again?
He is giving her a rush, isn't hep"
Il shouldn't call him wild ex-
actly," said Ann. "Cissy has every
right to go-it is her week"
He said, Surely. OF course"
Last week." Ann suggested, was
my week"
But last week" Phil reminded
her, lit rained all week"
Ann said, THAT wasn't my fault"
Phil said nothing, and one of those
taut silences that come occasionally
into telephone conversations began
and extended absudly until Phil
snapped it with well, then" that
was frightening with f1nality.
TIE can't" Ann thought wildly,
IL SAY goodby and hang up
when nothing else has been said. I
can't say, III see you after dinner,
won't ~ Why can't I? 1 often do.
I don't know. Today I can't"
But she did say it; and, well,
that's the trouble" Phil began, as
she had known intuitively, without
either precedent or reason, that he
would begin.
No safe, satisfactory, Eyes, of
course" No happy, thrilling, We'll,
indeed you will" No, May T.?
precious because of its humility and
eagerness. It had been years since
Phil had produced a May II" en-
tirely satisfactorily.
L1C IldNl q LllEllb w oct d. q U n
He had thought that he and Ann
might have their picnic supper in the
woods, and that he would have time
to take her home before he went on
to keep his engagement.
"I see" said Ann.
Whats the matter?" said Phil.
Nothing" said Ann.
Il suppose you think I shouldn't
keep my engagement with my
chent?"
No, 7 DON'T" Ann said, the hint
of anger almost hidden under the
WEAKNESS. when did I ever think
you should break a professional en-
gagement"
well, then" he said, and it was
coming now and she could not stop
it, "goodby" If only he wouldn't
top it off with one of thse silly,
- ANSMEK distance.