The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-27
ROW GO ON WITH THE STORY
Oh A pTER TTHREE (crn- 81

CHATTER THREE (Con)
TASS looked troubled. Does she
~ seem quite-quite nice for you
dearP" she asked Lame. after all
you know very little about her"
"Oh, mother, I've got to have
some funP' begged Lame.
Let the kid go. She'll probably
crab some of the little snakes plans
without meaning to-" Elsie urged
low-voiced. Lanes pretty enough
for anything"
On Sunday night, since there was
to be no performance, Muriel sent
the car around for her guest. Lame
with high beating heart. was hand
ed down by an attentive footman.
The house looked infinitely i'm
posing with its great yerandas, It's
uncontrolled maids moving at
tentively about. She left her wrap
in an upstairs room done in faded
pinks and blues, q Louis XIV room
She descended the black walnut
stairs. Muriel, in frock the coolor
Of moonlight, stood in the center
Of a chattering group.
She turned, lifting those insolent
eyebrows physically at Lame. Per
feet" she said, putting down her
cocktail glass. She swung Lame
about, holding her by the wrist
'Tableau," she cried. Tempest and
Sunshinel"
Lame blushed 10 the roots of her
bronze curlS. "Ill begin with you,
Muriel said, indicating a tall man
who lounged against an atrocious
white marble mantel. This is Van
Robard, Lame, the well-known
heart-wrecker."
Lame looked into the deep-set
eyes and met the hooking smile of
the man who had called her by her
name that night outside Vernon's
office!
Her confusion was lost in the
chatter and the clink Of crystal as
a man in livery went from group
to group, proffering goblets and
napkins, sea green and smaller
than lady's handkerchief.
Lame accepted a goblet and then
put it down surreptitiously. No one
saw the gesture and she was glad.
The man called Van Robard seemed
the very hub Of the gayest crowd.
Muriel aimed her deftest sallies at
him. Lame felt Cinderella wise. The
gayety, little noisy, a little shrill,
ebbed away from her.
Why had she come? She didn't
belong here. She longed to slip
away into the quiet of the summer
night outside. Almost she suited
the action to the thought.
A RED-HAIRED youth who
IA looked like an infant Bac-
chus caught her arm slyly as she
made a sudden, instructive move
ment toward the French door.
Don't co. he said slyly. She
shrank from his touch and from the
scent of liquor on him.
Il wasn't going" Liahe lied. Just
wanted some air"
Here's a good number" chortled
the boy Bacchus, rumpling his hair
anew. He challenged the crowd
with his discovery. Good number
desires air. What d'you know about
that2"
Lame felt the hot color rising to
the very roots of her hair. How
she hated them all at that moment!
Rich, good-looking, unmannerly
crowdl
The man called Van Robard
broke away from Muriel's small
court and came toward her.
Sky, beat it, he said, in a tone
so low none of the rest could hear.
You're annoying the lady"
The red-haired youth mumbled
incoherently and drifted back to the
others.
Don't mind that idiot" said the
man with the dark eyes. speaking
very quietly.
I dont-now" She could smile
again.
Thanks" His look had a warm,
caressing quality about it,.
The man said, Hope we get some