The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-13
Of Peril 4 q z: T..

and finding him in every stranger
who crossed her path. But there
we're some questions she simply had
to ask.
Did you see him at Aide
Loma?"
mo"
"He didn't give Ethel his picture
or anything?"
mo" Then he added pettishly,
What did you care, anyhow? Not
going to fall for him, too, are you?"
She looked reproof at him. But
the thoughtful pucker did not leave
her brow.
when did he call up and tell her
he wasn't coning?"
II don't think he did" Dirk an
swered after a moments consider
alton. II think she said he failed to
show up and when she called his
usual hangout they told her about
his father dying and his having 20
go home to look after the estate"
He looked at her. You think he
just ran out on her? Maybe he did.
But Lord, I'd go to South America
myself to get away from that young
catamount. No matter how many
millions her dads got"
"DID De Iona know that? About
- the millions, I mean?"
Probably. I said he wasn't out
to marry money" Dirk reused him
self suddenly, crushed out his ciga-
ret and put his arms around her.
But why are we talking about them,
sweetheart?" he said gently. why
are we talking at ALP"
Why, indeed, Mary thought hap
PLY after several blissful, speech
less minutes. This was what she
had been longing for, for days. How
had she ever lived through them
alone?
She sighed deeply. Well, that was
all over now Then she remem-
bered. Tomorrow she was going
awayl Her heart cried out against
separation from Dirk again.
She clutched him tightly. Come
along with us" she begged. Il can't
bear to go unless you dol"
Dirk stroked her hair gently.
You really want ne?"
Her eyes answered him.
Better STILL" he suggested, don't
go. Stay here"
"Everything's ready. I've got to
go. Besides, I've just learned some
things that may be of great value.
There's too much at stake, now.
Dirk" she turned toward him sud-
denly, an agony of pleading in her
face. Dirk, don't you believe in
what I'm trying to do at ALP"
Ut was very still in the room,
Il lighted only by dim wall brack-
cts and the flicker of a small wood
fire.
Il believe in you," Dirk said pres
emily. Mary's searching eyes saw
his face contorted with the effort
to speak fairly and plainly. THAT
is, when I'm with you. When I'm
away from you, I get-wild ideas.
"Other people say things, and it
hurts. I shouldn't listen, I know.
but I do. Because it's YOU" His
hand gripped hers until her be-
numbed fingers ached with the pain.
You mean so much to me that
the least breath-the least suspi-
cion-" He stopped and held
his lower lip with his teeth like a
man in physical pain.
Mary was appalled,. what do
they Say?" she whispered.
"Oh, nothing that's true-at least,
if it is, 1 don't believe you realize
it. I think you're perfectly inno-
cent about it, That the Jupiter
money has turned your head-that
you're being nice to the old man
Just for what you can get out of
him.
God, if they knew about that will,
what a jabber there'd be! And, of
course, that newspaper story about
you last week was just about the last
straw-coming right out with the
intimation that you'd had the rot
ten, bad taste to choose that horri-
BILE necklace ="
Mary was silent, stunned.
There's nothing I can say she
faltered, as Dirk seemed to be wait
ing for some comment.
r r
MY idea was" he went on, "for
1V1 you to give out a statement
just a few lines, no housekeeping
it in a dignified way.
Its too late to stop lot of fools
from gaping over it, but it's the
best you can do-now the harms
done. You'd have to say, of course,
what it was you did choose-a ring
or pin or whatever it was, just for