The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-07
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meal without the formality Of wait
ers lowering watchfully in the back
ground. Dreamed chicken for Nor
ma with salad and fresh fruit. A
thick steak for Mark accompanied
by vegetables and a hearty dessert.
Coffee afterward.
While they drank the fragrant
beverage Norma sat on low stool
at Marks feet.
Happy, kid?"
She was, she assured him. But
not so happy as she had been before
the advent of Hollis Stone. Not so
happy as when this paradise about
her had seemed to drift on end
lessly.
Tonight there were doubts, spas
modic moments Of terror and black
restlessness.
A LII the next day she did not see
IA Stone and neither she nor
Mark mentioned him. Blue Springs
was in docile mood after the storm.
The young Travers' took long
motor drive, lunched at a wayside
eating place and returned to the
inn to watch a tennis match.
A pretty English girl and her
long -limbed partner won the dou-
bles cup from group of contend
ers.
1t was the following afternoon
that the lure of a perfect golf
course became too strong for Mark.
He left his bride to join a four
some, promising not to be gone
long.
Proudly Norma urged him to go.
She declared she would welcome
the time alone. She didn't mean a
word of it.
Her heart beat in accelerated
tempo and tight knot gathered in
her throat as she saw him depart.
She longed to cry out and beg him
to stay with her, but common sense
routed the impulse.
Alone, she considered how to &C.
cupy the dreary afternoon. Should
she walk, visit the shops, go to
Pierre's for a shampoo? None of
these things appealed. She decided
to read and started for the maya
zine stand.
Norma turned a corner. Cool
gray eyes met hers levelly. A mans
voice, suave and low-pitched,
drawled, Good afternoon, Mrs.
Travers."
Good afternoon!"
Hollis Stone faced her SquareIy.
He stood in the center of her path.
Fine day we're having" he sug-
gested. The tone was formal. Not
by the flicker of an eyelash was
there evidence of anything but i'm
personal greeting in the way he
spoke.
yes, lists beautiful day."
Nervously Norma twisted the
strap of the tiny purse she carried
1t fell to the ground. The clasp
opened, spilling coins and a vanity
case.
Stone rescued the purse and its
contents. She thanked him in con-
fusion. Decent courtesy demanded
that she should linger and ex-
change few words.
When at last she was able To es-
cape, the girl had forgotten her
quest Of magazines and hurried to-
ward the elevator. She went to her
rooms. So much to try to puzzle
out.
She pressed her hands together
feverishly until they hurt. What
was Stone waiting for? What was
behind his silence? How long could
she count on it? Over and over she
asked herself these questions.
1t was late when Mark arrived.
He burst into the room, jubilant and
noiSily enthusiastic. It had been a
great afternoon.
He had shot an 81 and none of
the others had done so well. They
were determined to take him on
again in the morning. Going to be
out early!
AAAOAC WOO AAAlO4A dOOuU UllC
game of golf. 1t was a long while
before Mark even thought to in
quire how Norma had spent the
afternoon, whether she had had q
pleasant time.
Playfully she evaded in her an
swers. If he had not even missed
her during these hours of separa-
ton, she would not confess she had
been lonely. When they were ready
to go down to dinner, Norma was
determinedly gay.
She maintained the pose through
out the meal and afterward when
they danced.
1t was a different Norma, how
ever, who later when they were