The Indianapolis times., 1931-06-06

shall I waltz" the driver asked,
holding the car door open for her.
Please she breathed, for the
house had a dark and forbidding
aspect that equaled the reputation
of its owners. Perhaps its power to
terrorize the timid was one reason
why they did not paint it.
Beryl was not tinid, and so she
entered and spoke calmly to the
big, british Pol when he ap-
preached her.
Can you tell me where I may
find Tommy Wilson," she asked.
Pol grinned at her. Pol liked to
grin. He had exceptionally fine
teeth. Corn had done it, he claimed.
He liked to ask questions, too.
What right you got to ask?" he
returned bluntly
Beryl eyed him haughtily. "Ac-
cording to your standards, I prob
ably have none" she answered
coolly.
The grin left Polls face. Lay of
that track" he warned Beryl sui
lenly.
Il haven't come here to be diplo-
matte" Beryl informed him. II
want to know where Tommy Will
son is"
I'VE don't give guy away to a
skirt" Pol retorted.
Beryl turned away, then back
again, knowing it was foolish to al
low his lack of courtesy to defeat
her. Il am not Tommy's girl" she
said evenly. Il am friend. And
/ know he was in a row with you.
If you don't tell me what you did
with him, I shall go to the police" ="
Pol laughed. You're hot stuff,
sister," he told her, but I like your
spirit even if you are miles off in
your reckonin'. The police-that's
a hot onel"
LIE was still laughing when a
Il 4 sound behind .Beryl caused her
to turn hastily in that direction.
And there in a doorway leading into
an inner room stood Tommy. He
was haggard and entirely disrepu-
table looking, but he showed a ma
tural surprise at seeing Beryl.
what you doin' here?" he asked,
and his voice was as cracked as his
skin.
IF you'll take me out to my taxi,
I'll tell you" Beryl answered.
Tommy glanced at Pol, who was
staring at him with a crooked smile.
"All right" Tommy said un-
easily, and followed her from the
room.
What were you doing in that
house?" she demanded of him when
they were outside. you were in a
light with those men, weren't you?"
Tommy essayed a laugh, but it
was only a travesty of sound.
Sure" he said, "and they walloped
me good and plenty. But had it
comm. I tried to get smart with
a better man"
''But I don't understand" Beryl
said, "why you are here, in their
house"
They're all right" Tommy said
in defense of his new friends.
Il see," Beryl remarked scath-
ingly. "They bea that idea into
your head"
I'D rather take a beating than
a preaching Tommy warned her.
Beryl instantly took a different
tack. Il won't preach to you, Tom
my" she told him softly. Come
on and let's talk it over on the way
back home"
I'm not going home,' Tommy
declared, and the determination
in his voice was alarming.
Urge as she would, Beryl could
not persuade Tommy to leave the
Larkins. He was as well off there
as anywhere, he insisted.
Beryl sensed that he was gov
erned by a reason more compelling
than his liking for the outfit. But
she dared not voice her opinion,
knowing that opposition would serve
only to cement more firmly the evil
association.
please" she begged, after all
arguments had proven vain, keep
in touch with me, Tommy"
But Tommy did not keep in touch
with her, and for days Beryl lived
in the agony of dread.
She had been put to bed, almost
forcibly, and scolded by the family
doctor and her mother with such
clearness and emphasis that she
dared not disobey. Besides, her
mother watched her like a hawk
Was not her career in jeopardy?
Beryl smiled over her mothers
soicitude. It would make differ
ence in the family should they be
deprived of her salary. But she was