The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-30
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Oq NABEE MCEIIIOTT

ACELLIOTT
hair. curled and crinkling like
Bacchus locks, topping her tall fig
ure absurdly.
When I'd warned her" she
screamed, her breath coming now
in gasps. When I'd expressly for
bidden--"
She sat down abruptly in a pale
gold chair. Then, 10 come home
Unexpectedly tonight" she cried,
fixing bot hpeople in the doorway
with that baffled, pallid glare, ito
find Grimes all differing and NUT
tering about her having gone off
In the roadster with that fellow.
No word to any one, if you please.
Supposed to be at her grandmoth-
er's, and no one there knowing
anything at all. idiots, all Of
them"
Van Robard advanced. We've
secured the shore road, he told her.
We've been everywhere. No trace
Of the car"
Mrs. Laid drummed on a marble
topped table with vermilion-tipped
fingers. The emeralds on her bosom
flashed balefully as her breath came
and went. and it's-what2 Half
past one?"
Nearly that" Van corroborated
solemnly, consulting his wrist
watch.
ooh, do something. DO sorneS
thing!" the woman walled, collaps-
ing suddenly. There must be
something. Why can't I think what
to do?"
1.-THE papers'u have it tomorrow"
she muttered, lifting her head
again. Nice, shiny mess they will
make of it. And what's her father
doing? That's what I'd like to
know.
ooh, yes, If he'd spend bit of
his time at home, instead Of trail
ing chorus girls, it mightn't have
happened. He was supposed to be
looking after the child"
q Il
IVAN looked uncomfortable. Lame
' ventured to say tinnidly in the
pause. Would you mind taking me
home now? My mother will be
terribly worried. I didn't have time
to leave her a message. We rushed
off so quickly"
yes, yes, go, all of you. OF
course. The sinking. ship" cried
the woman in the gold chair, wild
ly "You, Van, run along and for
get me and my troubles" She lifted
streaming eyes to his concerned
face.
Il had no business, Adele, in the
first place, to drag this poor child
into it," he began uncomfortably.
only thought she might be able
to help us, give us some clew."
I'll come back he said, in a
lower tone. Never fear, I'll not de-
sert you"
He took Lanes hand. She was
trembling now, with anxiety and
excitement. When she had rushed
OF into the starry night at Van
Robard's side she had completely
forgotten the promise given her
mother not "a hours ago.
What was it she had said? Oh,
yes, "I'll cut him dead if I pass
him on the road" Well, those, had
been light, wild words, lightly Spok-
en-. Because of course she could
not treat this handsome man so
cavalierly.
She found strange, deep attrac-
ton in his looks, his low-toned
queries, the pressure Of his brown
hand. When he had asked her to
go with him, to hunt for Muriel
Ladd she had gone as INTERESTINGLY
as a child might have. Villain he
might be, but he showed no cloven
hoofs to her.
HOWEVER, now it was well past
l. L midnight and her mother
probably lay Shiyering with dread,
waiting for news Of her.
II was wretch to drag you off
that way" Robard said contritely,
settling her in the car. But I was
sure Muriel had stopped to see you,
probably had conf1ded her plans. I
couldn't think what else to do"
cts all right" Lame said uncom-
fortably. She knew it wasn't all
right, but it did no harm to reas-
sure him. The big car bowled
smoothly along.
Now they were in the side road,
now Mrs. Smithers' little white
house blurred in the dimneSS
ahead.
I'll wait till you're safely in"
he said. helping her out. Have
you a key?"
Lame glanced apprehensively to-
ward the darkened windows. Odd
that mothers light was not burn
ing. The whole house was appar-