The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-03
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by MABEL MCELIIOTT

mond said, patting her hand as the
taxi drew up at the theater.
Desmond told the driver to hot
foot it for the station. He would
just have time to make the first act
Of 1.-THE Frolic& Well, his eve
ning hadn't been wasted entirely.
ELSIE wanted to know. who's
- the new boy friend?"
Lane said demurely, MY mother
used to know his mother"
"Oh, that bologneyl" Elsie lost
interest. She went on, Dye know,
I'm kind of sorry we're checking
out of here next month. I've got
used to the smell Of new mown hay
mixed with my carbon monoxide
and I'll miss it.
Still, there's nothing like Septen1-
Der l in Times Square. There's a
feeling in the air-oh, I don't know
-as if something were just about to
happen. Something big"
IT know" said Lane dreamily
f''I know just what you mean, but
1t seldom does happen"
Never can tell" Elsie winked
deliberately. believe it or not, there
are plots Matching around here that
don't meet the eye"
Lame, thinking of her adventure
that afternoon, shivered a little
Elsie, not noticing, continued, "That
Muriel girl, for instance. Is she a
fast worker? Believe it or not, she
has little Boy Blue eating out 81
her hand. Wait till the scandal
columns get hold OF that. Which
Junior Lacquer is that way about
what drama starr"
"She met him only this after
noon," Lane protested.
Eyes, I know. But what that
dame does with twenty-four hours
is nobody's business" said the Gym
ical Elsie. MRS. Blues little boy
may be hooked before he knows it.
He's not used to these high-pcwered
debutantes.
II don't mind" she explained, "it
she'll lay off my Give. But Muriel's
a natural born poacher, and if she
thought she could burn me up by
going for him, she would"
Lame had heard a great deal of
this in the past, SO she lent mildly
inattentive ear 81 wouldn't worry
she said, absently. eyes, Mrs. Grid
ley, of course " got your tickets
ready"
Elsie took the hint and drifted
along in the direction of her dress
ing room.
"Muriers supposed to be helping
be tonight. What a fake she is as
a working GIRL Lame grumbled
resentfully to herself as she smiled
her set smile, punched tickets and
made change.
Poor little rich girl, playing at
being useful, that's what she is"
Muriel's role Of box office assistant
had been mostly a picturesque flc-
ton. She appeared late and left
early.
She never allowed business to
Interfere with pleasure. Lame
couldn't help being resentful. The
work meant bread and butter tc
her. She could not afford tc
Shirk.
The little coop grew sitting as
the evening wore on. Lame sat stiff
and watchful, smiling her profess
sional smile at the late corners, the
women all smartly cropped and
heavily scented in their frail chit
fonS.
When the doors flew open at the
intermission she caught glimpse OF
a dark, lowering face above dag
zling shirt front. Van Robardl He
did not even glance toward Lame
The girl with him was small, lus.
ciouSly blonde. N7er black frock was
daringly cut away at the back tx
show rounded pair Of COLDER
shoulders.
She talked animatedly, a cigaret
dangling from the corner of her ge.
ranium-Stained mouth. She looked
bored and exotic.
q n
r lanes heart was beating &
IL rapidly it almost stifled her
OF course he must know she was
there, but he wouldn't even look al
her. What a fool she was to mind
Oh, she hated him, she hatec
himl Lame had a sudden wilc
longing for green fields and COO
dark places where she could bury
her face in long grass and weel
long and SatiSfyingly, unheard.
Instead, she had to sit there, pas
sive, immobile, in her old gray dress
feeling like a shadow on the edge
of the pretty, painted throng.
How she envied all these youns
girls at Willow Stream. They hac
everything-money, family, tina
Wanted and elusive thing callec
background.
They could reach out and tak'