The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-27
CHAPTER THREE

kCOME Of the names above the
! - mail boxes titled tipsily. 80 that
they we're difficult 70 read. Others
lacked Identification Of any sort
Cherry searched the list. but no
where could she lind the name
/ Baker"
Il must be there. though. Baker
was what Dan had said. Unless
he'd found the place he'd have come
back
But there was no such name on
The list Of tenants OF the apartment
The girl turned uncertainty. The
exterior Of the building had proven
! deceptive. The small square en-
trance way in which she TODD was
soiled and down-st-heel
Brown walls with hideous panels
OF scenic wall paper on either side
Finger marks smudging the wood
work. The simulated tile floor in
need Of soap and water.
What should she do2
Cherry's fears were rising. It was
at that instant that a grimy urchin,
capless and wearing a sweater too
large for him. appeared on the
other side Of the outer door and
stared at the girl through the glass
panel.
She drew back the door. do you
know If some people named Baker
live here?" she asked.
The urchin nodded. Traces OF
some sticky stuff showed on his
cheeks. The blue stare Of impassive
eyes regarded her, but the child did
not speak.
Can you tell me where TO find
them?"
The urchin pointed a sticky fin
ger to the door at the left. Through
the glass portion of the door, a
short fight of stairs were revealed
Evidently IL led 70 a hall.
Somehow the child treasured
Cherry. 1t couldn't be such a dread
full place If there were children
about. Timidly she put a hand
on the door. 1t opened.
She went up the steps gingerly
and found herself In a long passage
There was dim yellow light hall
way down the hall.
Its meager rays showed doors or
either side-probably a dozen oil
them. Gray daylight filtered through
a window on the landing where the
stairs turned.
The thing to do now would be X
knock at one of these doors anc
ask where the Bakers lived.
Cherry took two steps forward
and drew back in dismay. There
we're voices, mems voices, raisec
and angry. behind the nearest dooi
on the right.
THE voices continued. One o.
a them grew louder than tn,
others. Oh, there was no doub
that the men were angry. Sud
denly Cherry heard the clatter O
a key turning in a lock. They wer,
comingl
In panic, blindly, the girl ran III
the stairs and turned at the land.
ing. She heard the door open be.
low and the men came out. Breath.
less, she fiattened herself agains
the wall.
Now they we're gone. but sh,
dared not go down. Stealthily Cher.
~ crept up the stairs TO the sec
ond floor. She must find some on,
to help her. She must find Dan!
Marshaling all her courage, Cher,
ry stepped forward She raised 4
hand and knocked at the door be.
fore her.
She never could remember the
rest. The deafening roar OF a gun:
report. the sharp, singing sensation
in her arm, her own shriek-they
seemed all to have happened al
once.
Out of the darkness she was able
vaguely to hear voices. One thai
was familiar. A pleasant voice
Whose was it? Cherry opened hel
eyes.
That's the girl, Cherryl Feeling
better now?"
Why. it was Dan who was bend
ing over her! He seemed to have
him arm about her.
"Dan-what happened?"
Never mind about that now
Here. see if you can drink this"
He held a glass to her lips. II
was sharp, biting stuff that stung
her throat, but she drank it. Dams
face looked worried. What was the
matter?
Suddenly, Cherry began to re-
member things. That drive down
strange streets-Inez Somebody
whom Dan must find-waiting out
side in the car
Cherry felt a knife-hke twinge of
pain in her left arm. A little moan
escaped her lips. Then she saw
that the arm was bandaged and
there we're blotches of red on the
white cloth. Fright widened her
eyes.
"Dan-?" she began, but was in
terrupted.
Listen. honey. do you think you
can stand up if put my arm
around you? We want to get you
to doctor. Here, let's see if you
can make it,"
She was lying on a davenport in
q room she never had seen before.
Strange faces we're peering at her.
Several women. a half-grown girl.
the grimy urchin she had seen
downstairs. and two men. It was
not an attractive room and they
were not attractive faces. Her arm
ached.
Try it, Cherry" Dan prompted.
Eli help you"
Obediently she tried to rise. The