The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-05

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
THE morning at the store had
Il been a happy one for Ellen.
The pleasantness Of the evening
before fingered through the open
ing hours of the day.
Noon came. Ellen and Lorene
yawned, looked at each other in
terrcgatively and began tidying up
for lunch. Lorene tentatively sug-
gested a newly discovered tearoom
with a bangup 75-cent luncheon.
They set off and talked shop
through the lazy, unhurried hour.
Ellen found it pleasant to lunch in
such a comfortable fashion. After
ward, when they we're strolling back
to the store, Lorene said suddenly:
1--WE decided to let you try Blum
STEMS yourself this afternoon. I
hear they have some cute sports
dresses at $9.10-a new line. Car
ney e. Co. has whole window dis
play from there"
"Ohl" said Ellen, flushed and
thrilled.
Get three or four. Green is a
good bet, I think. And nothing too
fancy. Use your own Judgment.
Afterward, if you want to, you can
go on home and not bother COM
ing back till tomorrow. Your loot
won't be delivered till morning
anyhow"
"You don't know how proud"
Ellen began inarticulately.
Forget it! If you make any
boomers I'll come down hard
enough! Not that I think you will"
It was o'clock when Ellen fin
ished with the manufacturers and
walked up Pine street toward home.
She reviewed the purchases she had
made and found them good.
Underneath lay the pleased con-
scientiousness that she was through
with Barclays for the day. Myra
should be home from the library.
Tea and mullins in the kitchen, per-
haps. Ellen's steps fastened.
She entered the dusky hallway
and had started up the stairs when
Myra, wearing an old faded apron
and bedroom slippers, her head
wrapped in a towel, came flying
down. Ellen saw disaster in her
sisters eyes.
ELEM Mixes been hurt. An
accident"
"Ndike!"
Ellen leaned against the banister
Her heart seemed to stop. Her brain
-everything-seemed to stop for a
terrible, timeless moment.
Hes unconscious. They carried
him in our bedroom"
Myra was gone. Ellen ran up the
stairs and into the shabby familiar
living room filed with silent people,
women in dust caps and aprons,
a few coatless perspiring men.
Mixes bicycle was propped against
the wall. They were all looking
at it.
ITS the other sister," Ellen heard
some one say.
Poor thing! Let her through"
GTIRRING, moving uneasily, they
~ made a path for her, all the
curious, kindly neighbors, but Ellen
did not notice. She ran past them
to the bedroom.
Mike lay unconscious on the bed,
Mrs. Clancy, concerned and anxious,
was leaning over him. Molly sat
still and white in chair drawn
close. She did not move as Ellen
entered.
ooh, Ellen, it's you! I thought
Myra-" Mrs. Clancy turned and
spoke quietly.
Ellen's breath came in great
gasps. She could not speak.
"Sit down."
The Irishwoman left the bed and
took her hands in an effort to force
her to a chair. Ellen leaned against
her, spent, exhausted, her eyes on
the little motionless figure on the
high. white bed.
What happened?'
'It was the bicycle" said Mrs
Clancy patiently. cat Pine and
Chestnut. He was wheeling it
across when a truck, big truck
he pushed the bicycle clear, but"
The doctor?"
We've called him. Myra's gone
to see"
Myra came in just then.
"Dr. Ellis is on his way" she
said