The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-11-17
Negkr0d MHRDER1%|,a,3SsllgAEE !

The suggestion Is, repeat, an in
suit and your apology is called for
at once. Your remark was unworthy
CT gentleman"
HUSHED surprise fairly quivered
i Il In the air. No one had had
any idea of the depths of Cousin
Amos innocence.
AS Linda tried desperately to
think of some way to smooth over
his deliberate afront to the Belgian,
Tom stepped forward, hastily start
ing to speak.
But the words never came for
Cousin Amos suddenly bethought
himself Of an even stronger climax
and added with dogmatic finality:
Even one who is foreigner and
indifferent to the pollution of body
and mind which indulgence in alco-
holic drink inevitably brings!
Yes, I repeat, you have insulted
the ladies of the party and I am
waiting for your apology-and your
withdrawal"
Instantly Tom had stepped be-
tween the two men, facing and close
to the Belgian. Linda, he felt, could
handle the other better.
From the corner Of his eye he saw
her put hand on her cousins arm
and knew all was well there.
But he himself had need of all the
nerve and poise and courage he
possessed, for he was facing a man
temporarily out of his senses.
There was no sign, however, of
the excitable foreigner" who might
have been listened to and gradually
soothed. Here was that terrible
chill fury which Linda had mo-
mentarily glimpsed. The mans
face was actually gray to his lips
including his lips. Gray-ilfi-
nitely more menacing, more terrible
than angry red.
\ In the eyes was look that for
all his solid, healthy courage Tom
shrank from meeting.
Captain De Vosl" Instinctiyely
he used the military title, as though
appealing for discipline and control.
I'm sorry for that more sorry
than I can say.
Il apologize-for myself and for
my wife--for her cousin who is not,
think you see, responsible for
what he says or does. He does not
understand our-customs here nor
realize that he himself is-has been
affected by what was served him.
please believe that I resented
was said as much as you did," Toms
jaw set grimly, in a flash of re-
sentiment against the author of all
this trouble. When Mr.. Peabody
is in a condition to understand
what he has done, he will also
apologize and retract what he has
said"
Remarkable that the man let
him say all this. He had expected
to be interrupted by a furious out
burst!
But the gray, chill look remained
unchanged, the eyes met his with
that blank awful glare, and as his
own voice died away, Averill felt
that he had not made the slightest
impression on that frozen, almost
cataleptic figure.
9sR q
ID ETREATING voices told him
IN that Linda and others were
going toward the car. At his right,
he felt rather than saw Pratt's de-
cidedly comforting support.
Then the merest flicker of eye
lashes showed that the taut, terrible
figure was after all human, Into
the eyes stole the@look of seeing.
Averill released his breath with a
little gasp-he had not realized his
own poised suspense.
AS the eyes changed, so did the
whole face. The crisis was over,
although the now suave, courteous
expression could-and probably did
veil any unpleasant thought.
II understand your position, Mr..
Averill.. It is Observation-Disclosures
-" The Belgian spoke softly, in
his voice glinting undercurrent of
venom. Nevertheless, I must-re-
gretfully-refuse your further hos
pitality and leave your delightful