The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-04-13

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: pajamas. There were tear-marks on
( her cheeks and her eyes were red
lined and swollen Her hair was
tossed in wild disarray, and she
looked thoroughly miserable.
She said, Come in" and then
quickly put her handkerchief to her
mouth.
/ Mrs. Curtis closed the door behind
/ her
Il was afraid I'd find you like this"
she said. Get back into bed, my
dear, or put something on so that
( you won't take cold"
I'm all right" Janet mumbled,
but she picked up flannel bathrobe
and slipped it about her.
"Oh, Mrs. Curtis" she said, turn
ing quickly, Il want to go away. I
can't stand it here with you think
ing what you do about me. I'd rather
be anyWhere-in Jail, If they want
to put me there! I don't care"
MFRS. CURTIS placed the candle
4VA on the table. There. there!"
she said You mustn't go on this
way. OF course you're not going to
jail. You're not going anywhere"
But 1 want to! I'd ratherl"
Sit town" Mrs. Curtis said. She
moved toward the bed and turned
on the pink-shaded lamp that stood
there.
"A little light will make the room
more cheerful she said. And then,
There's no use in letting your
self go to pieces, Janet I don't
think you took the necklace. I've
already told you that"
But Mrs. Carlyle thinks so and
those men
They can't prove it if you didn't.
The thing for YOU to do is to settle
down and get some rest. You'll
make yourself sick if you keep this
up
Janet was silent. The older
woman reached out and took her
hand. There's nothing for you to
worry about she repeated, so long
as you know you're innocent
But what am I to do?" The girls
eyes raised appealingly. Every one
will know about it! They'll look at
me and they'll say things. II
wish l were dead'
She began to weep silently. Mrs.
Curtis stroked the girls arm. L
don't think any one will hear about
it, she said. I'll ask Betty not to
tell any one. Now that the police
are at work it won't be long before
they find out who's to blame and
everything will be all right"
But suppose they don't find cute"
They will" Mrs. Curtis voice
was confident. Il wouldn't be sur
prised if they'd find the pearls to-
morrow. They have all sorts of ways
of finding things, you know Of
course, I'm terribly sorry about the
whole thing. II regret it deeply"
Janet shuddered. Those men
think I did it, she said. "They said
they did They said I took the
pearls to some one when I was down
town this afternoOn!"
There's one thing" Mrs. Curtis
began hesitantly. I don't under
stand why you went to the railway
station, Janet. I had no idea that
you we're thinking of going away.
Why didn't you tell me?"
II was going to. was going to
tell you next Saturday"
But don't you like it here? Is
there anything wrong? If you'd only
talked to me about it
L just-wanted to go away"
Janet murmured.
But why? What is the reaSon?'
There was no answer for a mo-
ment. Then Janet said, Il can't tell
you. 7 just wanted to go away,
that's all"
The woman sighed. Il wish you'd
be frank with me. Don't you see Tn
trying to help you? Why didn't you
want to stay here?'
Janet shook her head. Il can't
tell YOU" she said.
n II
MRS. CURTIS stayed several
1Y1 minutes longer and, though
she spoke comfortingly, Janet was
sure that underlying her words
there was a note of uneasineSs and
distrust. 1t hurt more than all
Bettys announcements, more than
the frightful accusations Of the
police.