The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-11-02
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONEl


Joan heard the knock on the door.
She had changed to a simple short
sleeved house frock. The costume
she had worn on the stage-and
during that hasty drive home-lay
where she had dropped it on the
bed. Her slippers were on the floor
where she had kicked them A
forlorn Cinderella had returned
from the ball.
Realizing sleep was impossible,
Joan had decided to unpack a mis-
cellaneous assortment of boxes that
cluttered up the room After a
while she gave up the task, letting
her thoughts drift as they would.
She sat at the window and looked
out. She had been in Bob's home,
a beautiful home mellowed by years,
over which the gracious presence Of
his ancestors seemed to brood. She
had climbed the stairs he must have
mounted hundreds of times. She
had seen him, too: been so near
that she could note the changing
expressions on his face. She had
sung to him.
Wrapped in her thoughts, Joan
scarcely needed the knocking at the
living room door until it became in
sistent. It was Barney probably
He had been worried by her nerv-
business, disturbed because she could
give no explanation of her Strange
manner.
Joan rose and opened the door
For moment there was silence.
Joan saw a light leap into Bobs
eyes and then die suddenly. He
stared blankly at her.
Come in, Bob" Such a trite
way to greet him when there was
such rapture in her heart.
TIE came into the room, shutting
l. L the door behind him.
You found me-" said Joan I'M
steadily.
Yes" said Bob. His voice was
hOarse. Il wish to God l hadn't"
He was still standing, staring at
her with dark concentration. Joan
thought he looked drunk Yet she
was sure he had not been drinking.
He looked ILL., Something was GER
tainly wrong.
What's the matter, Bob?' she
asked gently
He did not answer. He caught
her by the wrists, held her away
from him while he studied her face.
Suddenly he laughed and pulled her
into his arms.
Between fierce kisses on her lips
Joan was whispering, ITS been so
long I couldn't bear it. Bob! Do
you really love me?"
Without answering he flung her
from him violently Nov go back
to him." he said hoarsely.
He was gone then, running down
the stairs. Joan stood where he had
left her, amazed, bewildered.
What had Bob meant? He had
discovered that she was the masked
singer. Perhaps he had heard that
Barney was in love with her Maybe
their marriage plans had leaked out.
Their marriage plans! Still shak-
en- by the memory of Bobs kisses,
only one thought remained clear to
her. She could not marry Barney
now that she knew Bob loved her.
Bob had been swept by some terrible
Jealousy or rage. New
ertheless he loved her.
That thought was singing through
her agitation, winged shaft of
light through the dark unhappiness
that had enveloped her for so long
She must tell Barney in the
morning. No, she must tell him to-
night She had been planning to
cheat Barney and herself. Now,
whatever came-even if she never
saw Bob again-she could not marry
Barney.
She called the number and after
a long moment heard his voice:
Yes. Joan, what is it? Are you ill?"
Barney, something's happened
Can you come"
She heard the click of the tele-
phone which meant, she knew, that
Barney would be on his way. Dear,
dependable Barney! He was like
the rock of Gibraltar, bulWark Of
strength. Like a hand always wait
ing to help her.
IN the mirror above the console
i table she saw a shining-eye
creature. A flame had leaped up
in her heart. Transforming the pas
sive sober eyed girl of an hour be-
for into a creature of glowing
radiance.