The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-02
CHAPTER SIX

EtG OLA
VXTIDE-EYED, staring into the
w darkness, Janet Hill told her
self for the hundredth time that
there must be an explanation of
what had happened. OF course there
was an explanation!
She couldn't sleep. What was
the use of trying? She lay there in
bed, telling herself over and owe it
was all "a mistake. Mollie hadn't
meant any harm. She only had
G some one else and thought it
- was Rolf. That was what had hap
poncd. OF course it was.
But suppose it were true!
She could still hear Mollie Lam
bert's slightly nasal voice passing
the Liberty-swell musical comedy.
Who do you think I saw? Rolf
Carlyle-and you should have seen
the girl with him"
Mollie had gone on to describe
this girl. Little, she said. Wear
ing a fur coat that looked eXpen-
sive. Pretty, too, if you liked that
type. Sort of a brunei.
She and Rolf Chat is, the man
she thou 1T was Rolf were with
another couple. The other girl wore
a blue velvet evening wrap and all
; of them we're laughing and talking.
But didn't that prove the thing
was ridiculous? How could Rolf
be in a crowd like that? How could
he?
Janet refused to consider it. She
wouldn't even think about such a
story any more. She was making
herself miserable over nothing.
Rolf had said he was going to the
wrestling matches-With another
man. And that was what he had
done.
Janet turned. She dug one hand
beneath the pillow for the handker-
chief that already had become a ball
of moisture. The tears came and
there was no stopping them.
L ought to get up and battle my
eyes" she told herself. They'll be
red in the morning. 1 ought to stop
thinking and go to sleep"
But then there was the whole
thing to battle over again. She had
seen Rolf so little lately. She had
been lonely all evening.
"I-won't-cry!" Janet insisted.
She turned again on the pillow.
Life without Rolf? She couldn't
imagine that. Every plan she had
made, every thought for the future
centered about Rolf. The saving,
the things they had talked about,
the little home! How could any of
that come true without Rolf?
CHE lay, staring at the dark cell
- ing. wondering about all this.
Then with a shudder she buried
her face in her pillow.
Janet had been sure she could
not sleep. She was mistaken, but
IL was well toward morning (Still
dark because it was February
before she finally drifed of,
When the shrill ringing of the alarm
woke her al 7:30 she sat up with a
start.
Little fires we're smarting IN her
ewes. She felt vaguely that some
thing was wrong with the day,
Something unpleasant was going to
happen.
All at once she remembered
The chill feeling settled about her
heart again and then, resolutely,
Janet frightened.
Its going to be all right" she
treasured herself. "Rolf's going to
telephone. I'll find out it was all a
mistake. Mollie was talking non
sense
Nevertheless, it was a pale,
rather drawn-faced Janet who greet
ed Bruce Hamilton when he arrived
at his Office at a quarter after 8. 1t
was with a forced, mechanical smile
that she answered his Good morn
ing"
Hamilton sunk Immediately in the
papers spread on his desk. took nc
notice. Janet was glad that he be-
gan the morning with a rush of &C
tivity, debating in a clear, brisk
voice, calling for letters from the
files, asking her to put through a
long distance call, to get Joe Carson
on the wire, to find Cunningham
and ask him to look over the revised
schedule.
She did all these things, glad t
be busy, glad because they kept hel
from looking at the clock and won.
dering when Rolf would call. There
were moments, though, as Janet!
pencil flew over her notebook wher
only force of habit carried hel
along.
She heard Hamilton speaking
scrubbed S~tenographic symbols ano
al the time she was remembering
Mollie Lambert'S voice, the way she
had looked.
She could hear Mollie saying
passing the Liberty theater. Rol.
Carlyle-he was all dressed up. Anc
the girl with him!"
What was that Mr.. Hamilton hac
just said?
Janet Strengthened. II didn'
get that last, Mr.. Hamilton. In
sorry
The advertising manager frowned
60 back and read your last sen.
tence,' he said. The letter he wa.
debating was important. He die
not even raise his eyes from hi
desk.
She read the sentence. Hamil.
Z ton changed a word and continued
But after that Janet was more at.
tentiye.
At II o'clock she went to lunch