The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-01
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR


BARRETT took the KEY from the
ID lock Of the door before he an
svered. Then ne said. Il never have
tried 10 hide the boy. Elinor."
She moved one hand nervously.
'~The child has a right 70 live in
your home. she said insiStently "A
real home such as Aunt Bessie s
BOYS have It's horrible 20 be
shUnted from place 10 place. know
all about that"
He said nothing. staring duly out
a. the Sound.
Hasn't he riEht--a real right
70 I've in your house7" Elinor de-
handed.
Perhaps" he conceded.
She flushed With anger. How
can YOU doubt it?" she asked as
close 70 stridently as she could
speak.
Barrett made no reply 70 that
After they we're seated in the car
he asked. do you want to stop
az the Thropes?"
Not today unless YOU particu-
larry want to"
No. he answered. The neces-
sary pretending before Bessie Thrope
would be too difficult
ElnOr was thinking Of the child
TO be born in that small house they
had Just left Barretts child She
had not told him about IT, AT first.
10 f<4H.-
happy. but now all that was
changed II only made the situa-
ton in which she found herself
more bitter. more hopeless
Barrett turned to look down at
her and saw tears in her eyes.
My God. this is cruel, Elinor!"
he whispered
More cruel than you know" she
answered
He smiled grimly at that 4 think
notl' he said surely
Tor miles they Travelled with
Il out speaking. When they
reached home Barrett went to the
library. There alone and smok-
ing hard, ne tried 10 decide what
to do about the expedition.
whether II was best for her TO
have MIN out of the way. That
would determine his course. Her
feeling and her need. Nothing
else seemed Of any Importance to
him.
They d,ned almost IN silence.
Even before the servants they no
longer pretended devotion to each
other. The strain was 100 great.
In the midst of the dinner. Hig-
gins answered the telephone and
hurried back 10 the dining room.
He said to Barrett. "Mr. Radnor
saws he must speak TO you, sir"
Bring the telephone. please"
Barrett answered in a tone Of COM
plete disinterest.
Higgins brought the instrument.
plugged II in and set it at Barretts
hand.
Yes" Higgins heard There was
a silence and then a shocked. oh
no. Dick"
After a few more words Barrett
stood up. IT'S the baby" ne said
Something's wrong They brought
him to town this morning for Win
ters TO look after him and he's
worse. Dick says Marcias nearly
wild. I'm afraid I'll have to go
down"
ELINOR said nothing but she
Il had lost color. She sat star
ing at her plate Her suddenly
trembling hands nervously fingered
the silver.
Here was a new peril-the loss of
a. child. That. too. might lie before
her. II she should lose her child
she would have nothing-no one in
the world-left! Marcia had Dick
Radnor. a devoted husband who
loved her with all his heart.
Another thought cut her heart
with knife-lile thrust. Was Ger
AIDS mother living?
Barrett turned at the door.
"Goodby." he said wistfully.
"Good5y." Elinor answered. There
was no softening in her tone and
he moved away heavily.
Higgins. entering with the des-
Sert. said cautiously. Mrs Colvin,
may I speak to you about something
that has been troubling me?"
Certainly. Higgins she told him.