The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-02-27

A rumpled yellow head appeared
in the doorway. It's me-Mollie,"
said husky voice. Mind If I come
IMP
"Of course not"
TINE girl who entered wore an
L orange colored flannel bath
robe, pink pajamas and bright red
heelless slippers.
She held the collar Of the bath
robe tightly about her throat and
Just as she was about to speak again
she was overwhelmed by an enor-
nous sneeze.
Heavens, Mollie-what a dread
full cold"
The other girl sank into a chair.
ITS awful" she moaned. L Won
der if you could let me have a
couple of aspirins? Mine are all
gone.
I've taken SO many different cold
cures in the last three days it's a
wonder I'm alive. My head feels as
big as a tub and it aches and my
nose"
Janet interrupted. Here's the
aspirin" she said. "Wait-Iu get
you some water. Dut you ought to
be in bed, Mollie. You ought to stay
there all day tomorrow"
MOllie Lambert occupied the room
across the hall from Janets. She
was bookkeeper in an Office on
Center street. The two girls were
not particularly friendly, but occa-
sionally one Of them would drop into
the others room to borrow matches,
coffee for breakfast, nickel for a
phone call, or perhaps to loan new
magazine.
Having taken the aspirin tablet,
Mollie leaned back in her chair.
Been stepping out with the boy
friend?" she asked.
I'VE went to the Neighborhood.
There's an awfully good picture
there"
Yeah, I know. Saw it at the
Century. Oh, say-have you met
Vic l4CW Iildll
New man? Who?"
Il saw him talking to Mrs. Snyder.
Names Grant. He's a big fellow,
sort of goodlooking, too. Going to
have that front room on the next
floor"
Janet said she had not met the
new roomer. She was not inter
ested. Newcomers came and went
frequently at Ms. Snyder's.
She told Mollie her own way of
curing a cold, urged her again to
spend the next day in bed, and
promised to bring in her breakfast.
A few minutes more and Mollie,
grateful, had gone.
Janet washed the dishes and put
them away. She undressed, got out
pink bathrobe, towels and SOAP
and went down the hall to the bath
room.
The price she paid Mrs. Snyder
each month did not include the lux
ury of private bath.
Half an hour later Janet slipped
between the covers of her bed. She
should have been happy; the birth
day party had been a complete sue
cess. And yet somehow Janet wasn't
happy.
She was thinking that tomorrow
would be long day. Rolf wouldn't
be there-unlesS he could escape his
unWelcome friend.
L wonder" Janet thought lust
before she dropped to sleep, what
1T was Rolf was going to tell me.
1t seemed to be important-and then
he said it wasn't. I wonder-?"
Janet slept Better for her that
she did not know the answer to
that unspoken question. She was
to know soon enough.
y II
CHAPTER FOUR
TINE morning was gray and dis
Il NAL. Snowfiakes, melting to
the touch, filled the air with what
was more drizzle than a snow
storm.
The snow had been falling for
hours, yet there was no sign of
whiteness on the ground-only slush
and mud. February apparently was
trying to reveal just how barren and
dreary the world can be.
In the second floor bedroom of
Mrs. Snyder's rooming house half
pulled blinds dimmed what little
light there was. Janet Hill awoke
and moved reStlessly, shut her eyes,
opened them again and blinked.
Raising herself on one elbow, she
reached for her watch and saw that
it was nearly 1890.
Nearly 1O:30 Yes, that was right.
Janet looked again to make sure.
The morning was nearly half gone.
How could she have slept so late?
Instead Of bothering to answer
this question Janet snuggled down
again into the warm covers. But
she was only postponing the evil
moment.
Presently, with a shiver for the
chilly air, she sat up, pushed down
the sheets and blankets and was out
of bed. She crossed the room and
closed the window.
Then, standing in the middle of
the room. she stretched her arms
luXuriouSly above her head.
Half an hour later Janet had
bathed, dressed and was busy
squeezing orange juice with a green
glass reamer.
The percolator was bubbling and
the pleasant odors of toast and
bacon mingled in the air. Janet
had finished her own breakfast and
was Preparing tray for Mollie.
When it was ready she carried it
across the hall. A muffled voice an
SWered her knock. There was the
sound Of the bolt turning and the
door opened.
Noble, still in paiamas, the yellow
halr frowzled wildly, appeared in the
narrow opening.
OH she exclaimed. aren't you
the angel. And does that coffee
smell good! Come inr'
Janet entered and set down the
trayr Sorry to be so late" she said.
oversight. Get back into bed,
Mollie. I'll pull that little table
over and set the tray on it. You
want to drink the coffee while it's