The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-06-06
DARLING Fool e. 4 :::s
"She's badly hurt

: she said family. "she's badly hurt,
| too"
"Oh. is she? Is she, indeed?"
| MOnnie turned a white. sleepWalk-
ers face to all of them. Her mother,
looking small and old, began to
whimper a frightening sound. Mon
ME felt dreadful calmness.
The telephones ring split the
| silence Of the little hall and Kay
flew to answer it. Monnie listened
alphabetically, almost dreamily to
| the one-sided conversation.
Yes" Kay said and again yes"
and YES" and Yes Mrs.
O'Dare's frayed nerves could bear
the suspense no longer. She went
up to her daughter and plucked
nervously at her sleeve. What is
it?' she asked tensely. "What?"
Kay hung up the receiver and
faced the group head erect. Hes
calling for Monnie. His father heard
she'd got back. That was Mr.. Car
digan on the wire. He wants to
know if Monniell come"
Kay's eyes flashed. At last, the
naughty Cardigans had to come to
the O'Dares for something. They
had never been generous. Would
the ODares follow their example?
Monnie came to life "Of course
I'll 60" she said with curious calm.
1t didn't matter in the least that
Sandra was already Dams wife, that
she bore his name in the eyes of
the law. Monnie brushed all that
aside 1t didn't signify. If Dan
called her name she would 90 to
him across oceans, through fire if
need be-
TT was all part of the dim dream
Il that the day became later in her
mind. The trip with Charles to the
hospital through the familiar streets.
Charles driving silently and ex-
pertly, not saying a word
How badly is Sandra hurt?'
Monnie really didn't want to know,
but she had to talk, had to keep
herself from thinking.
Il don't know" Charles face was
turned away from her. Not Sc
riously, I think. Her face-cut-
flying glass
The doors opened to them as
though some one waiting, had OBJ
served their arrival. A tall, gray
haired woman in cracking white.
her cap banded narrowly in black
velvet ribbon, received them.
Miss O,Dare? Yes. Will you
come in here?"
Dams father, aged ten years in
single night, shuffled toward them.
''MOnica?" When had he ever
called her Monica? It was odd to
hear it. 1T was good of you to come.
Yes. My boyle is bad-they're
afraid"
His voice broke on the words. He
could go no further. Monnie saw
him not as Dams father, a barrier
always to their happiness. but as a
shattered human being, bowed down
by weight too great to carry.
You can come right along with
me" he told her, glancing at Charles.
Both of you. How do, Eustace."
Charles nodded.
MOnnie's mind registered, subcon-
sciously, the fact that Charles looked
remote, cold. 1t was as if he were
being drawn into a situation for
which he felt extreme distaSte, the
utmost shrinking.
4 MOTHER door swung silently
n open before them. They were
In a narrow white room. A hos
pital bed, high, narrow, stark. with
a figure beneath the blankets.
Monnie didn't see the middle
aged woman in the big chair, the
young nurse beside her. She didn't
recognize Geraldine, dark under
blue hat. She saw only Dan.
His eyes were closed and his
breath came slowly and painfully,
almost in signs. At the nurses nod,
Monnie moved closer. Was this
Dan? 1t couldn't be. Dan was,strong
and invincible, brown and alive.
This was the wreck of a man.
Suddenly, the long lashes flick
cred and Dams eyes were open, star
ing at her. Recognition dawned in
them.
Come closer" the young nurse
said softly. Its all right"
She advanced until she stood be-
side him.
ITO Re COntinuedl