The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-02-25
now co on WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER TWO Continued


CMILING, Janet emerged from
- behind the screen. 1T is
party. Rolf. Don't you know what
day it is? It's your birthday!
wanted TO surprise you"
"Birthday-say. I'd forgotten all
about that How'd you know? How q
YOU happen TO remember-?'
I've remembered ever since-oh,
for months and months. Something
YOU said one day last summer. Are
you really surprised?
Il thought it would be tun 10
have dinner here together tonight
Just YOU and I, Rolf. We're going
to have birthday cake
The sentence was lost as she made
n frantic dash for the stove. In
time to prevent serious damage she
turned off the blaze.
Five minutes more and the plat
ter of steak, the asparagus, the
salads and the crisp, golden rolls
were on the table.
you light the candles" Janet
said as she united the blue and
white apron. Her face was glow
ing and pink from the heat' her
hair a trihe unruly. i.
There was no time to think OF
that now. The dinner must be
eaten while 1t was hot.
lust for an instant they stood
there together. The room behind
them was dark. The candlelight-
pickering and uncertain-cast
- r,olJa, radiance over the table,
Disgusting the cheap dishes ana
worn lunch cloth.
The scent of the rosebuds was
sweet and spicy. Janet's manu-
slinned into Rolls. She raised d
face glowing with happiness
kiss me-" she whispered.
His lips brushed against her fore
head. 1t was a hasty kiss-almosV
preoccupied one.
Janet's eyes, just as her heart
must have been so filled to oVerllow-
ing with Joy that she failed 10 noVlce
the look that crossed Rolls face. IL
was gone in an instant.
Gazing across the table at nun,
Janet saw young man any casual
observer would have called rather
handsome. Rolf Carlyle found II
easv to make friends. Women liked
his blond hair, his dark eyes anu
the resemblance (slight though II
was) to a certain motion picture
star. ,. -
Men liked Carlyle because al
bridge and golf he was as GOOD
loser as a player; because his easy
good nature never seemed 10 oeselC
him: because if fellow wanted a
loan Carlyle would come across
provided he had the cash. j..
Perhaps that gracefully nodded
chin lacked a little in f1rmness. Per-
haps the brown eyes, with their in
gratiating smile, we're bit 100
pleasure loving.
In Janet's opinion Rolf possessed
the combined wit, charm, intellect,
and good looks Of the heroes OF the
six current best sellers, the six most
popular plays on Broadway, the six
most successful recent screen dra-
mas-and more for good measure.
"HERE is no doubt that she was
preiudiced. To his employers,
Dwight Kendall and Jim McPhail,
who owned the Atlas Advertising
Agency. young Carlyle was begin
ner with fair chance Of working
I'D in the business.
People liked Carlyle-and that was
an asset. He had the brains too, II
he'd settle down and apply himself.
Rolf had worked at the Atlas office
for year and half During the
two years he had attended college,
Rolf had sold advertising on the
college paper.
He had landed the job with the
Atlas company when Frank Den
niSon. a friend, had given it up to
Join the staff of the Gazette. Hired
at $50 week and given routine Of
flee duties, Carlyle had earned two
raises since.
He had three accounts now for
which he was responsible and occa-
sionally was allowed to try his hand
at writing advertising copy for some
OF the more important clients.
It had been on an Grand for the
Atlas company bringing copy to
be inserted in the Every Home
Magazine) that Rolf Carlyle had
first seen Janet Hill. There had
been a few words between them.
Carlyle had found occasion to
drop into the Every Home office on
other errandS. After the evening
when he first persuaded her to have
dinner with him, the courtship had
moved swiftly. In a little more
than a month Janet Hill had prom
iSed to marry Rolf Carlyle.
All that had been nearly year
ago. Janet, during those months,
had learned to care more and more
for Rolf Not once did it occur to
her that he could feel otherwise.
The birthday dinner proved
success. The steak was tender,
cooked exactly as Rolf liked it. The
salads were crisp and the rest of
the simple menu as appetizing.
Janet thought, This is how it's
going to be some day-when we're
married. This is the way We'll have
dinner every night"
She hadn't been listening and
Rolf was talking about something
at the Office. Suddenly the girl
laughed.
"Oh. Rolf" she said, "the sill
lest thing happened today. I was
coming by the Brewster Coffee Shop
and I saw an awfully pretty girl.
She was with man in gray and
for minute was sure it was you.
IL was certain of it!
You mean-you thought you
saw-me-?"
You must have a double. Hon
estly. I'd have sworn-but then of
course I knew it couldn't be-"
Janet laughed and Carlyle joined
her. Somehow the mans laugh