The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-06-12
BARGAIN
N3T-s HHCpE
. KATFfAl2INE FfiWLAND'7AYLOR
1IED
s's'' ItLST va ''aNef NC.
CHAPTER ONE

miles or sand, sat forward so
that he might see the windows
of Fifth Avenue. 1t was a bit
earlier than mid afternoon
but many windows were
warm with the yellow glow
that is a glare by night. The
skies were sullenly low and
there was a drizzle in the
chilly air.
The English, Barrett re-
fiected, would call it "a dirty
day" To the average New
Yorker, it was rotten wea-
Their" Those folks upon whom
he recently had turned his
broad back would call it "the
will of Allah" Well, the faith
of the East was the most COM
Portable, but Barrett didn't
share it.
He moved uneasily and lit a Gig
aret, It was always unsatisfactory to
come back Memories that scared
his mind would leap from embers. A
corner of an uptown street or an old
building would brush away the years
to make him see Marcia, his tenn
pestuous little sister, the daughter
of his fathers second wife. Mar
cha, violent in her trap. Marcie
crying Barry, you must help me;
I've no one else!"
He had intended to help her,
but with the passing of years he
had been less and less certain about
what he had done by putting him
self between her and the storm.
He had made it easy, without
meaning to, for her to evade her
responsibility and to live lie.
And now Marcia was married.
She had written Barrett.
"Of course Dick doesn't know"
And here, from her evasion, was
another problem and one of the
oldest ones-a problem discussed
often in advice to the Lovelcrn"
columns in answers to letters uSu-
ally beginning, Shall I tell the
man am going to marry ETC."
Almost always the description of
the unfortunate affair ended with
a wistful, Il was so young"
BARRETT COLVIN tossed his
ID half-smoked cigaret from the
lowered taxicab window to lean
back, already wearied of civilization
which always is not so ordered as it
seems.
He hoped Dick Radnor deserved
the devotion he had won from
Marcia. The facts so easily might
come out in time. Barrett reflected,
and unless Dick were the man
Marcia thought him to be there
would be the devil to pay.
He must go up to see the boy,
MarciaS boy, Barrett decided, as
soon as he could manage to get
away from town. Marcia did not
care for him as she should, and it
wasn't fair to the youngster He
must have grown good deal, Bar
rett reflected. 1t was four years-a
broad four years-Since he had seen
the child whom Marcia had i'm
plored him to adopt" and whom
he had adopted.
Barrett Colvin felt little tingle
when the taXicab turned into a
Sedate old street where brown
stone ronted houses told of other
times and other manners This was
getting home No matter how far
one wandered or how insistent the
call of distant countries, for every
man some one house or some one
woman meant home"
TINE door was opened as the taxi
Il cab came to a sudden halt. Hig-
gins the butler, appeared, obviously
excited to have Mr.. Barrett" home
again. The chauffeur swung several
SCARED, bullying bags from the car
TO the walk. Higgins eyes were fixed
upon his master, his voice almost
tremulouS.
In a window across the street.
Barrett saw the imperiouS head of
Miss Ella Sexton, saw her nod stiffly
and wave handkerchief so black
bordered as to suggest death of
yesterday.
Barrett, after bowling deeply, went
up the brown stone steps of his
home. So little was changed. The
glimpse of Miss Ella, the character
istic tilt of her aristocratic nose, told
him that she still ruled Sternly and
coldly over all those who waited her
death.
A T the door, which Higgins held
N open. Barrett turned again, and
as he did so saw girl hurrying up
the steps of Miss Elias house. A
pretty picture she made with her
young grace and energy.
one OF the T'hropeS?" he asked
Higgins.
No, Mr. Barrett. That is Miss
Elinor Stafford. She's grown deal
these four years, sir"
Barrett nodded His smile wild
ened. He remembered Elinor Stat
ford dimly as gawky youngSter
with brace on her teeth, young
Ster with an especial talent for
stumbling. He had met her at Miss
Elias house-the golden shrine for
all those relatives who felt they
should be remembered in the Sexton
will.
Its good to be here again, Hig-
gins"
And it's good to have you. sir"
Barrett saw that Higgins eyes
held tears and he laid a strong hand
on the old mans arm. With
gentleness that, combined with his
strength, beckoned too many weak