The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-04-14
SOW 60 on WITH THE STORY

gil fools crushed and disRr9 ced. She is
N~.' fo~ Janet has a telephone call
fro-- Polf
SOW 90 on WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE Con
tinued)
After she was alone again, Janet
10y staring at the darkness. No
natter who asked-Mrs. Curtis or
the detectives or anyone else-she
couldn't tell them why she wanted
to get away from Lancaster.
All she could do was say over and
over that she hadn't taken the
pearls. And no one believed that
Her temples we're throbbing, and
her eyes, smarted She could still
hear the police detective shouting
at her, sneering at her denials, &C
cusing her of being thief. That
interview had gone on for hours, 1t
seemed, leaving Janet weak and in
tears.
It had been Mrs. Curtis who had
insisted that the girl should spend
the night in her own room. Mrs.
Curtis had said until the end that
she didn't think Janet was guilty.
But she thinks it now the girl
told herself YEARLY, because 1
wouldn't say why I was going away
Oh, what's the use? No one will
believe me. They'll make me say
1 did It'll They'll make mel"
Rolf had been there to see her
in her misery and disgrace. He had
been silent when a word would have
meant so much. Could Rolf believe
this terrible thing about her?
She turned and rumpled the pill
low in helpless agony. Nobody be-
lieved her. Nobody would listen to
what she said.
And so the night wore on. To-
ward morning she slept - fitful,
restless slumber in which she
dreamed she was running toward a
cliff. An ogre, who looked like the
police detective, was chasing her.
brandishing a huge knife, and there
was no escape but the cliff. With
out moments hesitation, Janet
jumped.
She awoke to find that the covers
had slipped from the bed. The
room was cold. Janet looked at the
clock and saw that it was 1870.
Time to be up. She started to
arise, then all at once the men,
ory of the night before came back
to her.
TT was several minutes before she
Il could persuade herself to get out
of bed and dress. Her face was
swollen and tear marked, and had
to be bathed over and over with
cold water. When she had used a
powder puff carefully the effect was
a little better.
1t took courage for Janet to go
down stairs, to nod good morn
ing to Lucy and take up the pile
Of letters. It required courage, too.
for Ter to sit opposite Mrs. Curtis
at the breakfast table and make a
pretcnse Of eating
Mrs. Curtis did not look well. and
spoke of having had restless night.
She seemed to enjoy her breakfast
little more than Janet and, though
the mullins were as light and gold
en- as usual, and the bacon as crisp,
the food went back to the kitchen
scarcely tasted.
tho dow
wore along much as usual. Janet
kept at her work, accomplishing lit
tie but managing to seem busy.
Each time the telephone or door
bell rang her heart seemed to stand
still, but the calls were unimpor-
tant. A young man to sell maya
zieS. The florist The chairman
of the Three Arts Club committee
on programs. A wrong number. The
electrical company.
Shortly before noon Mrs. Curtis
telephoned her daughter Janet did
not overhear the conversation but
later Mrs. Curtis appeared in the
doorway
I've lust talked to Betty" she
said She hasn't heard anything
but she promised to call when she
does
Janet nodded. There was nothing
to be said Nothing that had not
been said a dozen times already.
Suppose" she thought, Betty
doesn't hear anything? Suppose
they never know who took the neck
lace? They'll always blame me for
it."
There we're no errandS that day,
and Janet knew why. Mrs. Curtis
had promised Janet would be avail
able whenever the police wanted
her for any reason. At any time
they might come.
Luncheon was almost as quiet
meal as breakfast Afterward Mrs.
Curtis went to her room. She was
tired, SHE said, and would try to
take a nap.
If Betty calls she added, cor
there's anything - important - be
sure to call me-"
Janet agreed She went to the
library and held a book before her.
but she could not read. She had
been there for twenty minutes when
the telephone rang shrilly.
Janet picked up the instrument.
Hello she said in the low, emo
tionleSS tone that had become
habitual. All at once her heart be-
gan to beat furiouSly 1t was Rolf
Carlyle's voice at the other end of
the wire.
CHAPTER FORTY -FOUR
ID Offs voice came clearly over
IN the wire.
~,, -, rr