The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-11-04
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE


MORE than once Joan moved
wi toward the table where the
telephone stood. It held a strange
fascination for her.
Presently the telephone would
ring and she would hear Bob's voice
saying. Joan, I'm sorry" Or per-
haps it would be merely Joan, I'm
coming for you. Be ready, will
you?"
There were never any evasions
with Bob He scOrned them. He
would not say Joan, may come
over?" when he knew that she was
waiting for him.
She glanced down at her wrist
watch. Eight O'Clock He was just
finishing dinner. There might be
guests. She mustn't be so nervous,
or impatient She must wait!
The telephone rang and she ran
to answer it breathleSsly. But it
was only a reporter from a morn
ing newspaper asking about Pat
and Barney and about their mar
Tiage.
Joan heard her voice, hard with
disappointment, answering, But
there aren't any more facts. It's
all been in the papers already" She
was trembling when she put down
the telephone.
At $50, Mrs. Blake suggested that
they go out to a movie. She spoke
casually, as though happiness were
not trembling IN the balance for
Joan. All the kings horses could
not have moved Joan from the vi
cinity of that telephone.
At o'clock the living room which
had worn such gay, expectant air
dropped forlornly, like woman de-
serted by her lover. Joan could not
bear the thought the silence sug-
gested. Bob must be comingi
Her heart pounded at the thought
OF course, he would come. She
couldn't doubt that he loved her,
remembering the light in his eyes,
remembering his stormy response to
her whisper, You found mel"
A FTER a while Joan made a de-
IA cision bravely. She would tele-
phone Bob. Too much unhappi-
ness had come about through pride
and conventionality. She would
say, Bob, please come. 1 can't bear
it if you don't"
He would come then and they
would talk over everything. All
the foolish little things of which
estrangement had been built would
topple like a house of cards.
She found the number and dialed
It. Somewhere in that big home
the ring of a telephone was shat
tering the stiffness. A voice an
swered and she heard her own voice
speaking. Then Mr.. Robert Wes-
ton has left New York"
A dreadful pause. How long will
he be away?"
Il couldn't say, miss. He has gone
on a yacht cruise"
"A yacht cruise!" Joan stared at
the telephone, not seeing it clearly.
After a while she went into her
bedroom, closed the door and be-
gan, mechanically, to undreSs.
In bed, she pressed her face
against the pillow. Fighting hard
against the sobs that clutched at
her throat, smothering them in her
pillow. After while, she gave her.
self over to her desolation, crying
deeply, paSsionately. allowing the
bitter tears to come unheeded.
Bob was not coming. Not ever!
He had gone on a yacht cruise. Per-
haps at that very moment he was
dancing on a brightly lighted ship
deck with Barbara Courtney.
1.-TWO amazing things had hap
i pened in the Warning home.
A long letter had come from Joan,
telling all about Pats marriage to
Barney. And an hour later a tele-
gram was delivered which read:
ARRIVE tonight. Meet me. Love.
joan"
Mrs. Waring was ready to accept
Joans explanation about the TO-
mantle triangle. Joan had written
sketchily, briefly about her own TO
nance with Barney. The whole
affair had lacked reality and def
niteneSS. Now all that was changed.
Mrs. Waring was glad to think of
her little Pat safely. happily mar
ried!
Pat had "done we'll" wonderfully
well. according to Joans descrip-
lions. Barney Blake was a success
full young business man, attractive
and we'll educated.