The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-11-13
CHAPTER SEVEN

INSTEAD OF answering her, Steve
spoke into the telephone: Am
coming right home, honey? Watch
me! III be there before they revive
Harriganw He slammed up the re-
ceiver and turned to the dismayed
girl. Sweets, that was the wife.
You're pretty cute, but the wife is
the wife and when she's within
walking distance you'll find me hur-
rying to get there!"
You mean you don't" began
the surprised girl.
Steve took her chin in his hand.
I mean the wife is champagne
with me-twenty dollars a Quart.
only sometimes when there isn't anv
champagne around, a guy finds him
self taking a little sarsapariIa."
Her eyes blazing, the girl slapped
his face soundly and hurried down
the corridor. Steve grinned: us
that all the thanks get!"
NINETEEN fights and nineteen
L knockouts in less than a year
is some kind of a record, and Steve
Morgan attained it with apparent
ease under the tutelage of the Pro-
fessor.
Others did not share Bellies faith
IN Steve. Among them was Willie
Ryan. Wonder if Belle knows that
pug of hers is cattin' around?" said
one of Willie's henchmen after a
particularly brilliant fight by Steve.
Willie laid down his paper and
looked straight into the eyes of the
Adopted Son. That's all I'm wait
ing Tor" he said, for Belle to find
out"
1t was week or two later, Belle
was preparing a Scrumptuous dinner
for Steve. She had prepared just
the dishes Steve liked best. 1t was
getting on to time for Steve to come
in when the phone rang.
Belle went to it with that little
sinking sensation in the pit of her
stomach that telephone calls had
begun to exercise over her when
they came in Stoves absence.
Hello she said, irresolutelN
oh, hello, darling. Come on home
dinners almost ready. I'm get
ting it myself-everything you can't
have when you're training-right
down to cocoanut cream pie and"
Afraid 1 can't make it, Belle"
came Stoves sympathetic voice
The Professor wants me to stay.
He's got a lot of sports writer's here
figuring ways to plug me as the
coming contender. If it We're any
thing but this not even Stranger
Lewis could hold me. You know
that. Don't wait up for me. baby.
Might be plenty late"
CTEVE hung up the receiver more
- quickly than did Belle and
turned back into a Smartly fur
nished bedroom in a fashionable
penthouse. He leaned over the back
of a divan and a white arm came
up and encircled his neck
His face troubled. he made as if
to return to the phone but another
arm encircled his neck and Linda
Williams pulled his cheek down
against hers.
That's the first time I ever
knew 1 was stronger than Stranger
Lewis" she said, pursuing her lips
for another kiss.
After hanging up, Belle sat down
on the cupboard table top, staring
moodily into space. and was only
stirred from her reverie by the ring
ing of the doorbell. She gave a little
surprised "Oh!" when she saw who
her callers were-the Professor and
Bugsie. Steve's handler.
"Ah, my dear, where's Stephen"
asked the Professor and went past
calling: "Stephenl" His pockets
bulged with newspaper clippings.
But I thought =" began Belle,
and caught herself up. her heart be-
ginning to beat faster.
I've got a lot of new clippings
for the scrap book" said the Pro-
fesSor. hating. Even Young Gaff-
ney didn't get the lineage this boys
getting"
I'm I'm so glad you two
dropped in" said Belle, recovering
little from the realization that
Steve had lied to her over the
phone. Morgan He isn't
here He-He had to go down
and help a couple of his old friends
who used to work with him on the
boats g.. They'd gotten into
trouble. !"
The Professor looked sharply at
her agitation. L see" he said
gently.
Belle
At his gentlenesS. she turned and
threw herself into his arms. He
patted her gently. I've seen it COM
ing. my dear. III talk TO that mad
man"
No. Professor" She straight
ened up. much calmer. I've had
the bunch, too Maybe if I'd broken
one or TWO of your rules I could
have stopped it." =
STO Be COntinuedl