The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-07-21

him out II help we're needed. Bessie
was a peach and she did the most
adroit tinkering with human mall
while cleverer souls
who would have botched the job
spoke OF her with affectionate
amusement as dear. good, bungling
Bessie"
A FTER dinner and some tele-
"A phoning 20 arrange north
bound reservations. Bob did the
worst thing he could have done. He
left for New York. His own honesty
made him see this as the best thing
for all concerned. He did not for
moment imagine that Barrett Col
win would convert his departure into
a confession OF guilt
He could not forget the menace
of GOWNS attitude because il
Elinor. She was a peach
and she had rotten hard break.
She had always been surrounded
by the sort Of life sire loathed.
Darn it. If he had to- he would
have 1t out with Colvin He'd say.
Look here, you give Elinor a square
deal. or" He planned on in the
naive, blunt manner Of young
man Who knows more OF blue rib
bon mares. long distance swimming
and golf trophies than Of diplomacy.
Miss Hemingway, the nurse.
came 10 the terrace after Bobby
had gone.
Her smile the last few DAYS had
been as artificial as the stiffness of
her raiment. She had been nursing
for twelve years. but she still felt
the oppression that comes from los
ing a patient. She always felt it
more when she had had the patient
for a long while and she'd been On
this case several months.
She had pitied Bentwell Stafford,
at first. knowing him through Ida.
Now, pity being akin to love, she
really cared for him as a poor.
broken human being who had led a
horrible life with that woman. 3"
and who had not enough reserve
strength TO make the fight to get
we'll
Elinor she worshipped And Eli
nor she knew. was going TO take
what lay ahead with the keenest
suffering.
ON the terrace. she shook hands
~ with Mr.. Colvin after express
sing mild surprise at seeing him.
He was a wonderful looking man,
she thought II was seldom one
saw two such fine looking people
together.
Miss Hemingway stood with
cool. gentle fingers on Bentwells
thin wrist. eyes on her watch. Then
she said, Well. I think we'll put
YOU TO bed for your dinner. You've
had a full day with all these Wis
itors."
Bentwell nodded. He knew he
wasn't equal 10 much more effort.
Elinor murmured her disappoint-
ment. and Barrett seconded it, half
ashamed. He could not be sorry
that he was to dine alone with
Elinor.
At 8, they sat down at a coy lit
tie table in a small, attractive din
ing room. Tall candles with flames
dancing gently in the moving air
and a low bowl of flowers made a
frame for Elinor's face.
She wore a primrose frock of soft
chiffon and her hair was dressed
low, as he liked it. She smiled at
him and sighed. She was so hap
py! Tremulous. unbelievably happy
1t was so good of you 10 come =
IT'S good to be here" he an
swered honestly. AS always he was
weakening under her spell. Nothing
mattered now TO him but the knowl-
edge that she was near.
Elinor asked about his work. and
he told her what he had been doing
He was surprised TO find that she
knew a good deal about it.
L didn't know you were inter
ested in that sort of thing" he said
slowly.
n
"DUT it's your work" she said
7 ID and laughed. Since coming
down here I've read everything
you've written that I could lay my
hands on. 1 think you write beauti-
fullyr
4 think you'd like expedition
work. he said. He had never before
considered taking her on a trip with
him. If he could do that what g
trip it would be-
I've often dreamed about some
thing of that sort" she said. %
only know one kind of life-and It.:
such a narrow kind. When I wa.
little my happiest day dream wa.
imagining I had been shipwreckec
on a desert island where there were
no bills and no deceitS-just hon.
Z eSty and congenial Savagesl"
There amt no such animalsi" III
said. laughing.
They had their coffee in the liv,
ing room. charmingly simple plac,
Of gay chintzsS, softened in tone b,
the low lights.
Elinor sat on h low stool anC
Barrett in a deep chair, leaninl
forward toward her.
L want 10 have long talk Will
YOU" he said after the maid haC
left a coffee tray on the low tabl,
near ElInor.
L want to talk to you, too" shl
confessed.
She was going TO tell him sh
could not endure much more OF hi
blowing hot and then cold /
must be one thing or the othe
continually, in order to make tn,
rest of the time they were TO spent
together endurable.
He could soften her so utterly b,
being as he was now. Then whel
he grew cold again. she suffered
doubly. She would tell him tina
l11s=aI