The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-10
CHAPTER THIRTEEN

i
TANET mounted the top step.
) what's the ezcitement?" she
asked
Mollie's yellow hair lay in gleam-
ing. newly MARCHED waves. She
pulled the faded blue silk ncglieee
more closely about her and said:
Come ON into my room and III
tell you Gee I'm glad, YOU got
here! I called the Office but they
said YOU were out. I've been listen
Ting for you for the last half
hour
Even before they were inside the
room, Janet had a swift PRESENT.
ment Of what was TO come. She
would have drawn back, but that
seemed impossible.
MOllie's room, rejecting the own
ers taste in decoration, alW avs had
look Of disorder. There were
dolls with inSipid faces and wide,
brightly colored taffeta skirts lolhng
in chairs and on the davenport
There were ruIled and lace-trimmeG
boudoir pillows in profusion, a
clutter OF ash trays, candy boxes and
magazines over the tables.
q Pictures crowded the Walls-SOme
of them hanging crookedly. Today
the impression of confusion was in
creased by dresser drawers pulled
out, their contents spilling over the
edges. There were garments draped
on chairs and on the floor.
A bright green silk frock was
spread out on the bed and pair
Of green kid slippers perched on top
of the radio.
Mollie shut the door behind her
and CWned. There was a sort of
suppressed eagernesS about her
Listen, honey" she began. Il
want you to do something for me.
VIII you?"
Let's hear what it is"
= It's Al, the boy friend" Mollie
went on rather iTelevantly. I've
got date with him. Not just an
ordinary date"
And you want to borrow some
thing? Why Of counsel"
ME other girl shook her head
u NO" she said. It's not that
You see, al has a friend in town
for the pharmacists convention.
They're meeting here today and to-
morrow. AIS on the road, you
know"
She named company man
ufacuring drugs and said that was
the firm he worked for. This other
felloW-F'rank Mullins is his name
lis from Spruce City He's a
customer of AIS and an awfully
nice fellow.
Well, when Al found out he was
= coming for the convention, he
wanted to show Frank a good time
So I called Helen Kramer and the
four of us were going out together
But this morning Helen fell down
some steps and ,prained her ankle
Can't get out of Z chair for a week;
80 l tried to get another girl, but
every one I knew was tied up with
something or other. Then I thought
of you and tried to telephone"
Janet's premonition had been cor
rect. Mollie wanted her to take the
place of the injured Helen. she
couldn't do it, of course She'd
have to think Of some excuse.
I'm sorry" she began, but be-
fore she could finish, Mollie was
rushing on.
IF you won't I don't know shat
I'll do" she exclaimed. al Will
v be terribly sorel He's been count
ing on this for a long time It's
partly because he likes Frank and
partly because of business.
"Hes-Wen, I don't know all
about it, but they've been talking
about some sort of deal together.
Oh, honey. I know how you've been
feeling. I'd have asked you first
if I'd thought you'd come. But
couldn't you do it just to help me
out?"
Janet shook her head. I'D like
to help YOU she said, but you
don't want me. I'd be a frost at
any party
mo. YOU Wouldn't"
I'm sorry, Molle-"
"Then the whole thing will have
to be off, the other girl eX-
claimed "Al will be mad and blame
me for it. He'll say it was my
fault Oh, Janet, have a hearth"
But I cant. Really. II don't
feel like going out"
NIollie turned, her eyes suddenly
glowing You can't fool me-" she
said. Listen, how long are you
going to keep on being a sap?
Spending all your days and nights
mourning over that two-timer who
let YOU down.
Cant YOU snap out Of it and
show a little pride? Why don't you
get wise TO yourself?'
Oct wise to herself? The words
" cut across Janets conscious
ness like a whip. Was that what
people were saying about her?
She had thought her loyalty to
her love for Rolf something beauti-
full, almost sacred. She had clung
to that love, cherished it. Now
Mollie was calling him a two
timer" who had let her down"
Well, wasn't it the truth?
She had been let down"-jilted
Were other people besides Mollie
thinking the same thing? Were they
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