The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-11
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new fox trot. Reigals' boasted din
ner music and dancing. The dining
room was large square with walls
intended to initiate Spanish thing.
There was an abundance Of dark
red and pale green in the decora-
tons. There was a dark red car
pet, red leather chairs and red
glasses on the crisp white table
cloth.
-Four musicians, on a raised plat
form at the far side of the room,
we're beating out their meticulous
rhythm, swaying as though hypno-
tized by the blatant melody.
About a dozen couples were dane
ing in the square, uncarpeted space
reserved for them. Only about a
third of the tables were occupied.
Al had reserved a table and The
head waiter led them toward it. 1t
was near the orchestra-too near,
Janet thought. but Mollie, obviously
was pleased.
Some class to this joint" Null
Inns commented enthusiastically.
A waiter presented menus and
Janet studied hers. BY the time
the shrimp cocktail had been set
before her, she knew the evening
was going to be an ordeal. 1t was
all right to remind herself that
she was doing this for Mollie, who
was generous and kind hearted and
deserved to have her good time
unspoiled.
1t was all right to listen to Frank
Mullins telling stories he had heard
at a vaudeville performance, even
though he laughed at them more
loudly than any one else. But when
she tried to dance with him and
narrowly escaped tripping due to
his aWkWardness, it was too much!
Mullins seemed to regard the cpl
sode as a joke. Janet was sure the
men must have started the eve
ning's festivities with a few drinks.
Al Schildner seemed quiet enough,
but Mullins was both garrulous and
noisy.
Worse than that, he apparently
was attracted deeply by Janet. He
leaned near to her whenever he ad-
dressed her. He had told her al
ready that she looked like "a blue
eyed baby dolI' and twice he had
called her Sugar" He kept repeat
ing that tonight was going to be a
large night. Oh, boy, yes!
n n
THE second time he asked her to
Il dance, she refused. Then she
decided that sitting at the table
alone with him was worse than
dancing.
She didn't have to talk to him
when they danced and perhaps he
would not be so awkward another
time.
Just as Al and Mollie returned
to the table, the waiter appeared
with the food. 1t was an appetizing
dinner, but Janet was not hungry.
She was spared listening to Mullins,
because MOllie Immediately took I'D
the conversation.
Then Al interrupted to tell some
thing that had happened on his
last trip out of town. Janet gath
cred that Al spent about half of his
him in Lancaster and half ION the
road"
Mullins remembered having seen a
friend of AIS at the convention that
afternoon and so the talk moved on.
Absently, Janet glanced about the
room. Yes, it had been a mistake
to come, but she must endure the
evening somehow. There were some
nice-looking people at the next ia
bic. Two men and girl in black.
1t was the sort of smart, expen-
sive-looking black dress Janet
wished she could afford.
Suddenly Mullins loud laughter
rang out and the girl in black looked
at him. Janet caught the dis
approval in that glance and turned
away, her cheeks flushing.
Well, there was one thing she
could be thankful for. No one in
the restaurant knew her.
Later when the orchestra leader
raised his baton to signal the be-
ginning Of new number Janet
nodded, accepting Mullins invita-
ton to dance.
1t was a waltz this time, an old
song she liked The words sang
themselves through her mind:
Let me call you sweetheart.
I'm in love with you"
Frank Mullins was humming the
tune. Oh, but she didn't want to
be reminded of that song. 1t brought
back memories. She mustn't think
about them. She wouldn't let her
self!
Clumsily Mullins jolted her
against another dancer. The man
turned, smiling, to murmur, Sorry.
Janet, embarrassed, raised her eyes.
She caught her breath then,
whispered, OH"
The man was Rolf Carlyle and he
was dancing with Betty Kendall.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
1T was only for the fraction Of a
4 second that Janet's eyes met
Rolls. Then he bent his head and
said something to the girl in his
arms.
She smiled and a moment later
they were out of sight, lost among