The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-07
CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
VAIER1A's nervousness had worn
' off. She had refused to see
friends who had called through the
door and now, with evening coming
on, she was waiting expectantly fol
Peters call.
One minute every one had been
having so much fun and the next
there was Marvin Walters, drunk
and waving a gun. Everybody trying
to get out Of sight. Then the aw-
full sound of the gun report and
Dirk falling to the floor. Nobody
knew who called the police. Prob
ably it was that silly Peg Walters
herself. When they realized Dirk
was only slightly injured it was toe
late to do anything about it.
Of course she knew Peter hadn't
meant it when he said that they
were through. If he had meant it.
why hadn't he taken the ring? Va
leria slipped it on her finger again.
The maid came to the door. Shall
I bring your dinner, Miss Valeria?'
Eyes. Then lay out my things
Lola A belated Christmas din
ner, but she was ready for it.
Mrs. Wainwright opened the door
II heard you tell Lola you would
dress"
yes"
HAS Peter called?"
mo, but he will"
Mrs. Wainwright said, in a trou-
bled tone, Mrs. Kendall called this
afternoon. She wanted to find Pc
ter. She said he left the house after
breakfast and hasn't been back
since"
In the mood he was in, he
probably wouldn't come home.
imagine he ate dinner at the club. "
AS Mrs. Wainwright continued to
stare obviously, Valeria broke out
angrily You act as though I had
lost Peter for good Look here"
She flashed her ring.
The morning newspaper had been
brought to Mrs. Kendalls bed, along
with her grapefruit and coffee with
out cream.
She was still strenuously engaged
in preserving" her figure and was
proud that she had been successful
in her battle to keep down flesh
while so many of her friends had
grown fat and double-chinned.
In an adjoining room Carol heard
her mother groan. The grcan was
followed by an excited screech,
which brought Carol flying to her
bed.
Good heavens, mother! Are you
iu?"
Mrs. Kendall held out the news
paper and moaned again. Were
disgraced Look what Peter has
done"
Carol snatched the folded sheet
from her mothers hand, read the
headlines, and sank into chair.
why don't you say something"
IF Peter has got himself in a
mess" Carol said slowly, "he has
himself to blame. I don't see why 1
should cry about it"
Its the mess he has got us into!'
Mrs. Kendall sobbed. "All this
comes of Father Kendall encourage
ing him in his queer ideas. Peter
has never had the least notion of
what obligation to family tradition
means. Oh, poor Valeria!"
I'm not wasting sympathy on her
after the stunt she pulled last
night" Carol said bluntly.
"Valeria isn't perfect, perhaps, "
Mrs. Kendall said, but we all
know she has never loved any one
but Peter. 1t was a terrible thing
for him to do"
"Valeria is just fraud" Carol
said. I'm heartily in favor of
Peters giving her the gate"
And suppose you're not >wor-
ried over Peter marrying some
common creature he probably met
on the street, If he had to do
something disgraceful why couldn't
he have waited until the year after
your debut?"
Darn my debut" Carol said.
Carroll" I can't understand you.
All this disgrace and you sit there
as cool as a cucumber"
1.-THE towns big enough so that
we needn't get in each others way.
I don't intend to be old-fashiend
and kiss the bride"
"Oh!" Mrs. Kendalls voice was
relieved.
I'm saving my kisses for better
use," Carol continued f1ippantly. Il
may have an urge toward romance.
Who can tell?"
CHE got a cold cloth for her
> mothers head, sat down and
read the details of the wedding, re-
ported in the newspaper.
Peter and this girl have gone
away Nobody seems to know where.
They gave reporters the slip, some
how"
We'll, that's something to be
thankful for" Mrs. Kendall said.
Carol said, Give the girl credit
for wits, mother. Wasn't she smart,
walking off with Peter right under
Valeria's nose?"
Please, Carol, don't discuss it. He
must have been perfectly mad"
Valera pulled one too many Of
her fast ones. That vas all"