The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-01
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

has completely disappeared.
NOW &C on WITH The STORY.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
."XXTHERE is that uniform?" the
w distracted Irene pondered.
Not daring to waste any more
time looking for it, she telephoned
the airport to find out who wasn't
working not only that day but the
next, as she would have to stay in
San Diego overnight. They told
her that Nancy Briggs was due in
at Ills and would be off until
Wednesday. So Irene left word for
Nancy to wait at the airport until
she arrived.
1t was humiliating to have to
admit that she actually couldn't
find the uniform she had taken off
the night before. Nerve cking
to hurry to the airport and change
clothes with the beWildered Nancy.
"LIC where is your Uniform,
Irene? Where were you last night?"
Il was at home in bed and sound
asleep. I could swear I hung it
up in my closet as I always do"
Nancy looked skeptical and Irene
couldn't blame her, but there was
no time to discuss it. She barely
made the plane as it was. Breath
less and upset, she thought, Won
der if Eve could have anything to
do with this" and dismissed the
idea as unworthy. What use would
Eve have for an air steWardess' uni
form? The idea that she would
deliberately hide it was absurd.
1t was a bad trip Foggy and
rough. The plane was crowded and
the passengers unusually difficult.
Irene, whose poise had been shat
tered before she started, almost lost
her temper when a man, who had
been gruff and ungracious, handed
her a tip.
Flushing deeply, she returned it.
Il can't accept it," she said.
why nOt?" he insisted, attempt
ing to force it into her hand.
She wanted to throw it in his face
To scream at him, I'm not a port
er. 1 haven't ignored your rude
ness all the way down here for
that"
But controlling herself, she man
aged to say calmly, 1T is against
the rules. Any courtesy we render
is a part of the air line service"
He grunted and returned it to
his pocket, but the experience had
grated upon the girls already
tangled nerves. 1t was passengers
like him who were the flies in her
ointment. Men who either acted
as if she were a servant, being
pleasant in the hope of a reward,
or those who disdained her small
attentions as if they were afraid
she might be trying to flirt with
them.
She was frowning as she went
to her hotel and, although a hot
bath and good dinner restored her
equanimity, she was still worrying
over the disappearance of her uni
form when she returned to Ala
media the following day.
If you can't find it, you'll have
to get another one" the chief
StewardesS said. You must have
one by the time you go to work
again"
IRENE went home, determined to
L ransack the apartment in her eff
fort to find it, but this proved I'M
necessary. She had no sooner
opened her closet door than the
uniform appeared. hanging neatly
in place among her other dresses.
But it couldn't have been there
when she looked before. She must
be crazy. While she was wondering
about it. the telephone rang Il
was the chief stewardeSS and her
voice was serious.
Come back right away, Irenel
want to talk with you"
What had happened now" the
girl thought, climbing YEARLY into
her car. In all the time she had
been working, she had never heard
her superior sound SO severe.
She found out soon enough. The
older woman did not mince matters.
Where were you Monday morn
ing between l and 80"
AT home in bed. Why?"
What time did you go to hed?"
About TO- was dead tired when
I got home from Los Angeles"
"A girl was seen drinking in
speakeaSy in Emeryville betwen l
and that morning wearing all air
hostess uniform"
Irene gasped.
But it couldn't have been me.
You surely don't thing I'd 90 such
a thing?"
4 know it wasn't you because this
girl was blond. but all the blends
on the line-there are only five of
them-happened to be working. You
admit you lost your uniform?'
Yes. but I found it when I went
home today. Hanging il my closet
where I thought 1 had put it"
DO you know of any one who
might have worn it and put it back
later?"
Eve" Irene thought instantly.
But surely even Eve wouldn't be
malicious enough to 90 that.