The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-01
cHApTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
YOU'RE 50 stuny." sally pouted.
other men know wou-a
,Ynnn a. the chance. Why. Il you
.ook this Job from father we cou-o
be married right away. ...
4 know" Michael said. But you
see I'm an outdoor man. Always
have been.
Here's wha: I think, Michael.
SALLY put her head on one size,
looking ike a plump, bright-eyeo
and extremely knowing bird. You're
a simpleton. That's what you are
really. not to grab the chance. titSt
ming YOU know. people would forget
all about the riding business e
they'd be accepting you. ...
She had gone TOO far ana she
knew It. Red crept up IN his lean
checks: the slate-cOlOred eyes spar
kled dangerously.
Not that il matters, OF course
what all these dOdOes think.
They were in the overstuffed com
fort of the Moon living room, al
tat red touches and taffeta pillows
and stiff carved chairs. An ornate
lamp shed an efulgent glow on
sally. who sat curled up, little girl
fashion. in one corner of the deepest
couch and played with Michaels
fingers.
Love me, darlin?" He had to
answer this question half dozen
times a day, for Sally had the IN
stinct Of posSessiveness enormously
developed. She needed to be re-
assured.
Michael Heatheroe, with his en-
gagement three weeks old, told him
self over and over again that, of
course, he loved the little thing 1t
would be less than decent to refuse
her the affection she demanded. The
night she had so surprisingly told
her father that they we're TO be
married, Michael had quite simply
failed to find words to refute the
statement. Anyhow, in his code, this
was one of the things you did not
do.
The lady was always right.
Dimly, in the memory of his
childhood, was one illuminated pic
ture. His father, smiling gently at
a fair haired woman in a blue dress
His fathers voice, saying, Always
remember that, son. The lady is
always right
That must have been his mother
And yet he'd been told. so many
times, that ne couldn't possibly re-
member his mother.
Anyhow it was pleasant, it was
enormously flattering to have Sally
Moon in love with him. No one
else had been particularly friendly
70 him in this new place. After the
ranch, where he'd known every one
from the Chinese cook to the red
faced foreman, it was a stiff,
rather chilly atmosphere.
THERE mad been a moment
i day, perhaps-when he had
entertained dreams of that slim
far-haired girl whose dark blue
eyes seemed to carry a message to
him
But that had been madness.
She was seen every place with
that doctor chap from the city. Her
own kind. Sally Moon said, laugh
ing unpleasantly.
They're both sticks" Sally had
said TO Michael. cuddling against
his shoulder. Now you and 1,
Michael. we're real people-we hate
and love and scratch and bite when
we're angry. Don't you hate vio-
lently. Michael? I hope YOU do, be-
cause I'm regular little spit-flre.
1 warn you .
She loved to talk about herself
her tastes, her opinions. Michael
Oil not really listen to all Of it.
often he found his thoughts wan
dering to Katharine Strykhurst;
He had passed her on Main
st only yesterday For a split sec
ond he had thought she was going
TO stop and talk to him. But with
a cool bow she had passed on
you're not even listening"
Sally pouted.
Yes, I am. I heard every single
word"
Fathers really pleased about our
engagement" Sally went on. He
pretended at first he wasn't-you
remember? Then ne decided he
was glad I was settling down. I've
always had so much attention-he
was afraid I might run of and do
something really crazy. You re-
member that orchestra leader I told
you about down at Miami last
vPar-2"
Michael remembered.
Well, and he thinks you're per-
fly fine. Michael honestly. Kiss
me she demanded suddenly.
greedily, ending the discussion as
she always ended it.
But he would not 90 into the
bank. her fathers bank. to please
her. He would not so with her 10
the country club or the yacht club
or the swimming pool until ne had
proved himself. She could coax and
pOut as she would. Michael knew
this much. a man had 20 be the
master. He had 10 have the last
word
Dlmis Sally recognized this
strength. respected 1t, even while
She attempted 10 tear it down.
Hes match for Won fat 10