The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-18
CHAPTER TWELVE
sow co on WITH THE STORY

CHAP En- A " LII V Z
TRUE to her promise, Irene tele-
Il phoned Peggy asking her to tea
the following Tuesday. and TO her
surprise the girl accepted her in
vitation without the air Of boredom
she usually considered 1t necessary
TO assume.
I'd love to. Irene" Peggy an
swered much as her own little SIS
ter Betty might have said II.
For the first time. Irene fel, na
there was something about her ore
might ike if it we're possible to see
beyond her mask OF Alterations.
Closing the door upon the dis
order Of Ewes bedroom. Irene swept
and busted the rest Of the apart
ment. and bought fresh flowers,
amaryllis and gladioli. But when
she had finished these preparations,
she looked about her with skeptical
eyes.
The room was tidy and comfort
able and lived in, but compared with
the surgeons palatial home it was
Undeniably shabby. Irene wondered
again why Steve was so anxious for
Peggy to see it and what ne thought
Irene could offer her in the way
OF entertainment.
For Steve's sake she would do
her best. Virginia's blue luster tea
set was put on a tray ready for use
There we're thin slices of lemon and
bread cut ready for tOasting, but
what Peggy would think Of tea and
cinnamon toast instead of cocktails
remained TO be seen.
Virginia was not at home, but
expected to come in from Los An
geles at 4. Precisely at $50. which
was the hour Irene had mentioned,
Peggy's smart little car dashed up
TO the door and Peggy herself, wear
ing the gayeSt of yellow sport
clothes, jumped out and ran up the
stairs. The cigaret she was smok-
ing was stained with lip rouge and
her creamy makeup was heavy
enough for a woman of 40, but
otherwise she looked more her age
than at any time since Irene had
met her. There was frank curiosity
in the smoky blue eyes which gazed
about the apartment.
This is terribly nice of you she
guShed in her movie star voice. i've
been simply dying to see how you
live. Do all the air hosteSSes have
apartments?"
Irene smiled and motioned her to
chair.
NO. Some Of them live at the
Inn. but We can live any place we
like. so long as it's not too far from
the airport
1T must be absolutely fascinat-
ing" Peggy sighed. L suppose you
have all sorts of thrilling expert
ences?"
Not so many. but flying itself is
thrilling. I'm perfectly happy so
long as I'm in the air"
L am, too! I came home in
plane. you know Father wasn't very
keen about it, but I simply insisted
upon it. stopped in New York Tor
few days first. Imagine leaving
Newark at $50 at night. almost
breaking my neck for a last glimpse
of the lights, then looming off in
a big shining plane for California"
1t would be fun" the air hostess
agreed.
One state after another slipped
by. The stars twinkled and the
moon was million times brighter
than usual But the sunrise was
gorgeous. First coral pink deepen
ing to red, then brightest crimson.
and then all at once the huge GRIM
son ball of the sun"
She looks actually pretty" Irene
thought. amazed at such uneXpect-
ed enthusiasm.
It's too bad YOU can't do more
Of it II you enjoy it so much" she
said sympathetically.
Il like anything that is new and
different" declared the other girl.
That's the reason I fell in love
with Bart. He's so different from
the silly boys I have known"
Yes. he was different all right"
lreen admitted with the old familiar
twinge she always felt when his
name was mentioned.
IF you'll excuse me a moment.
I'll make the tea she murmured
hoping TO evade any further dis
cuSSion. but Peggy. who appeared to
feel quite at home cried. oh. let
me come with you! I want to see
your kitchen"
She stared with enchanted eyes
at the plain checked gingham cur
tains and cheap red coffee and
sugar cans.
Il think Il would be lovely to
keep house in A place like this.