The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-07-17
CHAPTER NINE
DRET went on. You were buy
ID ing new clothes, weren't you?"

] OT11G l. EN- NINE
DRET went on. You were buy
ID ing new clothes. weren't you?"
"Why-why, yes"
And this millionaire you we're
dancing with last night. just to
help out your employer-he paid
for them, I suppOse?"
Under Bret's whitening and sar-
castle questioning 10 grew angry.
Yes, he did pay for them" she
said slowly. III tell you the
whole story if you'll try to believe
me instead of-of Babs Mont
gomery."
Still Bret did not move from the
door, and still his eyes were
clouded with a half-puzzled anger.
I'D like to hear it, I'm sure"
Briefly 10 told him how she had
met Douglas Marsh, told him about
her new job at Crest Lake, and
why she had needed a new ward
robe. But all the while she knew
that Bret wasn't quite believing
her.
All the while he stood there
watching her as though she were a
girl he had never before seen, as
though she were some one he was
trying to place. And when she had
finished he said only, You expect
me to believe that?"
Il don't expect anything" 10 re-
] l,0
truth, Bret. And if you won't be-
ieve me I'm-Im not sure care"
His eyes widened. so that's it?
You'll admit you don't care, now
that you've met this bird with lots
of dough-" He smiled bitterly. I'd
heard that girls would change like
that, overnight-but I'd never be-
lieved it much. And least of all I'd
never have believed it of you"
Bret, that isn't it. You know
that's not it. But it was a chance
for me TOTO really get along by
myself and to help the folks, too.
1 might be able to save little and
start school again next year" She
faced Bret suddenly put her palms
against his shoulders. You know
me better than to talk like this,
Bret"
Il only know this, 10. A guy
doesn't come along and offer $500
a month and flock of clothes to a
girl he's never seen before, unless
he's got something in mind"
10 sighed, and her hands fell
helplesSly to her sides. There was
no way to make Bret see Douglas
Marsh as she saw him. If she tried
to tell Bret how fine Marsh was
then Bret would only believe She
fallen for Marsh completely
Bret, whatever you think Of
Douglas Marsh, can't you trust me
to take care of MYSELF" she asked
TIE looked down at her. 81
Il Il thought I could. But I'm not
so sure, now that I've seen the way
you've fallen for this racket FOL
two cents Id write your father ano
have him stop you from going into
this thing!"
The determination in Bret'S tone
startled 10. If he wrote her father
10 knew, Arthur Darien would GER
tainly prevent her from going tt
Crest Lake. He would be as quick
~ suspicious as Bret was now. JOS
eyes narrowed, and her chin tilted
upward a little.
You haven't the right to advise
my father about this" she saic
quickly. "BecauSe-because you ano
I are finished"
Bret looked at her a long time
silently and contemptuously Their
he said quietly. All right, 10
I Good-by" The next moment tht
door had shut and he was gone. JC
heard his heavy. angry footballs
down the hall, heard the clang OF
the elevator gate as Bret let him.
self into the automatic car.
For one uncertain instant she
was about to follow Bret. crying
out to him that she hadn't meant
what she'd said. But in a sudden
wave of clarity her brain told hel
she must stand solidly now on hel
own two feet. alone
Fortune had been good to her. un-
believably good. and she mustn't
turn back the gift because her emo
tons wouldn't let her see clearly. Il
Bret really loved her he would be-
lieve in her; he would come back
And if he couldn't believe in bel
then she had lost him forever
In sudden burst of tears she
threw herself down upon the oaven-
port and buried her head in hel
arms. Even when she was no longer
I Sobbing. even when the wells of hel
grief were dry. she lay there, staring
at the pattern of the davenport
Outside. the sun sank below the root
tops, and the little room in the Fen
dale grew dark.
At last, mindful that tomorrow
she must make the journey to Crest
Lake, 10 CndreSsed for bed. It was
only after she had reviewed again
and again her argument with Bret
only when she had thought again
and again that surely he would tele-
phone for forgiveness, that JOS eyes