The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-30
CHAPTER THREE


[ITHEN Ruth reached home she
w found her cousins. the Law
renee young folk, engaged in one
Of their major battles Lefty was
trying to Wrest from her brother
a dollar bill which he had found on
their mothers desk. Being large and
well-developed for her l8 years, the
girl was more than a match for the
slim 16-year-old youth who was
holding out against her.
Help. Ruth" Cecil yelled, biting
at his sisters exposed arm. they
we're struggling on an antique
Jennie Lind day bed and it gave
signs Of falling apart at any mo-
ment.
Ruth looked at them helplessly.
L don't now who's right" she yelled
back above the tumult
Well. you know who's getting
beatenl" Cecil retorted between
gasps
Lefty said, If she comes near I'll
slap both your faces, and 1 mean il.
Give me that dollar, pig You got
the last one we found You know
how I need stOckingsi" With a final
twist she pried open her brothers
hand. snatched the damp. crumpled
bill and fled with it to her bedroom
Cecil lay groaning and rubbing
his chest. where his sisters knee
had pressed. Ruth said, If you
wouldn't smoke so many cigarets.
Cecil. you might beat her now and
then"
She had no admiration and very
little liking for this high school
junior who took his mothers hard
earned money as his Just due and
pampered himself extravagantly.
Lefty came back into the room
with her hair smOothed and her
face carefully made up. She had
a round. pretty face with wide.
sky-blue eyes. fringed with dark
lasheS. and light brown hair. She
looked much like a Christmas doll.
In fact. she had once played that
role in a school play, standing
against the wall in a huge box.
clothed in a crisp. knee-length
dress, and holding out her arms in
vitingly while she smiled a blank.
dimpled smile.
Ruth knew, however. that Lefty
was not as blank and forceless as
She appeared.
Once when Cousin Bessie. Letty's
mother, was bemoaning the fact
that the girl could not 60 to COL
lege, Ruth had said to her. L don't
think Lefty would like college.
Cousin Bessie. Shes not a book
worm like you at all I think Lefty
ought to marry young 1t was
true. She was a vOluptuous rose
bud that had formed early and
needed to blossom early. Marriage
would be the perfect poisoning.
ETY. sat down and crossed her
II pretty legs. ANY luck in town
today. Ruth?"
Ruth answered. mo. Lefty" and
wished that she might never hear
that question again. Can help
you with dinner?"
Its almost ready" Lefty re-
piled. Frightening. She genuinely
loved to plan and cook a meal. ON
account of its being mothers birth
day I've cooked a chicken. There's
rice to 60 with it. and head lettuce
salad and homemade rolls. I've
made a cake, too. Cecil she
turning to her lolling
brother, go clean Yourself up be-
fore mother gets home
Cecil sat ND. yawning. All right.
If the dOorbel rings while I'm
washing" he said. it'll be Jack
Willer. Let him in He wants some
radio books I've got"
III let him in. of course" Lefty
said. She was looking intently at
her finger nails. She got up and
went into the kitchen ana put on a
ruffled organdie apron.
Ruth followed her. What can
I do, Letty?" she asked earnestly.
wanting TO help. OR had YOU
rather 1 stayed out of your way
now and washed the dishes after
ward?"