The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-23
CHAPTER TWO


LINGO was shown into DR.. Laird'5
j Office in the Laird Hospital for
children by a white-capped nurse.
Dr.. Laird was bent over pile Of
papers on his desk. He looked up
and smiled.
Sit down. lassie," he said kindly
III be through IN a moment or so.
I've got 10 finish this report on
Jimmie's measles, poor little lad.
But he's coming through fine and
wanted ice cream for breakfast" he
Chuckled as he returned to his work.
lingo sat in a chair across the
mahogany desk and waited. DR..
Laird now wore a white linen coat,
and she watched his pen move rap
idly across the paper before him.
Then she looked about her.
Bare. clean floors, bare, white
walls. everything spotlessly clean
The sun glinted through white mus
lin sash curtains and Sparkled on
nickel instruments in a glass case.
The limbs Of a tree brushed against
the window and somewhere outside,
Q bird sang.
Her eyes vent back to DR.. Laird's
desk and for a moment rested on
smiling young face in a silver frame
eyes crinking at the corners. She
looked away. then back again. The
young man in the frame was still
smiling at ner; fine. friendly eyes;
thick. dark nair waving back from
a high forehead.
She looked up quickly as DR..
Laird's chair creaked and he leaned
back, smiling.
And they call you-let me see,
something ike Jingle Bells. What
is the name they call you, lassie?"
"Jingol"
All. yes-Tingo! 1t has music in
il. and happiness"
Happiness" the word snapped
from her lips. I'm not happy!"
Mop" he drawled kindly. Then
it Is time we began. How old are
you?"
'Twenty-last November"
'Twenty-and your life is before
YOU. Tell RE about yourself, laSsie.
I'm your friend. Let's start on that
road to happiness by being on the
level. Come now. I have just half
hour before lunch. Right from the
first"
You know-who my father WASP"
finally.
Tom Carter. Yes. I know"
And when ne was killed-by the
cops" she was speaking jerkily,
he left me alone. Mother died
when I was born-and dad brought
me up."
He was a good father, I hear"
III say he was" and for a brief
instant the young face frightened.
It was a lovely face beneath the
little. scarlet tam. Short, dark hair
curled against smooth, olive cheeks;
long, dark lashes shaded deep, blue
eyes, and. when she smiled, there
was a flash of even, white teeth
back of red lips.
He saw to it that I went to
schoOl-and I graduated when
was Is.
He was expecting a break
don't know much about it, but he
said we would 60 away and never
come back to that Street-never! But
they got him-and that was the
end of that"
The end of that" echoed DR..
Laird softly. And you stayed on?"
There was nothing else to do"
sharply. when 1 finished school I
kept on with my studies and kept
house for my father. When-he
died, Mr.. and Mrs. Cluney came to
live at our place. You see, Mr..
Cluney was helping him"
DR.. Laird nodded. 7 see. And
you lived with them?"
They just moved in-when dad
went"
They were good to you?"
"Oh. sort of, and she shrugged
her shoulders. They meant well. I
guess. but they-couldnt see things
my way
DR. LAIRD'S shoulders straight
II ened and he nodded encour-
agingly.
And just what is your way,
laSSie2"
Well. you see. dad always liked
things nice and clean. He was used
to living right and he taught me
the same. The Cluneys-just existed
and when I kicked about the mess
around. they got out! Harry didn't
want me TO stay there alone"
7 see. Now. laSSie, tell me some
thing. Is there any one. among your
friends over there, that you would
miss If YOU left them?"
Her chin came up TO a dangerous
angle and her eyes narrowed.
Just what are you trying to put
over on me?"
I'm not trying to put anything
over on you" patiently. quietly. To
day we are starting over a new road