The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-01
JW co on WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER TwENTY-oNE

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
XTOURE SC stuny," Sally pouted.
/ Other men I know would
-uuD at the chance. Why, Il you
took this JOB from father we coulo
4 be married right away. -.
I know" Michael said. But you
see. I'm an outdoor man. Always
nave been.
Here's what I think. Michael"
sally put her head on one SIDE,
looking like a plump, brlght-eyeo
and extremely knowing bird. You're
a simp.eton. That's what you are,
. really. not TO grab the chance. First
thing YOU know, people would forget
all about the riding business .
they'd be accepting you.
She had gone too far, and she
knew 1t. Red crept up in his lean
cheeks; the slate-colored eyes spar
klcd dangerously.
Not that it matters, OF course,
what all these dodoes think. ="
They were in the overstufIed COM
fort Of the Moon living room, all
fat red touches and taffeta pillows
and stiff carved chairs An ornate
lamp shed an effulgent glow on
Sally. who sat curled up, little girl
fashion, in one corner of the deepest
couch and played with Michael's
fingers.
Love me, darling" He had to
answer this question half a 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 were to be
married. Michael had quite simply
failed to find words to refute the
statement. Anyhow. in mis- 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 hattering to have Sally
Moon in love with him. No one
else had been particularly friendly
to him in this new place. After the
I ranch. where he'd known every one
from the Chinese cook to the red
faced foreman. it was a stiff.
rather chilly atmosphere.
THERE had been a moment
i day. perhaps-when he had
entertained dreams of that slim,
fair haired girl whose dark blue
eyes seemed to carry a message to
hirl.
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 J.
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 a regular little spit-flre.
I warn vol
She loved to talk about herself
her tastes. her opinions. Michael
did not really listen to all Of it.
Often he found his thoughts wan
dering to Katharine Strykhurst:
He had passed her on Main
i st only Yesterday. For a split sec
f Ond he had thought she was going
f to stop and talk to him. But with
A cool bow she had passed on q.
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
I pretended at first he wasn't-you
/ remember? Then he decided he
was glad I was settling down. I've
always had so much attention-he
was afraid I might run of and do
T something really crazy. You re-
member that orchestra leader I told
YOU about down at Miami last
4 Vc3r-?"
Michael remembered.
We'll. and he thinks you're per-
+ fly fine. Michael. honestly. Kiss
me" she demanded suddenly
I greedily. ending the discussion as
she always ended it.
But he would not go into the
bank, her fathers bank. to please
her. He would not so with her tc
1 the country club or the yacht club
or the swimming pool until ne had
I proved himself. She could coax anC
I pOut as she would. Michael knew
this much. A man had 20 be the
master. He had to have the last
word
Dimly Sally recognized this
strength. respected 1t. even while
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