The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-06
CHAPTER NINE

A FTER a bath in the big. old
IA fashioned bathroom that opened
ohsher bedroom. Ruth dressed her
elf with great care. She put on
the white linen blouse she had
bought en- route and set her nat
urally curly. short hair with the aid
of a comb and a few hairpins.
Size thought hopefully, If a
strange man admired me while
was sitting on a park bench looking
detected. why shouldn't John Nc
NELL admire me when I'm sitting
across the table from him looking
happy?"
For she was happy.
Even though her future was as
obscure and unpromising as young
Woman's future, can very well be
Ruth was happy in the midst OF
this strange and piquant adventure
which had befallen her.
For a few fleeting hours she was
playing the role-and playing it
convincingly-Of a girl who has
everything.
mo matter how drab and COM
monplace life is for me after to-
day." she reminded herself. III al
ways have this funny little inter-
lude to remember"
Yet even as she hummed a tune
and anticipated John McNeill's ar
rival, her thoughts we're beginning
10 grapple with the problem of to-
morrow. She would leave at
dawn. walking out the wide. tree
shaded street that led to Cleveland.
Shed manage to get a ride in that
direction.
Other girls do it." she told her
self, land no harm done. All you
need is nerve and a level head. I'll
develop both after I've knocked
around a while"
She was not letting herself be too
hopeful of finding that mythical
Girls Industrial League which only
Yesterday she had been pursuing.
Things like that, she realized now,
were too good to be true. She would
look for the place in Cleveland, but
if no such shelter could be found.
then she would fight tooth and nail
to win a decent existence by some
other means.
John Mcneil was arrivingl
Downstairs she heard his cheer
full voice greeting Penny. He had
evidently come in the back way
from his home next door Ruth was
assailed with curiosity concerning
Johns house and she went to the
window which afforded the best
view of It. Only tall althea hedge
separated the two big lawns.
The Mcneil house was not nearly
so large as this. its neighbor, and
was of red brick instead of stone,
but it was more homelike. In spite
of its old-fashioned contours Git &C
tually wore a little turret on its
roofD it still had an air of today.
The lawn was perfectly kept. and
Ruth could see comfortable, pillow
filled chairs on the long veranda.
Miss Elaine!" called Penny
urgently, and Ruth turned and ran
down the stairs, all care laid aside.
John MNEILL greeted her in the
y hall, taking both her hands in
both of his. Were doing better"
he said. smiling down into her dark
eyes. We've developed a double
handshakel Well, what have you
been doing with YOURSELF"
Exploring the house" Ruth an
swered. and then added shameless
". There's so much Id forgotten.
The drawing room for instance"
John said. There used to be a
gold clock on the mantel. And
some wax flowers at each end. Are
they still there?"
Yes" replied Ruth. Come and
I'll show you" She took him into
the big room at the left of the
wide entrance hall.
A fire blazed on the hearth,
throwing a warm. rudy glow over
the room. The brass fender, the
tongS and the quaint old coal Scuttle
cleaned brightly in the Pickering
light
WE'LL" Johns exclamation held
surprise. How'd you ever get
Penny to shine up the old room
and start a fire?"
Il did it myself" Ruth told him.
Il found a bottle of furniture pol
iSh, too, and a funny continuance
called a curtain brush 1 used
both. The effects very nice, think -
She pointed with pardonable
pride to the burgundy velvet cur