The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-08
CHAPTFP TWENTY-NINE


Il Barney had sent her flowers. Her
spirits dropped when she saw that
the name on the card was Stephens.
But they were pink roses, long
stemmed and luscious. II would
have seemed ungrateful, after &C
cepting them. to refuse to see him.
when he telephoned half an hour
later. she promised to go TO the city
with him.
Steve was delighted to know that
she was safely home.
7 didn't know anything about It
until II vas over" he said. Bart
saw 1t first in the morning paper.
We Just sat and stared at each
other. Both Of Us thinking Of the
same thing. I suppose. Wondering
how we could have been sleeping
when you we're in danger"
But there had been one man who
hadn't been sleeping. Irene thought
gratefully. The lights Of his plane
had found her even iE that deserted
meadow. Could it have been only a
sense Of duty which had guided
Barney? The night 1t happened.
she had really believed that he had
been led to her by his love II
seemed sentimental of her to think
that since he hadn't kept his promise
TO telephone.
Stephen said he had promised to
take her 70 his house before dinner.
They we're all anxious to see her
and hear about her adventure first
hand
Strange how a place, like a per-
son, could seem so different to one.
The first time she had seen Ste
phen's home she had been impress
ed by the library and had pictured
Bart sitting before the fire with a
book in his hands. The room had
seemed to reach out like an aristo-
cratic. poSsesSive hand to claim him
1t had ibtle magic which she had
feared. But tonight it was just a
room. Warm and cluttered with
books but as impersonal as DR.. Rea-
gan.
What silly ideas a girl in love
can have" Irene thought.
Looking at the two doctors who,
just as they had on that first occa-
sion, were entering the room abb
sorbed in conversation, she Won
dered how she could ever have fan
cied herself in love with the I'M
perious faced. dark-eyed young sur
geOn. And If Bart we're suffering
from her rejection of him, he, too,
gave no sign. His welcome was sim
cere and friendly but without I'M
dercurrents.
We're certainly glad to know
you're safe" ne smiled. holding her
hand. 1t must have been a terrific
experience"
Peggy. whose smiling poise Irene
recognized as a good imitation of
her own, suggested that she come
upstairs with her. In Peggy'S bed
room. furnished in the grand man.
ner with a star studded ceiling, full
length gilt mirror and royal blue
hangings and spread. Peggy said, Il
wanted to see you alone because I've
something to tell you"
Not another romance?" the air
hostess smiled.
al and I are going to be mar
ried Friday"
ALBERT Stokes? Why, Peggy,
really?"
The younger girl nodded. Her
heavy face. suffused with smiles,
was almost pretty.
Hes been seeing me ever since
the day We played tennis together.
He's crazy about me-"
He must be-" Irene admitted,
touched.
We're going to have a little
apartment all our own in Los
Angeles. Al is terribly proud, you
know. He says We'll have to live
absolutely on what he makes"
pilots make good money. Why
shouldn't you?"
Hes only a co-pilot," Peggy re-
minded her, but I'm sure we can
manage"
Have you told your family yet?"
mol 1 thought" Peggy suggest
ed slyly, that you might help me
do that. Father isn't going to be
very keen about my marrying a
pilot"
They're the finest chaps in the
world, Irene cried defensively. "A
pilot must have perfect mental and
physical coordination as well as a
judgment and endurance equal to
any crisis. No girl could ask for
anything better than that"
Peggy'S blue eyes we're twin
king.
BY the way. how is Barney?"
Conscious that she had almost, if
not entirely, given herself away,
Irene blushed.
All right, I guess. He was flying
the plane which found us. but l
haven't seen him since I came
back"
Hes in love with you" Peggy af-
firmed. Il told you so long time
ago. and AL says every one else on
the air line knows it."
Every one apparently bGt Bar
ney," Irene reflected. But she said,
Don't be silly. Peggy just because
you and AL are in love is no sign
all the rest of the world is"
Peggy smiled Wisely and suggested
that they go back downstairs. and
Irene couldn't keep from envying
her as she saw the way Peggy few
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