The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-11
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

1NDA QlunC mean to avoid see
H. ing Pete. There was no rea-
son why she should. On the other
hand, she didn't intend to look MIN
up because there was plenty of rea-
son why he should come to see her.
They still we're friends. It had
been more than a year since they
had written to each other. And then.
when his play had been a success,
she had sent him a telegram. She
checked that with her secretary.
Pete had been in Hollywood a
week, Gilda De Lyse had said.
Surely in week he could have
gotten in touch with her! Perhaps
success had gone to his head. In
the days that followed Gretchen's
party, Linda had heard much more
about Gardiner.
Gilda hadn't exaggerated when
she said the girls were crazy about
him. At least 10 of them asked
her if she had seen him. That was
enough to make any girl curious.
She was very much annoyed that
he hadn't called her. She was so
annoyed that she found herself
thinking of it, even when she was
with Dix.
CHE was lunching with Dix when
~ she first saw him, and it was
she who was embarrassed. Pete came
directly to her table and held out
his hand, Hello, Linda" he said,
as though they had met the day be-
fore.
Hello, Pete" she said. "You re-
member Dix Carter, don't you?"
Il don't think we've met" They
hadn't, but of course he knew Dix's
name, had heard Linda speak of
him.
will you sit DOWN." she asked,
hoping he wouldn't.
He didn't, he was with some
others. He had to get back. Linda
looked over her shoulder and saw
Honey waiting for him. She couldn't
resist saying, Come in tomorrow
night, won't you? I'm having some
people I'd like you to meet"
She gave him the address and
then could have bitten iler tongue
out
The next night was the Sunday
she had arranged so that Dix might
meet Thorne! She wanted all her
wits about her, and now she had
Numbered into asking Pete Gardi-
uer.
CHE was distract at dinner. The
~ food, fortunately. was superb.
Thorne liked good foods and good
wine. Linda gave him both. She
was careful not to speak of Dix,
and careful not to let their CONVEX
sation approach the personal. And
she was pathetically relieved when
10 o'clock came, and her other
guests arrived. Dix was with them.
He brought the pianist she had in
sisted upon to accompany him.
Pete did not appear early and she
was glad and relieved. She didn't
want to force Dix on Thorne's at
tention, so she waited until nearly
midnight before she asked him to
sing.
Pete Gardiner, distinguished in
his dinner jacket and as far apart
from the others as he had thought
her in those first days in Newtown,
came in a few minutes before.
Linda was truly glad to see him.
She hadn't time then or freedom of
thought to realize that he irked her
and that the reason was that :.
that something was different.
That Pete treated her as though
she were a stranger. Not as though
he was in love with her, she would
have said if she'd been honest with
herself. But why should that mat
ter when Dix hour was here?
q
CHE sat in the shadows, watching
~ him, listening to him while he
sang, watching Thorne's face-for
the once, inexpensive. Dix was
singing magnificently. How could
he help but be impressed?