The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-06
CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I linda knew, the first moment
IL that she saw him, that Basil
T.orne would play an important
part in her life, however brief that
part might be. He was an enor-
nous man and, looking at him,
Linda Bourne remembered Cora
Jarrett's saying, Il don't even know
whether he is ugly or handsome"
When man like Thorne at
tracted woman he was attracted
to, he would be more than hand
some. she thought. Everything
about him was dramatic. His curly
hair was crinkly rather than merely
curly. His voice was deep, his step
was a stride, his eyes met and held
the others gaze. His frown dark
ened his whole face His smile
broke it up in waves as though all
the parts of it were separate units,
controlled by the mechanism of
that smile.
Linda came upon him after she
had discarded her travelling frock
for a white knitted bathing suit,
the Stacks and cartwheel sun hat
that was the accepted beach Co.'S
tune. Honey's house party was dis
tributed over the playground of
tennis courts and patio. Linda, hot
and tired from the dusty motor
trip, made her way to the beach.
She dropped the Stacks, and re-
placed the cartwheel with a bath
ing cap. The water was too tempt
ing! She ran into it eagerly, and
broke into the smooth stroke Pete
Gardiner had taught her. Exhil-
arated and refreshed, she pulled
herself up TO the float and found
herself not alone.
THORNE, in tights his crinkly
i hair cleaning wetly in the
sun, reached down bronzed arm
and drew her up. He didn't let her
go for moment. until she got her
footing, and for one breathless
minute they chung together in the
most impersonal way. Then, laugh
ing and a little breathless, she drew
away.
Thanks" she said, drawing off
the tight cap and shaking her head
to free the water that had seeped
around her curls.
"A pleasure" he said, taking her
arm as her perilous footing on the
wet flooring threatened to send her
slipping into the water. May /
have the next mlnute?"
You'll have to ask my father"
she answered, and regarded him
appraisingly. You don't look the
type for a minute at H."
I'm not" he said. I'm a prize
fighter and I suppose you are
movie star"
You're not, I'm sure" Linda
felt very gay. And you're not
Californian"
You can't be sure of anything
about me, but you are correct. I'm
not a Californian. Why did you
say that?"
"DE CAUSE you couldn't possibly
ID have mistaken me for a movie
star"
It know" he said. you're the
little girl who works at the ribbon
counter, having wonderful day at
the beach"
That's right" she answered
gravely. And came here because
1 heard picture people do, and I al
ways hoped some day I would meet
a movie director who would be i'm
pressed with my expressive face,
and you turn out to be a prize
fighter"
mot very good one" he said
quickly.
ooh, don't apologize. I'm not
very good ribbon clerk. I only sell
the blue ribbon that ladies use to
tie up old love letters. I'm work.
ing up to the apron-strings depart
rnent."
llOI liz lld0 bIlIOWL lillllSOiA Ah4A
length beside her on the float and
studied her thoughtfully, his chin
supported by his hands.
st don't think you'd make such
bad pair of apron-strings to be
tied to. Young lady. YOU'RE the first
girl I've met in Hollywood who
looked like the kind of a girl a man
might want to marry. How much
of that ribbon for love letters have
you sold to YOURSELF"
q q
."THANKS for the implied COM
i pliment," Linda said drily.
Il don't save either love letters or
compliments"
I'm not a marrying man my
a = q n. -