The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-13

oil, you uOu HeeU car, you kIlOW.
Townsend can drive you anywhere
you want to go, in ours. It's always
at your disposal when we are not
using (which we seldom are for
mere pleasure, as you know
Listen, Mike" Felix said kindly.
IF you're going to get anywhere
in this troubled old world, you
know"
I'VE are somewhere" Mike said
gravely. Were pretty much where
we want to be. These boys books
I do bring me in an income that's
as certain as salary. 1t wouldn't
do for you and Harriet, but it's
enough for Elizabeth and me-in-
Guiding a small steady margin we're
sticking away in the savings bank
every time I get my quarterly check.
It's not how much you earn; it's
how much you need.
you and Harriet want to keep
up appearances, but Elizabeth and I
don't. But don't think we don't APP
preciate your concern, though. And
for Gods sake don't be sorry for us
because we haven't got any silver"
We'll" Harriet said, maybe Fate
will be good to you and keep Miss
Conover in Europe, which, Har-
riet had always been a little re-
sentful about this-"she seems to
prefer to her own country"
~ TIT Fofp WASN'T II flNnnQd Mics
ID Constance Conover back into
the old home town inside of the
next six weeks.
And she hasn't been here for
thirty years." Elizabeth said when
they heard the news. mot since
/ was born. Mike, we're on the spot.
she's staying with old Mrs. May
brick Johnson, she's only going to
be here two days and she's sent
us word that she particularly wants
to see u.s."
my God!" Mike said. For us
read the silver! Where do we go
from here?"
ITO see her. Right now. And tell
all. Mrs. Johnson is one of the few
people who doesn't know what's
happened about the silver. There's
a chance Miss Conover won't find
out before we see her. Well throw
ourselves on her mercy, invite her
to dinner, and take her to ride in
the car"
When Miss Conover came she
looked gorgon. She was short,
stout, formidable looking old wom-
an, with firm jaw, firmer mouth,
small bright drown eyes that bored
into you, clipped manner of
speech and extraordinary good
clothes.
ELIZABETH had invited the
IL last half dozen of the towns
Old Guard-Constance Conover's
contemporaries. Miss Conover. who
arrived last, looked them over with
only the faintest flicker of hope
and Elizabeth though she saw that
expire.
She then looked Elizabeth and
Mike over, popped a few incisive
questions at them about this and
that, was interrupted by Mrs May
brick Johnson, who was quite deaf,
got pretty lame answers out of both
of them, and subsidized within her.
self to wait, Elizabeth felt sure, for
a sight of the silver
When she saw it she raised her
salad fork and with the sort of
Single-heartedness possible only to
the real aristocracy, stared at it.
The gesture punctured what lit
tie conversation there was, and the
table stared with her. 1t was, un-
questionably, moment.
MIKE got mad. With a reckless
1V1 glinting gaiety he hoisted his
conversational banner and went in
to action. Fixing Miss Conover's lit
tie bright-brown eyes with his blue
black ones, he talked about the
things that interested him, and told
her with his manner that she could
either listen or go home. He, infused
some life into, at least, his wife, who
rallied to his defense.
The old lady sat there and
watched them. until at last there
was no one left hut herself and
Mrs Maybrick johnson. And then
as Mike came back from seeing the
last of the other guests TO the door,
g. change took place in her.
MY dears.' she said, i think
you are a couple of peaches When
l came I thought you were like
your sister and brother in-law-
nice people, but 1 can't abide them!
They have terrible effect upon
me: they make me as dull and con-
ventional as they are. 1t was they,
1 suppose, who told you to invite
all these museum pieceS?"
We've thought they were your
best friends here" Elizabeth said.
THEY are. But they're fossil
Il lied. They haven't had an idea
between them for twenty years. I'd
forgotten what they were like. 1
love them. hut-we speak two Ian
guages-without word in common.
whereas you But do tell me.
what did you do with the silver?"
We've couldn't live up to it."
Elizabeth said.
We've wanted carl" Mike
said.
And So" said Elizabeth.
The old lady emitted the kind of
chlckle they hadn'e dreamed she
mao in her. and rose to her feet.
Thank God there are two people
In this town anyway with minds Of
tneir own! Come on. Euphemia"-
TO Mrs. Maybrick Johnson tits
time for you to go to bed. Couldn't
you come by tomorrow and take me
to ride2n