The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-14

lnIOuRn the gapeS Lnat Hau DSSIl
windows they saw the filth and
debris within. Linda shivered and
drew into the warm arms about her.
III sit in the car while you find
two habitable cabins" she told him,
dreading to be alone even in the
car in that overwhelming blackneSs
and freezing outdoors.
He was gone 10 minutes and it
seemed an hour.
There's only one" he reported,
with windows, hunks, fair
amount of cleanliness and hearth.
May share it with you?"
SOMEWHERE in the outer dark
- ness a penetrating wall broke
the silence while he waited for her
answer. Frightened, she drew close
to him. "You may" ahe said. Wen
stay up all night and talk about
movies"
Il used to be boy scout" he said,
among other nonsensical things, as
he gathered twigs and started fire.
1t was cold in the cabin, but grad
ually it grew warmer and Linda S
eyes grew heavy with want of sleep.
They talked and talked. Later Linda
couldn't remember what they talked
about She only knew she talked
with kind of desperation to keep
from wondering what would happen
next, either with Thorne or with the
people who would know that she
spent the night with him. In Holly
wood, it was no easier to explain
such things than in Newtown.
They were hungry, too. as the
night wore on. The last thing Linda
remembered before waking in the
cold, dark dawn, was wishing she
had some food.
CHE stirred in her sleep because
- she was cold. Her muscles
were stiff. Her crepe frock was rum
pied and crushed. BY the early,
wavering light she saw that it was
nearly 5 in the morning. She
didn't remember going to sleep, and
opened her eyes wider and wider to
find herself on a blanket-covered
wooden bunk, her own coat thrown
over her and Thorne's coat across
her stockinged feet. Across the
room in the grey light she could
make out the lines of Thorne's
sleeping figure So she had gone to
sleep and he had tucked her away!
That was thoughtful, but then
Linda realized that the new day
was on it's way.
That would mean that her COM
pany would soon arrive. And find
her there, sharing cabin with
Basil Thorne.
She couldn't be found there!
Their motor was out of order and
Thorne had told her it was 80 miles
back to the last house. Linda
threw aside the coats and stepped
out gingerly on the rough, cold
floor. Through the windows she
saw the sky getting lighter.
Better for her to be lost, not to
appear with the company than to
try to explain her appearance un-
der the circumstances. But could
she get out alone? The roads, even
in daylight, we're unfamiliar.
CHE slipped into her shoes and
- approached Thorne. Shaking
him, she cried, Basil, please wake
up. It's nearly S. We've got to get
back. We would never be able to
explain"
And when he was awake and had
shaken the sleep from his eyes, he
looked about him. Don't be stu
pid, my dear. Of course, we can
explain. That's the only thing we
can Go. We can't get out of here
without car Let's get little
more sleep and we'll talk about it
later"
He closed his eyes and drew the
soiled blanket closer to his chin.
Silently Linda watched him for a
moment, and then, putting on her
coat and tucking her hair under her
hat, she opened the door softly and
made her way out to the road She
thought she might have cried if she
hadn't been angry.
Linda may have walked two miles;
she thought it must have been 20.
The thin Soles of her shoes were
small protection against the hard
road. The early morning air blew
in icy swirls against her, and her
lips needed the soothing oil of a
lipstick. She hadn't the least idea
where she was headed for or what
would happen when she made an
arrival, and she didn't care.