The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-16

A- shRfl
A S David Coke, an alert, we'll
L n built young chap of 25, walked
up the immaculate path that led to
the Binney's imposing house on the
best street in Gailburg, he noticed
that not a piece Of gravel on the
walk nor a blade Of grass on the
perfect lawn seemed out of place.
You didn't need to be a graduate
of Scotland Yard to know what kind
of people lived in here-eff1ciency
was their middle name. Dave turned
TO his companion, Mr.. Evans, the
towns smartest lawyer, and with
his hand ON the front door bell re-
marked:
Il wish you hadn't dragged me out
here for supper. I feel like a darn
fool" Mr.. Evans chuckled.
You needn't" he replied. Marion
Binney doesn't know anything about
your Uncle Joe's will"
CIX years before David Coke had
- left Gailbury for New York.
There he'd found Job with a
wholesale drug firm and, WORKING
hard, was now drawing down enough
on which to live, save little and
become engaged to Molly Blake.
Falling in love with Molly had been
the most wonderful adventure of
Dawes life.
They planned to be married in the
fal, for If only they could be to-
gether poverty had no terrors for
Molly. However, she was confident
they wouldn't be poor for long and
~ made Dave feel fine to hear her
say: You're so clever, darling, you're
going to get ahead in no time!"
Then, in the very midst of all theil
plans and on the eve of Dawes sum-
mer vacation came Mr.. Evans letter
from Gailburg announcing Uncle
Joe CoXe's death.
But it wasn't until after the fu-
neral that Mr.. Evans summoned
Dave to his Office and there read
him only as much of Uncle Joe's
win as the law compelled. Boiled
down. this outrageous document
stated that David Coke was to in
herit the sum of $4,000, his Uncle
Joes drugstore in Gailburg and his
Uncle Joe's house provided within
six months time said nephew mar
ried Marion Binney.
II
livery time Dave thought of
II that word provided he saw red.
Outside of a no-Star moving picture
plot, Uncle Joe's will was the most
unfair, preposterous one ever drawn.
But Dave ragged in vain. Uncle Joe
had been of sound mind, and if
Dave didn't like the viii it was just
too bad. Dave thought how much
he liked it right now, as walking
into the Binney'S living room he
said good evening to the girl Uncle
Joe had decided he was to marry.
The Binneys hadn't changed
much in six years. Marion, with
her quiet air rof possession,
erect carriage and swapping black
eyes was, perhaps, even better look
ing than in the old days Mr..
Binney, tall and STOPPING, listened
meekly as usual to his handsome
wife, who was Marion all over again
only Is years her senior.
After delicious supper Mrs.
Binney Unanswered so that Dave
and Marion were left alone on the
side piazza in the moonlight 1t
was a beautiful night. peaceful,
quiet, the kind of stiffness that
Dave and Molly longed for in New
York and never found but, wasted
here, and as Dave regarded Marion
sitting bolt upright in the swing,
he realized that he would never
have any desire to take this girl in
his arms and shield her from lifes
hard knocks.
"nH, by the way" said Marion
~ with elaborate careleSsness
after a little pause, "the whole
towns talking because your Uncle
Joe's will doesn't have to be pro-
bated for six months. Do you know
what's going to become of his
money!"
mo-" replied Dave honestly, 81
really don't"
He didn't take it with him."
observed Marion, "or his house or
his drug store, either!" And as
she spoke she flashed a speculative
glance at Dave from her black eyes
that made him feel vaguely uneasy.
Marion Binney was the kind of
person who got what she wanted.
and If by chance she wanted him
Dave ran his fingers around inside
his collar.
When Dave returned to his Uncle
Joe's house that night he found
that Ellen, Uncle Joe's housekeeper
Tor 20 years, had not only turned
down his bed for him but also laid
out pajamas aS placed a pitcher
OF ice water within easy reach on
small table. Dave laughed as he
thought of his third-story room back
in New York.
y q
BREAKFAST next morning as
A. served by Ellen was leisurely
and delicious, not at all like the ones
ne gobbled any old way at cor
ner drug SEore. Moreover. while
waiting on him, Ellen's manner was
deterentially polite as though he
were already the head of the house
and her future employer. Not only
Old Dave find Ellen's attitude ex-
tfemely gratifying. but also that of
ms Ole friends who. assuming him
70 be his uncle's heir. expressed