Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 180, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 December 1922 — Page 8

8

A Hoosier Chronicle Bij MEREDITH NICHOLSON First Norel in thè Times Series of Fiction Stories by Indiana * Writers (Copyright, 191 C, by Meredith Xlcholson.)

**l went to Luder*s house thè other evenlng for supper." Alien was saylng. “I rather put lt up to hlm to ask me, and he has a house wlth a garden, and hls wife was most amusIng. TV e all t&lked Qerman, Includili* thè kids—three of them, fascinatine little fellows. He's a cabinetmaker, Miss Bassett—a producer of antlques, and a good one; and about thè gentlest human belng you ever eaw. I really belleve he likes me—etrange but true.” "Better not get In too deep wlth those fellows," warned Dan. “The polle* watch Luders carefully; he’s consldered dangerous. It’s thè qulet oncs, who are klnd to thelr families and ratse cabbages, that aro thè most violent.” “Oh, Luders savs we’ve gotto smash everythlng! He rather favors sodalism himself, but he wanta to tear down thè courthousea first and begln agaln.” “You'd better be. careful or you’ll land In jall, Mr. Thatcher,” remarked Marlan, taking an olive. “Oh, ifanythlng aa lnterestlng as that should happen to me. I should certalnly die of joy!” “But your faniily wouldn’t like lt lf 3-ou went to jall.” persisted Marlan. dellghtlng In thè confldences of a young gentleman for whom Jaila had no terrora. “The thought of my famlly ls dlstttrblng, lt'a posltlvely dlsturblng,” Alien repìied. "Luders has glven me a chance In hls shop, and really expects me to work. Surprislng In an anarchlst; you'd rather expect hlm to presa a stick of dinamite In j’our hand and teli you to go out and blow tip a bank. Luders has a sense of humor, you know; hence thè antlques, Iliade to coax money from thè purses of thè fat rlch. There are more ways tban one of belng a cut-purse.” The lobster had been consumed, and they were almost alone In thè restaurant. Marian. wlth her elbows on thè tabìe, was In no haste to leave, but Dan c&ught'the eye of thè hovering walter and pald thè check. “You shouldn’t have dono that.” Marlan protested: “lt was my party. I eign my own checks here.” But having now asserted himself, Dan rose, and in a moment he and Alien had bldden her good-nlght at thè eleva tor door. “You dldn’t seem erazy atout your lobster, and you were hardly more than polite to our hostess. Sorry to have butted In. But why have you kept these tender recreatlons from me!” “Oh, that chlld vexes my splrlt eometlmes. She’s bent on maklng people do things they don't want to do, of courae thè lobster was a mere cxcuse for gettlng acquainted wlth you; but you needn’t be too set un about lt: I think her curiosity about your famlly ls responslble,—these fake newspaper stories about j'our slster —whlch ls lt, Hermione or Cwendolen—who ls always about to marry a count. Countesses haven't been common In Indiana. We need a few to add tone to thè locai gossip." "Oh." murmured Alien dejectedly: “I’m sorry lf you dldn’t want me In

thè party. It's always thè way with me. Nobody ever really loves me for myself alone. tVhat does thè adoratole do besldes mldnight lobsters? I thought Aunt Sally sald sha was at Miss 'Waring’s schooL” "She ls. more or lesa,” growled Dan. "Her mother wants to put her through college, to please thè wealthy great-aunt. She's aa little adapted to a course In college aa one of those bright goddesses who used to adorn lympus.” “She doesn't strike me as needing education; she’s a flnlshed product. I felt very young in thè divine presence.” “She gives one that feeling,” laugbed Dan, his mood of impatience dissoiving. "But where’s Morton Bassett in all thls? He’s rather more than a shadow on thè screen?” “Sanie old story of thè absorbed American father and thè mother with nerve*." Two afternoons later, as Harwood mas Crossing University Park on his my to his boarding house, he stopped short and stared. A little ahead of hlm in thè walk strolled a girl and a young man, laughing and talking m-ith thè gres test animation. The re was no questionine their identity. It mas 5 o’clock and quite dark, and -thè air ni sharp. Harmood paused and maited for thè tmo loiterers to cross thè lighted space about thè little park’s centrai fountaJn. It seemed lncredltable that Marian and Alien ahould be abroad together In thls dally*ng fashion. The young people were hittlng it off monderfully, and Marian's laughter rang out clearly upon thè rnlnter air. Her tali, eupple figure, her head capped mith a fur toque, and more than all. thè lndubltable evidence that such a clandestine etroll as this gare her thè keenest delight, drove homi to Harwood thè realization that Marian mas no longer a child. but a young moman, obstinately beni upon ber own way. Alien mas an 111-dis-ciplined, emotlonal boy, mhóse susceptibilities in thè matter of girla Dan had already noted. The combination had its dangers and his anger rose as he followed them at a safe distance. They prolonged their walk for half an hour, coming at last to thè TVhitcomb. Harwood waylald Alien in thè hotel offìpe a moment aster aster Marian had sonato her room. The young fellow” s cherks were unwontedly bright from thè cold or from thè exdtement of his encounter. "Halloa! I was golng to look you up and ask you to bare dlnner with me.” "You were looklng for me in a likely place," replied Harwood coldly. "See hera, Alien. I’ve been iaboring ondar thè deluslon that you were a gentleman.” "Ohi Have me come to that?" "Out with lt; Just how dld you menage it?” "I’m sorry, old man," Alien anawered, “but I ean't teli you anything about lt. I don't see that my crime le so helous, Sbe has been eooped up in thè hotel all day with her lek mother, end a short walk—it wìoé only a few blooks— oouldn’t bave èpne her anj\h*na. X think

you're maklng too touch of it." "You were dallylng there in thè park, in a way to attract attention, wlth a headstrong, silly girl that you ought to have protected from that sort of thing. You know better than that.” Alien, enfolded In • hls long ulster, shuffled hls feet on thè tiling llke a schoolboy In dlsgrace. Deep down in his heart, Harwood did not believe that Alien had proposed thè walk to Marian; lt was far likelier that Marion had sought thè meeting by note or telephone. He tumed upon' Alien wlth a slight relaxation of hls sternness. “You dldn’t wrlte her a note or telephone her —you dldn’t do tither, dld you?" Alien, silent and dejected, dropped his gloves and picked thera up, thè color deepning in hls cheeks. “I just happened to meet her; tbat’s all,” he said, avolding Dan’s eyes. "She wrote you a note or telephoned you?” Silence, "Humph,” grunted Harwood. “She’s wonderfully beautiful and strong and so tremendously vividi lj think those nice glrls you read of In : thè Greek mythology must havo been ■ like that,” murmured Alien, sighing ; heavlly. “I dare say they were!’ snapped Harwood, searching thè youngster’s thin, sensitive face, and meeting for ! an instant his dreamy eyes. Re was I touched anew by thè pathos In thè, boy, whose nature was a light web of finespun golden eords thrilling to any | breath of fancy. The superb health, thè dash and daring of a schoolgirl that he had seen but once or twice, had sent him climbing upon a frali ladder of romantlo dreams At thè flrat opportunity Dan suggested to Bassett, without mentionlng Marlan’s adventure wlth Alien, that thè Whitcomb was no place for her; whereupon Bassett sent her back immediately to Miss TVaring's.

CHAPTER XIV Andrew Kelton died suddenly, near thè end of May, In Sylvia's senior year at college. The end carne unexpectededly, of heart trouble. Harwood read of lt 'in thè mornlng newspaper, and soon aster he reached his office Mrs. Owen called him on thè telephone to say that she was going to Montgomery at once, and asklng hlm to meet Sylvia as she p&ssed through Indianapolis oc her way home. Both of thè mornlng papers prlnted lauda tory artlcles on Kelton: he had been held In high esteem by all thè frlends of Madison College, and hls name was known to educators throughout thè country. On thè same aftemoon Bassett &p- - town on thè heels of a letter saj'lng that Dan need not expect him until thè following week. "Thought I’d better sre Fitch about some receiver business, so I carne down a little ahead of tlme. W'hat’s new?” “Mrs. Owen telephoned me thls mornlng of Professor Kelton’s death. You probably read of it in today’s papera. Mrs. Owen ls an old friend of hls, and went to Montgomery on thè noon train. She asked me to meet thè professori granddaughter. Miss Garrlson, when she cornea through here In thè mornlng on her way home. I know her slightly. and I think I’d better go over to Montgomery wlth her. lf you don’t mlnd.” “Yes, certalnly; I was sorry to read of Kelton’s death. Mrs. Owen wlll feci !t deeply. It’s a blow to these old people when one of them drop 3 out of thè ranks. I’m glad thè ’Courier’ prlnted that capitai sketch of hlm; much better than thè ’Adver tiser's’ TVhlle I think of lt, I wish you would teli Atwlll that I llke thè idea of saylng a word editorlally for these old cltizens as they leave us. It gives thè paper tone, and I llke to show apprecaltlon of fine characters like Kelton." Bassett had turned round wlth a let ter in his hand. He unfolded lt slowly and went on, scanning lt as he talked. ‘Y'm sorry I never knew Ivelton. They say he was a very able mathe matician and astronomer. lt's rather remarkable that we should have kept hlm In Indiana. I suppose you may have seen him at Mrs. Owen’s; they had a common tle In thelr Kentucky connectlona. I guess there's no tle qulte llke thè Kentucky unless lt’s thè Virglnlan.” He seemed absorbed In thè letter—one of a number he had taken from his bag; then he glanced up as though waltlng for Dan’s reply. "No, I never saw hlm at Mrs. Owen's; but I did meet hlm once in Montgomery. He was a fine old gentleman. You would hardly lmagine hlm ever to have been a naval offìcer; he was qulte thè elderly, spectacled professor in hls hearing and manner.” “I suppose even a man bred to thè pea loses thè look of a sailor lf he llves inland long enough," Bassett observed. I think my brief interview wlth hlm rather Indlcated that he had been a man of action—thè old discipline of thè ship may havo been In that,” remai ked Harwood. Then, fearing that he mlght be laying himself open to questions that he should have to avoli answering, he said: "Kelton wrote a geod deal on a|fronoirical subjects, and his textbooks have heen popular Sylvia Garrison, thè granddaughter, la something of a wonder herself.” “You’d better go to Montgomery wlth Miss Garrlson and report to Mrs. Owen for any Service and may render her. Does thè old gentleman’s death leave thè girl alone?” “Qulte so, I think. She had lived wlth hlm nearly all her llfe. The papera mentloned no other near Telati ves.” "IH be in town a day or two. You do what you can over there for Mrs. Owen.” That evenlng, returnlng to thè office to cleax off his desk in preparation for hls absence thè next day. Dan sound Bassett there. Thls was unueual; Bassett rarely vlsited thè office at night. He had evldently been deeply occupied wlth hls thoughts, fot when Dan entered he was sittlng before hia closed desk wlth his hat on. He nodded, and a few fnoments later passed through thè library on hls way out. “Suppose I wont ee you tomorrow. Vtà, Ila going to be to own a few

DOINGS OF THE DUFFS—

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f s “ , f MOf ME FOR WEn\ / KEEP VORE EVE On /HEY CHUCK.'AINCMU) ( YMm'PODCHN' UffS) l YHlò MAWSE.CAUSE / \ CrOIN’ ~TO WAIT AMy ) GROUND HE’S r )ME OFFEN Y?\ES To V [ SEE YIAE MIGM y / gonna BUST ( Gi'f INÌtD'TR' SADDLE \ > DIVE? J AK’l DONTY \% \FUSSELF AN IF VU GRAB ) A WOULD BE w brqnk buster, jr.ffw,

THEM DAYS IS GONE FOREYER—

| A FORTUfQe (S UlrmiM VOUlt fUIS OtL-STOCK IS A. I US6D TO 8E AM GaSY- TMCH DAfS IX ; GRASP—PO/OT MCSITAW A "BARGA-lM IF YOU BOY IT MARK—A SUCKER, I GONC FORLEWErL ?

• tflH- I(Sj) —\ I NO A Aron SAY \ Wou OTE.Y I l u W SOODMAN- VE EV inPAM H OUfò /- aZAy? how do 1 KNOW { NOT KinOjJy VawFUU /\hei.P^ HXA BKKVK OTEY WALKER LOST his BAD<3E THE OTHER À HIOHT WHILE CH/VSW<g BoYS, AND TODAY HE l HAD TROUBLE ARREST7NQ A COUPLE TRAMPS FOR LOfTERiNfy. y

days. Take your tlme.” Dan Harwood never doubted that he loved Sally Owen alter that dark day of Sylvia’s home-coming. From thè timo Sylvia stepped from thè train till thè moment when, late that same afternoon. Just as thè shadows were gatherin*, Andrew Kelton was burled wlth academlo and mlllt&ry honors beflttln* hls twofold achlevcments.

OUT OUR WAY—By WILLIAMS

THE OLD HOME TOWN—By STANLEY

Harwood called on Mrs, Owen at thè cottage In Buckeye Lane that evenlng. She carne down from Sylvia’s room and met hlm in thè little library, whioh he sound unchanged from thè day of hls vlsit Ave years before. "That little girl ls a hero,” she be’gan. “I guess she’s about thè lonesomeet girl In thè world tonight. Andrew Kslton was a man and a good

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Fini Tliis On Your Flute

one. He hadn’t been well for years, thè doctor tells me; trouble wlth hls heart, but he kept it to himself; dldn’t want to worry thè girl. Too bad thè commencement’s all spoilod for her.” "Yes; she won’t hatle much heart for lt; but she must get her degree.” “She’U need a rest aster thls. ITI go back wlth her, and then I'm going to take her up to Waupegan wlth me

Why Children Get Toys

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for thè summer. There are some thlngß to settle about her, and I’m glad you stayed. Andrew owned thls house, but I shouldn’t thln 1 -. Sylvia would want to keep lt; houses In a town llke thls are a nulsance lf you don’t live where you can watch thè tenants,” she went on, her piactloal mlnd assertlng ltself. “I suppose-—” began and then

FRECKLES AND HIS FREENDS —By BLOSSER

OUR BOARDING HOUSE—By AHERN

hesltated. It gave hlm a curio us feeling to be talking of Sylvia’s affairs In thls way. “Go on, Daniel,” —thls marked & departure; she had never called hlm by hls first name before. "I’m closer to that girl than anybody, and I’m glad to talk to you about her affaira.” “I suppose there wlll be something Dos her; she'* not throwa on hes wa,

DEC. 7, 1922

—By ALLMAN

—By AL POSEN

resources?” "’I guess he dldn’t make any wiH. but what he left ls Syivia’s. He had a brother in Los Angeles, who died ten years ago. He was a rich man, and left a big fortuna to his childfen. If there’s no wlll there’ll have to b an adminlstrator. Sylvia’s of age and she won’t need a guardian.” (To Be Contiaued)