Indianapolis Times, Volume 48, Number 9, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 March 1936 Edition 02 — Page 15

MARCH 21,1936-

Today'a Short Story THE PRETENDERS By Helen Fusele

THE phone rant? three times before Alice could rub the sleep away from her eyes and gather strength enough to rouse herself from her cozy bed. Fred, her husband, shouted above the noise of the spray from the bathroom: “Answer that, will you, dear?”

“Why, Bill Trevers!” Alice exclaimed, fully awake with the recognition of Bill's voice over the phone. “Where are you and when did you arrive? Wonder you wouldn't let us know beforehand, you old rascal you.” She called tc Fred, who poked his wet head out the crack of the bathrodhn door; “It'3 Bill Trevers.” ‘‘Tell him to meet me for lunch at the Blake—Gee! Old Bill in town actually, after all these years —the Blake at one sharp. Tell him I'm all wet or I'd come to the phone.” Alicp hung up the receiver and danced a merry pattern across the bedroom floor. “He’s coming up tonight, too. for dinner and says he's all set for a blowout— wants to see the town and do things. Says to drag out our best bib and tucker and prepare for fun!” Alice called with glee. a a a ii n ANT we find a girl for him? More fun with a foursome Besides, we ought to see to it that Bill gets tied up—he's too dangerous unleashed like this,” she added. Fred, strolling into the room scrambling into his vest, grinned broadly. The little matchmaker at It again?’ he questioned goodnaturedly, ‘‘but you never could make any dent on Bill. He's just another of those stubborn bachelors. Just think, we haven’t seen Bill since we were married. I always thought he was kind of sweet on you once, but too loyal a chap to break in on his best, friend." “Nonsense,” commented Alice “why we were all just pals together —but I’ve got to fir and a girl for him tonight and I belit * I know just the one, too.” ana THE Harlows had been married for five years, but the honeymoon had never ended. Their friends joked with them, saying that their devotion was a pose—that no two people could live so peacefully and blissfully together without one single scrap—that it couldn’t be done. But it was done, for Fred and Alice were not posing. They were really married in the true sense of the word. They did not tread on each other’s privacy; they practiced courtesy and consideration toward each other; they respected each other's wishes and curbed their selfishness. In fact they were in love and-five years had not rubbed the bright luster from their romance. “Well—who's the chosen/ one to be?" Fred asked finally. “Nan Pierson,” answered Alice, “she’s just the one I’ve decided. She never gets much of a chance to have any fun. She’s stuck up there—” “Who's she? I don’t remember any one by that name,” interrupted Fred. a a a “QHE lives up at the top of this building, in one of those tiny roof apartments they have turned over to business women. She has done some sewing for me since she lost her fine job as a designer down town, and she has been frightfully up against it. She makes beautiful things—tha f f s, for other people—poor dear, sn ’ver takes any time to make pretty things ior herself. I’ll see her after breakfast and get her to join us.” “Anything you say is ah right with me,” Fred agreed. “Gee! It will be great to have a reunion with Bill again. I* he*v he has made a stack of coin .since we last saw him, lucky devil!” Six o'clock seemed determined never to roll around to Alice. After breathless confidences with Nan Pierson and the scurrying about to sort out her most becoming costume. the excitement of arraying Nan in some of Alice's finery, she glanced at the clock, certain that the hands had stopped. But at last she heard a familiar key fumbling at the door and a cheery voice call, “Where is she—that girl of yours, Fred?” a a a A LICE fairly ran to meet them In -'*• the hallway. Bill lifted her in his strong arms until her lips met his. “Oh. you two kids! Am I glad to be with you again?” Bill Trevers exclaimed, swinging her around lii:e a small child. His great body seemed to fill the entire hallway and his breezy, wholesome Western spirit, bubbled with good nature and prosperity. Questions and answers were batted back and forth between the three for a space of an hour when the bell buzzed timidly. “Oh, that’s Nan —the girl for you tonight, Fred,” Alice called over her shoulder as she hurried to the door. A tall, slim, dark-eyed girl trailed Alice into the living room. Fred’s first glimpse of her registered pleasantly—she’s a knockout, he thought swiftly. Bill Trevers closed his large hand over a slender one and smiled cordially Into dark, questioning eyes as he said. “Any friend of Alice's is bound to be perfect in my sight.” nan AND Nan was a thing of perfection as far as looks was concerned, but her heart was a bit heavy with the deception she had been persuaded to use in arraying herself in Alice's lovely evening coat with the deep ermine collar—it gave her a sense of uneasiness to parade all this luxury so falsely as her own, but Alice had insisted, and the temptation had proved too great * for her. It was a gala evening for all. The dinner was a feast of joy. and Bill and Nan found that they danced in perfect unison. “They make a handsome couple,” Fred commented to Alice watching them as they passed their table. “Where did you say you knew her? You never brought her home before. Seems like a sensible kind, too.” “She's really a grand person." said Alice. “It’s a shame for a girl like that to be drudging along trying to make a living when she should be protected by some man like Bill. I hope that he will like her.” a a a BILL evidently did. for he arranged for another foursome the next night and the next and the next. And each night Nau ap-

peared adorned with some new, becoming gown or cloak from Alice's wardrobe. She did not flinch from the deception when she detected warmth in Trever s eyes which lighted especially when he appraised her entrance. Bill delayed his stay from two weeks to j three and from three to four, with a final decision to make it rather indefinite about returning home i until he had had his fill of New i York. Then, one night, Alice not'ced signs of silence rather unusual in Bill. She mistook it for definite signals of a dawning love and her matchmaking heart glowed that she had been successful. She decided to sound him out. “Why haven't you ever married. Bill?” she asked suddenly. “Me? Marry?” he questioned. “Yes, why not? Aren’t Fred and I pretty good examples of how two people can make a go of marriage?” i she asked. * • * * BILLXTREVERS laughed happily: “You are wonderful, you two—but I guess I’m not lucky. You see, I never mot any one I cared enough for to marry. There is always something wrong. I’ve got pretty definite notions and when I find the girl who tabs in with those notions and she likes me, too, then perhaps I’ll tumble like the rest.” He paused and gazed into the fire contemplatively. “What's the matter with Nan Pierson?” Alice questioned and waited anxiously for his answer. By the way. why isn’t she showing up for a game oi bridge—it must be nearly fl.” “Oh, Nan!” Bill said the name with a touch of affection in his voice. “She’s a great girl. Lots of common sense—gooc’ level head—but ” “But, what?” asked Alice, rest- | lessly. ana \ “TT7"ELL—she's got too much W money. She doesn’t need me. I want to marry someone who isbroke. Someone for whom I can buy pretty things, and give her the thrill of her life doing it. Some one who hasn’t anything—in other words, someone who needs just me to take care of her. Nan—well— Nan comes pretty nigh to filling the bill, but she's too well fixed in life. She’s got everything. Look at all those grand clothes she wears—she looks wonderful in them—but she’s efficient enough in herself to provide them—l want to do that job. I can afford to make some woman mighty happy, and I’m going to hold out until I find that woman.” “Oh!” Alice exclaimed. “Oh, you don’t understand.” But she could not suddenly burst her information of Nan’s struggle and almost poverty upon Bill without time to think things over. She w*anted to rush upstairs to Nan's shabby apartment and tell to discard her disguise and tell the truth to Bill. In her wild enthusiasm to show up Nan at her best to Bill she had failed in the very thing she was j after. What a. fool she had been : not to understand that simple, 1 kind-hearted, magnanimous Bill i better than that. Why had she not j been honest with him in the first j place as Fred had advised? a a a THE telephone tinkled Alice rose to answer it. “Oh, Nan, it’s you! We were wondering what kept you—why Nan, you're crying—you are, I know it— I’ll be right up.” Alice turned to Bill. “Why don’t you run upstairs and get Nan?” she asked. “Upstairs? I thought she lived on the other side of town.” "No, and don’t ask any questions. She lives in an apartment at the top of this building. Hurry, now, and I think you’ll make a discovery.” When Bill entered Nan's apartment he didn't see luxurious rooms as he had thought they would be, but just one tiny room, and on the studio couch lay Nan sobbing. “Darling, what is the matter?” he asked as he knelt down by her : and caught her hand in his. ana OH, I’m just tired of pretending. I'm not rich, but poor. Yes. as poor as any girl could be who has lost a good designer’s job and is trying to make ends meet by sewing for other women.” And Nan wiped the tears out of her eyes. “I might just as well tell you the truth, for I have lost you anyhow. These clothes aren’t mine but Alice’s. I can’t go on. I haven’t a cent and I just received notice to pay my rent or leave. I’m licked. It was like being in fairyland and now it is all ended. I know you hate me.” “Who has any right to say that I'd hate you, young lady? If there's going to be any fairyland around I : insist on being the prince. About all I've been so far is a pretty big numbskull.” And Bill's strong arms sheltered Nan's weary shoulders as he leaned forward and kissed away the remaining tears. (THE END) STREET CAR FRANCHISE IS TO BE DISCUSSED Trackless Trolley Temporary Permit ( Expired Yesterday. Terms of a permanent franchise for the Indianapolis Railways trackless trolleys are to be discussed at a meeting of utility and city officials next week. Hubert S. Riley, Works Board president, has said. A temporary* permit providing for 10 per cent of reconstruction and 5 per ‘cent of resurfacing costs on streets where trackless trolleys operate expired yesterday. The board approved the reconstruction and resurfacing of 20th-st from Parker-av to Olney-st at an approximate cost of $30,281 yesterday. The Indiana Railroad is to relocate its track, and Indianapolis Railways is to pay costs as provided under the temporary permit. Property owners are to pay 25 per cent and the city the remainder. Catholics Re-Elect President By United Prrtt SOUTH BEND. Ind.. March 21. Dr. Henry G.' Schumacher, Cleve-1 land, was retained as president of the National Catholic Conference in elections concluding a two-dav meeting yesterday. * ij

Ol)K BOARDING HOUSE

JP E6AI?! GLORIOUS ) WullnJU Jr BEARING GIFTS.THeV'LL 1m ft KIEVVS, MY VET i . 6 UNCLE 3UUUS Jf SPLIT A DOUGHNUT/ AMY J| GLORIOUS NEWS* < HOOPLE'S B CN? ’DA'/, AND GIVE SOU THE ||| )> UNCLE 3ULIUS' )IE Nf/MEMORY* M HOLE, 4 BOV, MICHAEL, HAS / SERVES UP THE AM ( OUST ARRIVED, k RIGHT PISH, THE LAST \ 'EY MOTORTROM y YOU’VE TOLD ME {/Jv/'yX VISITING HOOPLE. y 7 SOUTH AFRICA | / THAT UNCLE VAJASTHE INVENTOR S 3UUUS USES < ( WHO MADE CLOTH OUT -DIAMOND-STUDDED > OE SHAVINGS, AMD T f GOLD BARS TOR DOOR- WTUCkED US INTO "BED \ Jo I l STOPS AND GOVERNMENT ]> UNDER A 'BLANKET I \ BONDS FOR BLOTTERS I / (OF TEN-INCH PLANKS !

FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS—

■ THAT COIN WIM ( IT'S PROBABLY MOM. J I s \ OXJLD TALK, I \ SHE HASN'T BEEN M DID >6U CALL ME, |§| WHAT'S J| SHE'S ABSOLUTELY WORN NO STORIES IT / HEARD % FEELING VERY WELL |g? MOM?ISAY,DID ||| WRONG, OUT, I GUESS -1 SPOKE I' COULD TELL ( SOMEONE LATELY’ I'LL GO J 1 YOU CALL ME r y! NUTTY? W (TO HER, BUT SHE DIDN'T JfWOULD BEAT > CALL IW AND SEE IF / V 'V, ANSWER yTg ¥ A HISTORY V NUTTY!! SHE NEEDS ) ~ I I !*

WASHINGTON TUBBS II

/WELL, I LEARNED /now, DON'T TELLMIN /THE GAMBLERS ARE BACKING RIM. (THE REASON FOR IHE DOES IT TO GIT EVE MCCOY'S THE BRAIN'S — HE’S TRYING TO A PUNKY MAGLEW'S /V_ —MONEY. GET EVEN BECAUSE WE CLOSED UP '

ALLEY OOP

r SO YLET OL GUZ TALK lau’ YOU'DA GOT US INTO 1 foANGED IF ( FOR BUSTIN'A HOLE wHK tSbP'iTH' GR ANh) a REAL SWEET JAM - I CAN SEE JIN TH' WIZER'S cave WIZER OUTA THIS MESS)OH. NO -WHAT KINO OF HOW OUR ( WALL, WE TRADED j EH? HUH' IF YOU’DA _yA SAP OVA THINK I SAVIN' HIM > CAVES TSTOP HIS LEFT IT T'ME, I'DA J AM? SURE WE’RE GONNA WILL FIX / BAWL ! WOWJ'OIT ’IM TOOK A GOOD SOCK \ GIT TH' WI7ER OUT- BUT HIM f OUT, WELL NAFTA DIO AT HIS MAJESTY'S JIN DOIN'SO, WE'LL FIX ; 7 ANY/ J) A HOLE IN THIS’KJ* >

BOOTS AND HER BUDDIES

———————————————————————_iii ——— - 6>&\L\N6 ITI SAILING ~HA HAHA J f NOW THAI HL'S OGT O'? M\SCH\LF, LET TH\S A LESSON TO YOU, 1 MOST TVWNK AE>OOT VA&

THE TARZAN TWINS

With amazement Tarzan saw now the elephant rushing toward him was not a foe, but a friend. By many markings he recognized him as the great fine beast he had known from childhood. This was the elephant he had first called Tantor, which was the ape-name for all elephants.

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THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Many a time as a boy he had ridden on Tantor’s broad back, rocking smoothly along a jungle trail. With a smile he recalled how Tantor often dozed until he tickled the great beast gently behind the ears. How he loved Tantor—and how Tantor had loved the boy!

—By Ahem

——Y WELL,THEY VH f TMEV Y 4-/ WATCH THIS-IT'LL V TPS A JOB TO GIMME TMAT H —■ GIMME -j- PROVE PEOPLE MAKE EVERYBOCV RAI’SE, AT -Lj. MINE, _L DONT WANT TO BE HAPPY -'THEY'VE _ LASTr ITS i_L TOO- I EQUAL—THAT CHEAPENED TiHAT ABOUT TIME- J I JUST i. BIG GUV'LL NEVER RAISE BYGIVIN'TLI' IBSEN J_J HIT'EM -+ BE HAPPY WITH OTHER GUV ONE, TOO mr=r- 1-M A'H'EP EM i_ LAST —r THAT RAISE NOW, AND MADE IT WOCSE - \ PER NEARLY }, \ WEEK /- 4- KNOW IN' TUAT 0V ONE GETTiN' IT a YEAR oK DUMB LOOKIN'GUV WITH LESS EFFORT J „ ! \ cor ONE TOO- \ AND MUCH 500WE5 €>im tv wc stuvict. we. f. m bec. u. s PAT Off. THE HAPPY PAMILV S~2J

THEN WITH A &I& J FOCTZV -YOU'RE fI GUESS MEBBE I WA“3 WRONG, ) HOLE IN TH IS CAVE, ) A WON DEC / SUSPECTIN’ TH' BOYS THIS TIME -) ! TOO, HE WONT HAVE ) I NEVER IT LOOKS AS IF THEIR METHOD \ p h NOTHIN'ON ME /"wOULDA THOUGHT OF GITTIN' TH' WIZER OUTA rA LJ. >OU - THAT CAV£ IS TH^’ ONLYr^^g^^rag^ IhC. T.^ 2l

TUE. FIRST THING VVtLL OO.Nf V\E GETS \T V\E SHOULD BUT o* THE. CV\ANCE , W\Ll EE TO GET IN HE VOON’T l I’LL ' i raNOi* MW \g) 1936 BY wea service, iwc. t. m. rec. u. 1. pat| TQOUELEYOU’O THINK SHEu EE SAXISEiEO

SFv. rmi 'iJk Jii,, IHHfou Irf ,I| i 1 ■’ q-?a

In eager welcome he called out “Tantor! Tantor!” and the big elephant trumpeted a happy reply. The Jungle Lord knew now that his old friend was coming to aid him, but he could hardly reconcile this swift, agile beast with the gentle, sleepy Tantor of his ycuth.

OUT OUR WAY

FIRST, I, WROTE /SECOND, THERE ARE FINGERPRINTS O'TWO O’mAGLEW'S HOTEL ON HIS WRECK OF A ON THIS BOTTLE I PICKED UP IN HIS OFFICE, LAST BUT NOT IY P AND _FOUND LEAST, SNAKE-EYE PRACTIC'LY ADMITS THE ' THAT IT'S THE SAME CONNECTION. HE AGREES TO STOP MAGIEWS \ T%?e"Llrrl D MA S& —l WAVE IF VOCJIL O.K. T )* SENT TO THE

—Bv Edgar Rice Burroughs

But mad Gudah saw and heard the <m-rushing Tantor and knew him for a foe. With the sure instinct of the cornered beast, he determined to destroy his nearest foes before engaging the elephant. And the most dangerous of these was the hairless thing which was both man and ape!

COMIC PAOt

—By Williams

—By Blosser

—By Crane

—By Hamlin

—By Martin