Indianapolis Times, Volume 48, Number 22, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 April 1936 — Page 17

APRIL 6, im _

Daily Short Story HER FIANCE m m m bom By Jan Johnson

£ v ‘ ***'***£■.

O YLVIA fell In love with Jerry j Peterson a. year before he became aware of her except as a subdued, mothlike presence in the bizarre apartment that was a suit- j able frame for Maida Arnold’s I exotic beauty. The actress had introduced them casually; “Jerry, this is Miss March, my indispensable secretary. She relieves me of so many unpleasant duties.” Her subtle way of boasting that I she need not consider a pretty j blond. 15 years her junior, as a ! possible rival. In fact, she made a point of having Sylvia present at her cocktail parties. Apparently it, amused her to flaunt her power in the face of youth. Sylvia knew this and did not care much until the attractive young playwright was presented to her. But, met with Jerry Peterson’s polite, empty gaze, a smoldering resentment, of five years’ standing flamed up in her. Had she indeed become a colorless nonentity no man would look at twice? What had become of the telf-confidence she’d once possessed? Why, in Maida Arnold’s atmosphere, did she permit herself to fe' nothered, defeated? Tt. sickened her to recall ...,w her earlier ambitions had been gradually and effectively stamped out by this woman. Five years before, she had come to Maida Arnold with! such high hopes of being chosen an ; ingenue in one of the popular star's j productions. But the actress, after convincing her that she lacked sufficient experience, had softened the blow by offering her a secretarial job, until something better turned up. A small part, say. But that part had not materialized. And here she had stuck for security’s sake. a a a she no longer had any illusions about her employer. What, she wondered, was to be Jerry Peterson's fate? At that time, Sylvia did not know i the reason for the black depression that swamped her after their first meeting. Did not realize she’d fallen hopelessly in love with the quicksilver young man. Asa result, she very nearly consented to marry her one and only! faithful suitor the following day. Now Cole Gerard had loved her before she graduated from dramatic school. So years of patient waiting made it simple for him to know at a glance when something was troubling her. "Why won't you marry me, Sylvia?” he pleaded, his kindly lace eager. ”1 may not be an exciting fellow, but I think I could make you happier than you are now.” Cole was dear, but it would be unfair to use him for a safety curtain when she could not return his love in kind. a a a In the days that followed, Sylvia saw the old cat-and-mouse game enacted between Maida Arnold and her new young man. As her flare of Interest in Jerry Peterson waned, she wantonly broke engagements with him. She practically yawned in his face. And when he raged that he wouldn’t enudre such treatment, she would laugh amusedly. The hours they spent together, discussing and rewriting that play, deepened a chord of intimacy between Sylvia and Jerry. The girl's warm sympathy had a tonic effect upon the discouraged young man. “You're swell.” he told her one day. "Maida pever listens when I talk to her. You make me feel, well, interesting.” It was not long before he was noticing that her fair hair turned golden under a light, that her eyes were deeply blue, and her mouth, when she was not talking, had a tender appeal. It was not long before he was kissing tha; mouth, and discovering the yielding softness of her, M MB NEXT day, they were wondering how to break the news to Maida. For, they both agreed, she must be told some time that they were in love. But, as days passed, and Jerry said nothing, it became evident to Sylvia that he was content to postpone a showdown until his play was read. When she reproached him for his delay, he took her in his arms and kissed away her tears. "Sweetheart, you know I love you,” he protested. “It’s just that I dread antagonizing Maida at this time. I doubt if she cares a hoot about me. but she’s used to having me around— ** "Yes. as a convenient errand boy,” Sylvia broke in hotly. "As someone to show off when she wants a good looking man by her side. But what consideration do you owe her? Has she kept her word and used her influence to get one of your plays produced?” He reddened. “I guess I’ve still got a lot to learn.” She wanted to shake him! “Oh, Jerry, your stuff is brilliant!" she insisted. "But you’ll never come through until you pull away from Maida. Don't you know by now that she doesnt want any one around her to be successful? She wants the whole spotlight wherever she goes.” • , HE looked uncomfortable “Well. you can’t blame her when you know how hard she fought for her success.” That, Sylvia knew, was one of

Maida’s firelight hour stories for the i press. She also knew of two elderly j and very wealthy hasbands who had ; assisted the actress in her climb to stardom. But not being a spiteful person she merely said, “Don’t worry about telling her of our plans. I’ll do the talking. I want to. It will do me good.” When he had gone, she judilantly rehearsed what she would say to Maida Arnold. Her declaration of freedom, it would be Jerry’s too. This, she promised herself, would be her last day of servitude. No j more orders. No more letters. Maida Arnold swept m at five, j imperious and glowing in garnet: velvet and silver fox. There was no 1 gray in her sleek black hair. No visible heaviness in her figure. And,! so far, expensive beauticians had i erased lines from about her eyes and mouth. “Sylvia, can’t you do something to put this room in order!” she j cried petulantly. “My attorney will j be here for tea. And Jerry, of! course.” That casual “of course” infuriated Sylvia, but before she could utter a word, the bedroom door had slammed. W§ll, no matter, Maida wouldn’t listen while she was playing her arrogant, Catherine-the-Greatrole. Velvet and furs had that effect upon her. a a a A HALF-HOUR later Maida Arnold reappeared in a rose chiffon tea gown. Her soft, womanly pose Sylvia observed with a dart of jealous fear. “Tell her at once!” she prompted herself. "Tell her before you lose your nerve.” Sylvia could scarcely breathe, she was so excited. Something was wrong with her throat. Her vocal chords seemed paralyzed. With an effort she managed to jerk out, “I’m going . . . I’m leaving for good.” The woman sat up and fixed shrewd eyes upon the girl’s flushed face. “You're not serious!” She spoke sharply. Again Sylvia felt the other's strong will beating her down, deriding her efforts to escape. She said desperately, “I’m in love. You must have noticed! . . . We’re going to marry. You can’t stop us!” Briefly a look of malicious cunning swept over Maida Arnold’s mobile features. Then she exclaimed, “My dear, I’m so happy for you! You’re a romantic and need a reliable husband. I've always thought that nice Cole somebody-or-other was just the man for you. But, Heavens, you’ve kept the poor man dangling so long ” a a a SEVERAL times Sylvia tried frantically to interrupt,.but she was drowned out by the rich organ tones of that practiced voice. Dumbly, like one in the throes of a nightmare, she heard herself being congratulated, the virtues of the wrong man extolled. And while she was struggling to regain her lost self-possession, Jerry came in, looking slightly bewildered. He was followed by a small, grayhaired man who bore a brief case. Edwin Sperry, the attorney. Maida got up swiftly and went to Jerry, linked her arm through his and rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. "Darling,” she trilled, "Sylvia's just finished telling me she intends to marry that broker swain of hers. Don’t you think we should make this a mutual celebration? In case Mr. Sparry hasn’t told you my plans—l’m sailing for England in two days and want you to come with me. He's brought the deed of that Surrey estate with him. I’m signing it over to you—as a wedding present. Such a charming place. Ideal for a | writer ...” As the mellow voice flowed on, promising him success in London, Sylvia would have cried. "Don’t believe her! Can’t you see this is a clever trick to bind you hand and foot!” but she was amazed to see the change that had come over Jerry. A covetous gleam was wipmg the questioning look from the dark eyes he had turned to her upon entering the room. He could no longer meet her imploring gaze. He was listening avidly to Maida; weighing, no doubt, the material advantages of marriage to this influential woman against his feeling for a girl who had only faith and love to offer. a a a SICK with disillusion, Sylvia at last saw through the handsome mask of his face into a shallow heart and greedy soul. How could she have been so deceived by appearances! Why. this vacillating youth wasn’t half the man Cole was! Jerry was just a well-mannered sham. His love was a sham. She had been living in a make-believe world too long. It was time she shook off the thralldom of It. She felt that a tightly wound spring had been released in her as she walked steadily to the door. There seemed to be wings on her feet. "Where are you foing?” Maida Arnold called after her. Sylvia turned and for a moment looked straight into Jerry Peterson's shamed eyes, her own very I clear and bright. "I'm going to meet my fiance.” she replied, a ringing note of pride in her tone. THE END.

OUR BOARDING HOUSE

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FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS—

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W ASHINGTON TUBBS II

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ALLEY OOP

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BOOTS AND HER BUDDIES

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THE TARZAN TWINS

Dick and Doc took turn about snatching short naps, for they decided that one of them must be constantly alert during the long jungle night. They were safe from marauding lions, but there were other savage beasts, such as panthers, which could climb the tree.

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. THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES .

Morning came at last with its welcome, Inspiring light. Ukundo urged them to descend and continue their flight. "Must go hurry!” the pygmy exclaimed; "pretty soon Galla Galla come with many warriors. They catch us, and this time finish us for sure!” . ..

With Major Hoople

OUT OUR WAY

/ SWE UES AROUND \ J CANT EYPIAIN \ | BUT I CAN \ > / TLt' HOUSE IN SHORTS-1 IT, BUT THEY J EXPLAIN IT—A, [ EVEN OUTSIDE IN‘EM-J ARE/VOUGO ]-/- SLAPE LIKE. EXPLAIN TO ME WHY J UPSTAIRS AND /AND NOU THAT SHOULD ,| \ THESE ACE ANV —/ WAIT, WHILE I// KEEP OUT NEVER BE SEEN H )|i \ different than 1 y fix these / of this, in anything but ;),! N-i SHORTS J \ PANTS - J l BAOC J. V AN OVERCOAT J J 1 ■ t”. W 1 tfN j (u. \ i ssa MOTHERS 65T OCAV ,

WASH AND EASY SWOOP DOWN ON MAGLEvi/s] fl' RECKON, MA'AA, THE CITIZENS OWE YOt_f / stolen goods. l dump tm intu g-men couldn’t of h'Rav fam T WITH ALL THE REST OVr '—. DONE BETTER J f ) — ~~— |■ LF lIMIV Nri

r ' "~~7 "N / \ e) OH, OH * HERE COMES THAT THEY CALLED MY BLUFF ! ! V. DANGED DINOSAUR AGAIN/ . 01/AY-1 WARNED ’EM- MOW, f WELL, !SNO MORE'N I / HERES WHERE IDO MY (|r Ip BY .T, SMVICC. INC. T. M. S. PAT. OF,. O-L .iV" ** A 'l.y V_ / \ 1/u,LL . 17 ,

TH\S OLD <bW\M <oO\T T THERE'. NOWAF L A\NT (_ I STEPHENOH. LOO* FOUND THE ‘bHfXCY. . COCY-EYEO HY , S\T l < OUGHT TO AKSYTH\N6- P\GGER\Ki .THAT OU6HTTA \7^— r , i BE TH' SAKiO 9\LE il i THES3ES ‘““I LOOWVNi’ EEQ. r 1 } SOMEONE RVGHT OOVNitN THEQE DOWN THERE - WMM6 TO BY NC SCRVICt. INC. T. M. RCC. U. . RY QTF j

. . . Though the Tarzan Twins were thinking solely of eyading a pursuing fate, the intrepid Tarzan was hurling anew challenge into the very teeth of death. With seeming recklessness he was leading his warrior apes in a desperate attack on Gudah, the mad elephant.

—By Edgar Rice Burroughs

To distract Gudah’s attention that Tantor, the friendly elephant, might strike a mortal blow, Tarzan leaped to Gudah’s back. What was more, the valiant ape-man crept slowly toward Gudah’* head, as if inviting the demoniac beast to seize him in that mighty trunk.

COMIC PAG*

—By Williams

—By Blosser

—By Crane

—By Hamlin

—By Martin