Indianapolis Times, Volume 48, Number 65, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 May 1936 — Page 21

MAY 2G,

Today's Short Story VULNERABLE By Maria de Nervand

THE train pulled into the Grand ■ rr Central, stopping with a Jerk r that Jostled the cards on the irnprovised bridge table resting on the ✓. knees of an absorbed quartet of the four cast an amazed glance through the window' at the Crowds W filing past,. The small gray eyes f In his sharp face shifted back to /'A aßßK'vjt 511 the car w hich was now almost de- j

stop. Just, when we had you vulnerable, too!” ‘‘We’ll keep the same score and co on from hrrp tonight,” one of the others volunteered, picking up the cards. ‘ We’re not. afraid of being vulnerable, eh Hugh?” ‘‘Sure we're not,!” it tt tt IN the hurry of reaching for hats and coats no one noticed the forced quality to Hugh Rolland’s hearty rejoinder, or that his ready attractive smile stopped short of his eyes. “Luck’s got to change some time." he added. Vulnerable! The word beat on his brain to the rhythm of his footsteps as he walked down the platform. Drake was up to his usual tricks of getting them vulnerable, and then using all his uncanny skill to set them! “Crazy word to use in a game; vulnerable!” Hugh thought impatiently. “Vulnerable, vulnerable, vulnerable,” the subway sang noisily as he swayed at the strap. “Vulnerable” hummed the elevator, sweeping him up to his office. With the mechanical precision of routine, Hugh went through his mail and lined up his work for the day. tt tt “ A RENT you feeling well, Mr. l\. Rolland?” Miss Kent, the boss’ secretary, stopped for a moment, on her way past his desk. “Sure. I'm well!” Hugh hated ihe sound of his laugh. Why was that girl so observant? Was it Showing already in his face? With set lips Hugh turned to his work, but the inner argument that had been torturing him for the last three days went, on; his mind • gainst his conscience. What a fool he was to make such a fuss about nothing at all! He'd be able to put the money hack at the end of the week when lie got his pay! If his bad luck at bridge held, he’d make some excuse about paying Drake and his partner, even if it, was a debt of honor. Debt of honor! Hugh's mouth twisted as his conscience rose to challenge the hackneyed phrase. What business did he have with debts of honor? With Nancy slaving and saving every penny for Junior’s school, he had no right to gamble. Hard as it was to appear a t'-htwad and break away from ine crowd, he'd do it. m ft it THIS business about “breaking even" was all b.mk! Hugh's handsome, rather weak face broke into a smile as the old adage, “Lucky at cards, unlucky In love.” flashed in his mind. He was lucky in love, ail right! Nancy wasn't the nagging kind. She'd much rather not have him play bridge for money, but when he told her Drake had asked him lo make a fourth she'd understood how much he wanted it. Drake was a pretty important fellow and It was a compliment to be singled out by him. Hugh could see Nancy now as she had run her hand through her black curls and smiled. "Boys will be boys, I suppose,” she'd said, “but keep the stakes low. Old Top!” That was the trouble! He hadn't been able to keep them low! And. when Drake had been rather unpleasant about what he owed him last Monday, he’d yielded to the temptation to borrow' his salary in nrivance from the cash drawer and wipe that sneer off the older man’s face. tt n n what the hock!” Hugh gave wan impatient mutter and plunged Into his figuring, with an inner “No sense making a mountain out of a molehill! I won’t do It again, and that’s that!” A hard morning’s work and a good hunch put Hugh in a more cheerful mood. He whistled as he hung up his hat, and nodded genially to Miss Kent on the way to his desk. “Oh, Mr. Rolland!” “Yes?” Hugh paused. “We've Just had word that the accountants are coming over for their monthly checkup this afternoon. They're making it a week earlier because Mr. Jennings is going off on a vacation." The easy, friendly smile on Hugh’s lips froze to a ghastly grin. He could feel the blood beating In his ears and there was a cold, sick feeling at the pit of his stomach. Miss Kent’s expression braced him to a stupendous effort. “No. no; I’m all right.” he put a. c irie her solicitous Inquiry with stiff Ups. “Just jn cold coming on, I guess.” M M M AT last he was at hfs desk, with the realization that he was caught fn a trap. Where, at this last minute, could he raise S4O to replace 4n the drawer? It would look 100 suspicious if he tried to borrow it in the office, even supposing he could. He didn t dare

go out, to try and raise it, because Mr. Jennings might arrive any minute. Ke must be here when he came. Perhaps he could bluff it out! Think of some excuse, some explanation— Never would Hugh forget the torture of that waiting, as he bent over his desk, pretending to work. With pitiless clarity, he saw his act for the weak, stupid thing it was. There wasnt’ any doubt about the way John Brenner would see it! He was a hard man, fanatically scrupulous about money. The capacity of forgiving or forgetting was not in his makeup. Hugh didn’t fool himself about hoping for a second chance with John Brenner for his boss. If he could only pay the price himself. Others had to pay, too. Nancy—Junior—a desperate, halfinarticulate prayer moved Hugh's lips. If he could be saved, just this once, never—never—tt ft tt npHE ring of the telephone at his elbow startled him to a nervous jump. He tried desperately to steady his hand as he took the receiver off the hook. “Hello?” “Mrs. Rolland to see you, Mr. Rolland.” Nancy! Hughs. heart gave a leap. Nancy might have—the absurdity of his hope brought a stifled groan. Nancy with S4O! If she had $4 to spare, she thought herself rich! Hugh straightened and walked out, with head high. Nancy mustn’t know yet—not here “Forgive me for disturbing you, darling!” Nancy's gay apology twisted Hugh’s heart. He was thankful she wasn’t looking at him as he said. “You never disturb me.” “Well, hardly ever!” She was digging into her hand' ag. laughing at its conglomerate contents. “Here it is! You see I can find things in it!” She handed him a square envelope. “Would you mind keeping this and taking it to the bank tomorrow? I got there just too late.” “What where ” ana HUGH was looking with dazed eyes at the bank book he pulled out. Folded inside it were five $lO bills. “That’s Junior’s Christmas money. I meant to bank it long ago, but always forgot. Why, Hugh! What’s the matter?” “Nothing's the matter. I’d forgotten—’’ “Don’t you remember, you gave me half of your check from Uncle Ned for Junior’s school account?” Hugh swept Nancy into his arms and kissed her. “Hugh!” Nancy glanced toward the switchboard with laughing protest as she straightened her hat. Her eye caught the clock, and she snapped her bag shut, “I have to fly or I won’t be back in time to get Junior from school!” Hugh held her for a last word. “It will be all right, won't it. if I don’t get that to the bank before Monday?” M M M rourse! An y time before V/ the first of the month.” She blew him a kiss from the door and disappeared. ‘Hello, Mr. Jennings!” Hugh's voice vibrated with emotion as he nodded to the stoop-shouldered accountant going into the office next to his. In the immensity of his relief he wanted to shout “Hello” to all the world. He had been tottering on the edge of an abyss, and. miraculously, it had disappeared. His prayer had been answered! With reverent hands he laid four of the $lO bills in the drawer, then reached for the telephone. “Hello. Mr. Drake! I’m sorry, but you'll have to get another fourth for bridge on the train. I'm not playing any more—no, not even tonight.” With a strong, confident line to his jaw, and a smile that radiated freedom and thanksgiving. Hugh turned to greet Mr. Jennings. THE END (Copyright, 1956. by Chicago Tribune, N Y. News Syndicate, Inc.) HEADQUARTERS OPENED HERE BY ELZA ROGERS Takes Space in the Claypool; Evans Reopens Office. Elza O. Rogers. Lebanon, attorney and former state chairman of the Republican Farty, today opened campaign headquarters on the eighth floor of the Claypool in his drive for the G. O. P. gubernatorial nomination. Herbert H. Evans. Newcastle state representative, re-opened his Indianapolis headquarters on the same floor.

OUR BOARDING HOUSE

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ITECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS—

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WASHINGTON TUBBS II

r WEV, VOU/ WHERE'S THE ) THERE WASNT N AvHOS SHOCTV? ) MV PARPNER. HE'S THE N J MORMHOKTY ' v CH -VONE WHO HIT OL' MAN PICKET YOU STOLe FROM JEFF 1 FOyND 27 6RAND, OVER THE MAID. MV PART PICKET AN WE SPLIT , l WAS TO DRIVE INTO A FIRE YF — )L, • r — ~ OO^

ALLEY OOP

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BOOTS AND HER BUDDIES

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TARZAN AND THE LEOPARD MEN

“Orando,” Tarzan demanded, “how do your people pay tribute the Leopard Clan if the beastmen do not reveal themselves?” “The most honorable elder in our village is in their power. They tell him what gifts of silver and iron and food we must bring them.”

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

"And you take those gifts to some secret place in the jungle?” the ape-man inquired gravely. Orando nodded. ‘Do you know where it is?” Tarzan persisted. ‘Again the warrior nodded. "Then,” the Jungle Lord said calmly; "you must guide me to that place 1”

With Major Hoople

OUT OUR WAY

PLOIv'ERS.AN o \ ) At YOU'LL HAVE V VP.' J - HAMBURGER :** BCEM TMICYV YEARS TOO SOON! s j

AnHO WA<5 \ THERE WASN'T NONE.\ SPEAK UP, YOU MUGf VtO&ODY, I TELL 'AT'S A LIE, [*l HE THIRD / JUST ME 'N' SHORTY. WHO GOT THE OTHER YOU' OLD PICKEtJeASY/M£ PICKET i l PODNER"?/THEN SHORTY aUGGED/SHARE C" THAT MONEY?/ HAD ONLY 27 / Mlp s3 q QOO BELLE, AM' GOT ... —A GRAND. HIS MONEY HIMSELF SHOT, AN' / • ,N l IM HIS BOOT'I o: r iT

■£. f/ TZ7I fvEM RIDIMG DINJOSAURS.^

■**• - pv SIBVICE INC \'/ /

"Why?” cried the astonished Orando. Tarzan answered grimly: "There I shall wait until the couriers collect their tribute. Then I shall follow them to their hidden lair and lay plans to destroy them. We are at war with the Leopard Men—you and I against hundreds!” . , .

—By Edgar Rice Burrou ;ha

Ur* r'

... If Tarzan believed ho was operating in secrecy, he was mistaken. Already Sobito, who was indeed a member of the dread secret order, had sent swift messengers to warn the roving bands of Leopard Men that the white giant was a dangerous enemy who must be slain!

COMIC PAG*

—By Williams

—By Blosser

—By Crane

—By Hamlin

—By Martin