Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 June 1937 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1937

by EUGENIA MACKIERNAN

“Contract Wife,” serial story, concludes on Page 9 today.

(1H fem ; | CHAPTER ONE | REA” Coral,” Donna said, “you look almost pretty tonight.

If you'd only do something about:

your hair You should go downtown and let| Pierre set it for you. A sculptured line is the thing.” Donna ran her fingers complacently over the lacquered ridges of her golden coiffure,|| Coral || Crandall laughed, then sighed a little. “Yours looks lovely,” she said. If only Marge were here now, she thought, Marge who had been hel roommate for three years, with whom she had laughed and talked and studied in pleasant. intimacy. | i But Marge’s mother was’ ill and Marge had not come back io Elton for her ||senior year. “There is a small college here at home where I can get my degree,” she had written, “and I must be close tc mother

now.” Se Marge had been succeeded by Donna Allen, lazy, wealthy and spoiled. || Donna's father, Winslow Allen, &//millionaire chemical manufacturer, had withdrawn her from a fashionable Chicago finishing school in disgust and sent her to Elton, his cwn university, hoping that the life there would implant in her an honest desire for knowledge and a healthier, more unselfish point of view. (Coral had not cared who her roommste was, since Marge could not be with her; had willingly acquiesced to. the sorority president’s suggestion that Donna live with her. Donna’s voice interrupted her reverie, “I think I ought to give you some advice, Coral.” : “What on earth about?” Coral was startlecl. . © “If you weren't so wrapped up in love’s young dream these days you'd know what about. You're being seen with |Prof. Armstrong, the new man in the chemistry department, altogether too often. People are talking.”

il ® 8 |=»

8 = ”n

ORAL laughed unbelievingly. "You must be wrong, Donna. Why should they? Other girls go around with some of the younger men in the different departments.” “No; as often as you go with David Armstrong. You haven't had another date since you met him a month ago, and you've dated him three or four times a week.” “Suppose I have. What of ‘t?” “There's this of it. It’s easy to see that he has eyes for no one but you, and you're as silly about him. It’s not just students but. the faculty as well whore stewing. I heard Dean Mathews and Miss Parmenter, the librarian, talking in the Tea Kettle this noon. They didn’t see me, but I heard every word they said. Miss Parmenter said you were setting a bad example and a stop should be put to your going with Prof, Armstrong, and Miss Mathews said there would be. She said she ‘thought you had more czense thar to fall in love with a professor, but that she was apparently + wrotig. They said plenty more, let me tell you. It’s all right to date him | casually, but you know they ‘don’ tolerate marriages or even engidgements between teachers and students at Elton. Why, they won't even permit student marriages, the dunip is so out of date.” i 8 a = : ORAL was disturbed. “That's labsurd, Donna. David Armstrong doesn’t care a thing for me, and I. ... Well, we're nothing but good friends.” Donna's lips curled in mockery. “That line might go over better if he wasn't such a Greek god. You're crazy about each other, and if the two of you don’t know it everyone else does. He's asked you to the faclilty dance tonight, and the only other students there will be those who have jobs in one of the departments or in the library. If you had any sense you wouldn't go. But, then, you know everything, don’t you, dear?” She laughed nastily, maliciously, and left the room.

2 = =

{ORAL sank down on the window . seat, her mind whirling. Surely it douldn’t be true. Donna was eXaggerating. There was no harm in .’seeing David . . . being with him outside of the classroom. How could there be? She loved David. And then her heart stopped for a moment. It was out, that which she had never before admitted even to heiself. She loved David! Loved him with all her heart, truly, passionately, deeply. There was no happiness in the world without him, no world at all. But what then? Did he love her? And if he did what hope was there? The college authorities would fawn, her parents would be furious cause of Hoyt. Hoyt, what of him? ‘And then there was a knock on the door. “Caller for you, Coral.” David was here, waiting. No time now to think of Hoyt, or anyone else. With a.last look into the mirtor she caught up bag, wrap and gloves and ran down the stairs to David, whom she loved.

t 4 = =

§, S they drove the few blocks to A the gymnasium in David's lowslung roadster they were both too full of conflicting emotions and yet unsaid words for speech. As they went into the building David handed her a square white box. “Thought vou might like these,” he said. She opened the box. Five cammizlias, satiny white and fragrant. “Oh, I do. Now let me rush to the cloak room and put them on. Wait for me.” For the moment, , she was gone, and Davids heart | was in his eyes as he watched her ~ disappear. | Five minutes later Coral and David met at the entrance of the gymnasium proper, which, decorated for the occasion, served as a ballroom. “Coral, you look so beautiful,” said David, then, “Gosh, I'd forgotten. We'll have to go down the receiving line.” : : = 7 2

4 S they passed along the file of ‘A men and women, arm in arm, speaking to each in turn, a little chill entered Coral’s mind. Had Donng been right? Was it her imagination, or were some of these people not quite cordial to her? Did they disapprove her presence there? For a fleeting instant she wished she had not come, then the kindly greeting of Prof. Maxwell,

David’s superior in the chemistry de-|

partment, put her at her ease again. “Prof. Maxwell is a grand per-

son, isn’t he?” Coral said as they began to dance. “He is that,” said David, then his

: voice lowered and he spoke into her

ear. “I started to tell you how beautiful you look but our| social obliga-

tions interfered. Now there aren’t|. . .

any words, That's the loveliest dress, you're the loveliest girl, here cr any place.” Coral’s heart beat gladly. Her dress was pretty. Deep violet blue tulle, the color of her eyes, studded with sequin stars. “Youll turn my head. Besides, it’s only the dress.” “It’s more than that, Coral. It’s you.” The gray eyes looked into hers. A little flame burned in them and was reflected back. “Oh, Coral, I hadn't meant to say this for a long time, but I can't help myself. I love you, darling. Coral, do you love me?" ” ” ”

UDDENLY the music faded and they were inexplicably alone on the floor. After a long time, Coral spoke. “I love you, too, David.” He caught her closer to him, then laughed exultantly, “Sweetheart. say it again. I can’t believe it.” “I love you, Prof. Armstrong. I do indeed.” Coral’s laugh, soft and happy, joined his. : . David grasped her hand, and cliivious of the glances which followed them, they left the ballroom. Wordlessly they found their wraps and entered the roadster. “Now,” said David, then huskily, “My darling.” Their lips met, parted, met again. At last David released her. “Coral; darling, let's be married right away.” ” n o

HE answered him dreamily. “Yes, sweet, of course.” Then she remembered. “David, we can’t. Not for a long time. Not till I've graduated.” “Why not?” “They don’t like our seeing so much of each other now. They'd never let us marry.” “Why do we have to tell them?” “We couldn't keep it a secret,

darling. They'd find out, separate us.” 3 . “No, they wouldn't. It's March now . .. you graduate in June. Not long to keep a secret, but forever to wait. I want to be sure of you never wake from this dream. Sweet, marry me tonight.” Coral started. “Tonight! Where could we go? Who would marry us? We've no license. It would be impossible!” “We could be over the state line in half'an hour. There’s a minister at Fairfield and we could be married right away. Will you come, Coral?” It was mad. It was crazy, Coral told herself. But her heart said yes over and over .. . and her lips said it, too. 8 8 o OUR hours later, the roadster came to a stop before the.sorority house. Coral’s head was on David's shoulder, on her finger was his signet ring. She would wear it tonight, then hide it away till June. “My wife, my sweet wife,” said David. “Are you sorry, Coral?” She turned her lips to his in answer. Then . .. “I must go in, dear.” “I suppose $0,” he sighed. “It will be wonderful when we can be together always.” He helped her out of the car and walked with her to the door. They kissed again, deeply, warmly. At last they separated. As David went back to the car, a thought, sharp-edged, guilty, struck Coral. The. car was starting. She must tell him tonight, before he heard the distorted truth from someone else. Hoyt! David must know about him. “David,” she called, forgetful of the sleeping house. “I must tell you something. Come back!” But he had not heard. The roadster shot down the street, around a curve. He was gone, and she had not told him. Perhaps tomorrow. She must tell him then.

(To Be Continued)

Daily Short Story

HASTY RETURN—By Edith Frisbie

HET BURKE looked up from his morning paper as his wife came in from the kitchen and set a cup of coffee at his place. “Say, Ellie, why don’t you get that stove fixed? The smell of gas is pretty strong.” “I'm phoning right after breakfast, dear. I postponed it because I knew I would be home all day today.” . “Okay—but don't forget.” As Ellen brushed by him, Chet caught her hand. “How do you like being alone again with the old man?” he asked, watching her with sudden intentness. “Or maybe you miss the boy friend?” Ellen colored in reply, and Chet’s geniality instantly froze. He turned stonily back to his breakfast and the newspaper, as Ellen seated herself opposite him. : Presently, he slammed the paper down on the table. “I see he is about to purify the town,” he said sarcastically. “Got himself a soft job in old Thatcher's Cleaner Homes Campaign. Smart guy!” “Arnold is doing his best,” said Ellen, reproachfully. “Sure!” Chet agreed drily. “Doing his best for Arnold! Chiseling for two months off an easy-mark cousin with a free spare room and a good-looking wife who's alone all day. Yes, he’s been doing all right!” “That’s vulgar, Chet! Arnold wouldn’t—" 8 ‘2 8 “ O on—say it!” Chet broke in angrily. “Arnold wouldn’t be vulgar! He wouldn't talk that way! If you think he’s so wonderful, it’s too bad you didn’t marry him instead of me!” Ellen caught her breath. “You sound as though you thought we were in love!” She laughed a bit

‘hystericdlly.

Chet slammed his cup down on the saucer. . “Yes!” he said. “Sure! That's just what I do think! You're sweet enough to him!” : Incredulously, Ellen stared at him. She tried to smile, but saw only hard anger in Chet’s eyes. She threw out her hands in despair. “Oh, what's the use of try= ing to be loyal to you when you don’t believe me, anyway!” Chet leaped up, knocking his chair over. “Trying!” he bellowed. “Well, of all the—" “Chet darling! I didn’t mean—” “You said it, didn’t you?” He planted both fists on the table and shouted down at Ellen, who had turned very white. “Well, get this! Chet Burke doesn’t need any wife who has to try to be true to him! If you don’t want ‘me, okay! Ill pull out! I'll pull out right now!” He plunged into the hall, and grabbed his hat and coat. Ellen darted between him and the door, arms outstretched. For a split second, Chet looked into her eyes and wavered. Then, he shoved her roughly aside, jammed his hat on, and strode out.

u 8 a8

E hailed a cab and directed it to Spoletti’'s bar. Spoletti’s was a waterfront dive. It suited Chet’s mood. The universe was stinking and rotten. We wanted a place to match. . . . ~ He intended to wallow in his anger, to grovel in the accumulated bitterness of the two long months that Arnold had spent in his home. He called for a drink—and another —and another. . .. From the markings on the marble bar, disturbing patterns emerged— Ellen's eyes... Arnold’s suave, handsome face . .. Arnold had made him feel a boor ever since they were youngsters together in high school. Even then, Arnold had taken; your girl away without trying. Now, a decade later, here was he, Chet Burke, a better man by any man’s standard than this lazy cousin of his, watching his wife grow light-hearted and gay under Arnold’s effortless homage, exactly as those girls in high school had. Chet moved to a table. Defiantly, he owed deeper in his gloom.

he would not relent. Things

‘| look of agonized desperation as he

had come to a pretty pass when a man’s own cousin . } u = o ET. ... Doubts began to assail him. Had he been just imagining things? Was it just crazy jealousy on his part—making him distort and exaggerate what had been merely Ellie’s friendliness toward a guest in the house? After all, it was only natural that she should like and respond to the happy-go-lucky gaiety of a guy like Arnold. . .. And she had looked so stricken this morning when he had hurled his accusations at her. . . . Chet shoved his drink away, and passed his hand across his face. How could he have treated her so harshly? Sweet little Ellie! A boy shuffled in and lighted a crooked gas jet in a dark corner of the room. Chet morosely watched the blue flathe spread out sideways until it put forth a spurting yellow crest. . . . And suddenly, he recalled the conversation that morning about the gas stove. ... Gas! ... Ellie’s hurt, pleading eyes as he had stormed out of the house . . . her

iad pushed past her. A dreadful premonition swept over him. Could she possibly. ... Oh, no! 2” ” = E leaped up and dashed into a phone booth. He dialed his home number, fingers clumsy with haste. Someone unhooked a receiver. A woman's voice said, “Hello.” It was not Ellie’s voice. “Wrong number.” { He dialed again. No answer. Still no answer. Only the empty buzzing. . . . But she had said she would be home! Home all day so that the repair could be made on the kitchen stove! Chet broke out in -a cold sweat. He hung up, rushed out into the street, and hailed a cab. “430 Green!” he shouted at the driver. “Hurry!”

.In the cab, his brain *vhirled. Oh, he had been insane this morning! To hurt Ellie like that! “To have so little trust in her! To be so cruel! And she always felt things so deeply! If anything should happen tc Ellie. . . . > “Faster!” he yelled. At Sixth and Chestnut, an ambulance cut across their path, its siren screeching. It turned into Green Street, ahead of the cab. | One hundred, 200, 300—in the 290 block, it slowed down and came to a | whining stop before Chet’s little home. A crowd gaped on the sidewalk. At the open door, a policeman stoo guard. oa Taking in the scene with one agonized glance, Chet leaped from the taxi before it stopped. He staggered up the steps. A man with a press card in his hatband was addressing the officer. “What goes on here?” he asked. The officer drawled, “Looks like a dame was trying to sign off. Turned on the gas, but neglected to light] it.” | “Is she—" Chet gasped. “No. Got to her in time. Funny, the things that save ‘em. A neigh- | bor who was sure she was in, hav-, ing just seen her a little while be- | fore, hears the phone ringing like a four-alarm fire. When it keeps on ringing, he starts nosing around, gets a whiff of the gas, and busts

mo. ] THE END

(Copyright, 1937, United Feature Syndi :

1 dicate, Inc.)

The characters in this story are fictitious.

Ask The Times

Inclose a 3-cent stamp for reply when addresSing any question of fact or information to The Indianapolis Times Washington Service Bureau, 1013 13th St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Legal and medical

advice cannot be given, nor can ex- ||

tended research be undertaken. Q—What was the mofto of the French Revolution? A—“Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.” Le

Q—What is the maximum range of the standard: U. S. Army rifle?

OUT OUR WAY

GOOD GOSH! “2 1 NEVER e~ ~ | AID ONE 4 WORD ~ DIDN'T

24] EVEN OPEN ~ MOUTH, [PE Us WITH A DIGGIN?

(2) DOG, HAH?

LET'S BEAT THAT OUTA HIM FER ALL TIME’ THIS GET-RICH STUFF ~ THIS TREASURE | HUNTIN’? CAN'T EVEN LET A DOG REST!

~ NO, BUT YOU SICKED Vr ; DIGGIN’ AT

a olen ry. wn ul let Beas TV.

1, nt (7 pty sa Lh re ttre vs n MMe Yn, v v Zoom

0) Ze

) ( ge

THE AGITATOR LI'L ABNER |

Me gn 20 ST RWILLIAMS,

COPR. 1937 BY NEA SERVICE, INC. T.M. REC. U. S. PAT. OFF.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES FLAPPER FANNY

By Sylvia

AY ils,

6-9

“Well, all I got to say—if this is vacation, I wish we'd

flunked so we'd have to go to summer school.”

—By Al Capp -

NEVER WAS A SMARTER

H BIN PRAYIN EVRY HA RA N MAH LI'L

NIGHT THET LI'L ABNER

THET HUNDERD THOUSAN’ DOLLAHS, AN SAVE OLR HOMES-IT'D BE POW FUL DANGEROUS EF WE HAD TO MOVE \ I'L ANGELINE:-NOW-

$$ 9.30 HIM -AN’ INVESTED IT CGLEVERLY-

> p LA — RA &

4 ) wg Copr 1917 by United Feature Syndicate. Ine. “=. Tm Reg. 1. S. Pat. OF. — All .1zhis reserved, aTRgRGTRIRS —a— Aare

LEAVE FROM HERE, AND THEN DRNE BY MY PLACE ™ SAY GooDBY TO MY FoLksS !

ALLEY OPP

TFIND THIS RIVER BUT A BED OF ROCKS, AN’ DRY, AFTER ALL OUR RIDIN, OH ME, OH MY!

1 TELL YUH, QOP--HERE'S WHAT 1 THINK

WELL, BELLERIN’ ABOUT) IT AINT GONNA DO US ANY ‘GOOD - C'MON, WE CAN'T WASTE TIME HERE -

ONE] BEEN IN po TIGHTER ME A Io

WE'LL COME OUT OK --

MEANWHILE -IN THE CITY-

= ot

WHISTLE-BUT TH’

na NTweET! & JA |

SOME FOLKS MIGHT A THINK AH WAS FOOLISH T’INVEST MAH LAST TWO CENTS IN THIS

TOLE ME IT WERE WORTH A NICKEL'- AH HAS MORE'N DOLIBLED MAH MONEY.”

MAN

TODAY'S BALANCE EARNED-O-SPENT.02 BANKROLL-O

CA WwW

= WELL FELLAS, I GOTTA BE ON MY WAY! so |

ONG....IN CASE

TH-THAT'S C

WATER? BY | GOSH, YOU'RE RIGHT! AHH - WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT 7

HORIZONTAL

da Ags

in Copr. 1937 by United Feature Syndicate, Ine.

1 Who is the pictured man? 11 Inlet. | 12 To ease. 13 Eye tumor. 15 To crowd. 16 Free from filth. 18 Cry for help at sea. 20 Pronoun. 21 Cage for hawks 23 Myself. 24 Tree. 26 Body motion. 29 Wine vessel. 31 Data. 33 Carbonated drink. 34 Water obstruction. 36 Right. "38 Devoured. 40 Sneaky. 41 Court. 42 Witticism. 44 Sea eagle. 46 Enemy. 47 Rumanian coin. 48 Amidic. 50 Insurgent.»

“——and there’s nothing that burns me up more than waiting for the phone call that

don’t come.”

COPR: 1937 BY NEA SERVICE. INC. T. M. REG. U. S. PAT. OFF. q

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answer to Previous Puzzle

EIRIV

Cio

DIE E

NID

52 To gasp. 53 One who names. 55 Grief.

p E

Oo ~

Ww (miDID>

0 [MIB = 2B 2 wn oS

)|m PIERO P

uv i —

A S

56 Company. 57 Singing voice.

59 Antiquated.

0 He is — general of the 9 Night before. 10 You.

U.S. A.

61 His home state, New

VERTICAL

1 Junior.

| L

< Z-~Mo Zor

2 el o

wife. 4 Senior. 4 Not many. 6 Beers. 7 Masquerade entertainments. | 8 Limbs.

om®m

22 Plural pronoun, 23 Mister. 25 Laughter, sound. ~ 27 Spain. 28 Above. 29 Form of “be) 30 He is an ——e politician. 32 North America. 35 Affirmative) vote. 37 Paradise apple. 7 39 To sin. 40 Sun.

. 41 Vessel for)

burning incense. \ 43 Adjusts a) watch. | 45 Recent. 46 Lawyer's charge...

14 Sweet potato. 47 Lariat. 16 He has been

2 Paths between tiers of seats. 17 To nullify. -19 Sewing tool.

3 Husband or

—— of the Democratic National ° Committee.

You got your diploma by passing every test. Only milk that passes our exacting laboratory tests can "GRADUATE" to a

bor @ipf . . .

POLK'S MILE

Laboratory Tested

49 Penny. 51 Canoe. 52 Flower, 54 Gypsy. 56 Father. 58 Sun god. 59 Pair.