Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 December 1937 — Page 14

By ELINORE COWAN STONE Copyright, 1937, NEA Service, Inc.

CAST OF CHARACTERS LINDA BENTON—Heroine, daughter of a famous singer. . BARRYMORE TRENT-—Hero, flying ‘“‘daredevil.” : MIRANDA TRENT — Barrymore's grandmother; a ‘strong woman.” !

Yesterday: Linda and Captain Trent begin to find a place for each other in their lives. Little did they know, however, of the heartbreak that lay ahead.

CHAPTER THREE

7” had not yet returned from bidding his friend, Lieut. Rust, “Good luck” at the airport when Linda came in after mailing Mrs. Trent’s Christmas cards next day. It was, not until she was preparing, a little forlornly, to go downstairs after dinner for a long evening alone with old Miranda that she heard the front door bang, and then a lusty baritone lifted in joyful, if not too baneful, song. As _if by magic, the old house again became young and alive and friendly. When Linda went downstairs to the drawing room, Mrs. Trent was not in her customary seat. Only Capt. Trent was in the room, wandering about, picking up things aimlessly and putting them down again. At sound of the opening of the door he wheeled. “The Duchess has run out on us,” he explained, his eyes half laughing, half caressing, on her startled ones. “Gone to spend the evening with a sick friend.” ” a 2 “ H!” said Linda a little breathlessly. “Then I guess I'd better go and finish wrapping up her parcels.” 3 But he was between her and the door, his eyes laughing down into hers. | “Oh, 1 say!” he protested. “You're not going to leave me high and dry, too, are you? At least you might read me a bedtime story. Reading aloud’s your job, isn’t it?” «But after all,” Linda said, laughing at his air of a wheedling schoolboy, “there’s nothing in my contract with your grandmother about entertaining visiting celebrities.” «Bring the parcels down and we'll have them done in no time. ... Aw, don’t be so tight with yourself, Titania,” he coaxed. How are we ever going to get acqua if you keep EE int Be up behind a parbed-wire entanglement? Honest it’s awful lonesorhe down here.”

8 8 8

UDDENLY Linda remembered S how very lovely it would be upstairs, too. She hurried up and brought down the parcels. 3 «you may help me wrap these, she said, “but first your. grandmother does want the antiques in that cabinet in the dining room dusted and rearranged before Christmas. You may come and watch me do those if youll promise not to touch them.”

“Who wants to touch them: now if—oh, but look here!” Barry broke off as he followed her into the dining room, with its gleam of pld silver and mirror-like surfaces, “Not the crystal candlesticks Alexander - Hamilton gave Great-great-great-grandmother Trent for a wedding present; not the tea service: Jerome Bonaparte—I say! You don’t mean the Duchess/ lets you handle those?” v “Why not?” asked Linda, mildly surprised, as she drew up a stool before the delicate Louis XV cabinet and sat down. “It’s one of the - things she pays me to do.” “But never in all my days’— Barry seemed ihexplicably pleased —“have I known her to let anyone touch those sacred relics except herself and my own mother.” “Why, it was quite natural” Linda wished that he | wouldn't hover there quite so close behind her. It made Her fingers unsteady. “One day when her hands were ~ bad with rheumatism, she showed me what she wanted done, and I've. done it ever since.” “And I'll bet. I can tell you what she said,” Barry's amused vbice went on. “She said, ‘Only a gentlewoman, with a lady’s hands, accustomed to nice living, can handle treasures like these properly.”

2 8 =

INDA smiled a bit wryly. She was remembering something that had happened only day before yesterday. She had come in bubbling with gmusement over something she had seen in the course of her daily walk about town. But old Miranda had not been amused by her story.

“Really, my dear Miss Benton,” |

she had said, “I think I am safe in saying that no gentlewoman from this house ever went into that part of town before.” “Of course it was your hands that did the "trick with Grandmother,” Barry was saying as they returned to the living room to wrap Christmas presents. “Did ‘ anyone ever tell you, Titania, that your hands are like soft white flowers? . . . Only much lovelier, because they're so much more alive. « « « When you look at them, you -can’t help wondering if they can be as warm and sweet and tender as they look. . . . How they would feel if one held them-—like this, I mean—" | He took one of her small hands in his and pressed it against the lean, smooth, hard surface of his cheek—against his eyes, and against his lips. Then, as all the air about her warmed and tingled, he drew her quickly toward him, and into his arms. i } ; 8» = was much later that Barry said, 1 laughing out. delightedly, “I'll tell you what we’ll do. Christmas morning I'l hang you up on a tree, all

| Nungesser and Coli was found?

trous Chinese, porcelain that stood on a table beside him. Snatching at it as it smashed into a dozen pieces, he cut a deep gash in his wrist. 2 8 =» AS old Miranda grimly surveyed the wreck of her treasure, Barry caught a handkerchief from his pocket and stood like a sheepish schoolboy, trying to stanch the blood that stained his cuff and trickled down his fingers. Years ago, as a. child in Paris, Linda had seen a hideous street accident; and since that time, try as she might, the sight of blood had turned her faint with horror. Now, though in that first moment she bent over Barry's wrist, trying with her own handkerchief to stop the red flow, she moaned in sick little gasps; and as the stain continued to spread, she wavered and sat down limply on a nearby chair. - “Come, come, Miss Benton!” old Miranda’s voice tinkled like falling ice. “Fainting doesn’t mend any broken bones. Please see if you can’t control yourself and ring that bell.” “Oh, have a heart,” Barry objected as Linda got up trembling. “I've seen hard-boiled marines turn green at sight of blood. We aren't all born to be top sergeants like you, you know.” . » 8 » g “ ET my first-aid kit, Jefferson,” Mrs. Trent calmly di-

answer to. the bell, “and have Cicely bring some ice and a basin. And,” finished the old lady, sweep-

indomitable Trent poriraits that lined the walls, “if the women of this house had let their feelings get the better of them every time a crisis arose, you—Barrymore Trent —might not be here at this moment —nor, in all probability, the house, itself.” Cicely appeared, and old Miranda directed briskly, “Hold that basin here, Cicely . . . Hold it, I said, not wave it! . . . And Miss Benton,” she added as Linda hesitated in the background, “if you must shake like

where to do it.”

Linda retreated with what dignity her shaking legs lent her. As she clung to the banisters in the hall outside, she heard Barry’s voice in quick protest, and heard his grandmother snap, “Fiddlesticks! She'll be all right'in a few minutes. So will this scratch of yours . . . And that’s-more than I can say for my Ming jar.” No, thought Linda, by no standards could she ever measure up the tradition of the Trent gentlewomen . . . And did not dream how

be put to the test. (To Be Continued)

rected as the old man appeared in

(All names and characters in -this story are fictitions.)

Daily Short Story

MIXED DATES—By Korra Dane

“How nice you look, dear”

* ON’T wait dinner on me to- « night, dear,” warned John Andrews as he turned to kiss his wife goodby at the front door. “I'm playing tennis with Bob Stanton.” Laura Andrews simply ignored his kiss. “No, youre not! You get that tennis game canceled and be home in time to dress for dinner at 6:30. We're having people in . . . John Andrews! Don’t tell me you've forgotten what day this is!” John had forgotten, but he knew better than to admit it then.

A long, clear whistle sounded in the rning air. —~ “No. Yes. I'll be home then,” John stammered. “There’s my train.” A quick second kiss to his wife and then he was off on the two-block run. He flung himself into a seat and tipped his hat back on his head. He had to whip his memory into working order and remember what day this was!

Could it be Laura’s birthday? Or, could it be their wedding anniversary? He remembered vaguely that the two dates always crowded upon each other and only a week apart. Just about this month, too—or the next month. Never had he been able to remember the exact month or which—the birthday or the wedding date—came first! In any case, he would be wise to go out at noon and find a nice gift to take home to Laura for the occasion, whatever it was. : » 8 8 E must be on the lookout for Bob Stanton, too. It would be best to catch him getting on the train and explain in person that they couldn’t have their tennis after all and why. It was a shame! For weeks now he had been badgering Bob ahout being afraid to play with him and now that everything was all arranged for a good match, he, ‘of all people, had to be the one to break it up! "At the junction stop he saw Bob get on, and as he came down the aisle motioned him to take the seat beside him. “Morning, Bob! Guess we can't play tennis tonight after all.” “Yes, I know,” Bob replied, with a smile. “My wife tells me we're having dinner at your place tonight. Oh, well, we'll make it another time. By the way, have you got the morning paper there with you? I'm awfully anxious to see the financial page.” “Yes, another time,” mumbled John, too surprised to say anything more as he absent-mindedly handed Bob the morning paper. ss 2 wn E had something to figure oh : now. For if Laura had invited Bob and his wife in for dinner, he pondered, that must mean that tonjght’s affair was in honor of their

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., Washing- ‘ tom, DD. C. Legal and medical advice cannot be given, nor can Extended research be underen.

Q—Is it true that the plane of

A—None of the rumors of the finding of the plane were ever substantiated. :

Q—Can sound pass through a vacuum? : :

fect vacuum will prevent the transmission of any sound.

. j= 3 AURA” - A—An infinitely thin layer of per-'

| into plac: in’ his lapel,

wedding anniversary. Somehow he didn’t believe Laura would be apt to ask them in to celebrate her birthday. John supposed that Bob, sitting beside him so ‘completely absorbed in the financial page, probably knew exactly which it was. He wished he cculd ask him, but somehow he just couldn’t imagine the picture he would make turning to Bob with a hearty slap on the shoulder and “I say, old man, be good enough to tell me if it's my wife’s birthday or my wedding anniversary that we celebrate tonight.” No, that wouldn’t do. His best course of action this time was to take a very pretty gift of jewelry to Laura. That would be appropriate for either occasion and in any event would save the day for him.

® » =»

T 12 sharp John reached for ‘A his hat. He would get only a bite of lunch today and have.a lang noon hour in which to choose a nice gift for Laura. The phone rang. “Say, Andrews,” the voice came to him over the wire, “I'd like you to join us for lunch. with the two Cincinnati plant managers. I'll need your help with them.”

Andrews was pleased. “Thank you, I'll be right down to your office.” He picked up his hat again and remembered. What about Laura's present?. Well, he’d have to plan to leave the office early that afternoor. He looked at his schedule. Three-thirty looked good.

Three-thirty came and went. As did four-thirty. The last-minute conference concerning the new policy for the Cincinnati plant lasted the rest of the afternoon. At five-thirty John raced to the station, again just barely in time for his train, and once ahoard slept from sheer exhaustion all the way home. - The Roberts’ car was already parked in front of the house when he reached home. He ran up the back stairs to» avoid meeting them awkwardly in the hall. He tripped headlong ove! the last step of the stairs and sprawled across the doorway into the kitchen. He was glad Laura wasn’t there. Awkwardly he made some laughing remark about his clumsiness to the cook. -

8 =» =

| his roon. upstairs he found that Laura had put his clothes out for him on the bed. That would save him from being too late. The low murmur’ of conversation came to him fromm downstairs. Perhaps he had even forgotten the dinner hour and was later than he thought he was. Perhaps Laura had not waited for him. Perhaps—. Then

/’ -

| he remembered! - For the first time

he realized that he had forgotten Laura's gift! There wes a knock at the door. Laura came in, smiling. He kissed her, awkwardly and ashamed. “How nice you look, dear,” he managed to stammer, “Thank you, darling! I've brought a flower for your buttonhole. Where’s your coat? I'll slip it in.” Perhaps he ought to tell her now. He felt such an urgent desire to tell her what a good-for-ful husband he felt he was. Then'it would be over with. Yes. Tell her now. Get it over with, He took a deep breath, = | 2 8 he began, hesitantly. - “Yes, dear,” she replied, ab“you look

ing with her eyes the galaxy of |

a forest in a storm, please go else- |

soon and how bitterly she was to |

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

By Williams

TRL

| ‘

il 19

i .

W-WE CAN'T CIT ouTr- wes

OUT OUR WAY

OH, WHAT AN INSULT TO TH’

SHOP. ILL BET TH BULLO' TH’ WOODS GOES AN JAKES OFF HIS SWEATER, CAP AN VEST AN’ WALKS BY \ THAT GUY THREE ER

FOUR: TIMES ~-

THE TEN- MINUTE EGO

YEHA~ MOPPIN’ HIS BROW, TOO! HE FEROITS HE HAS A NICE, WARM OFFICE 10 DUCK INTO EVERY “TEN MINUTES = TH" BIGGER A GLY 1S, TH' BIGGER HE CAN MAKE HIS SMALLNESS -

CA A J AN wg (CAD =

2 ns

J RWILLIAMS,

12-18

FLAPPER FANNY

_ SATURDAY, DEC. 18, 1937" By Sylvia

{

12-09

IM AFRAID IT'S GOING ‘© BE A DULL. CHRISTMAS ; IN OUR Housk THIS YEAR!

CHEE MAYBE BRIGHTEN UP WHEN THE DAY COMES!

UP, NUTTY ee INGS WILL

THERE'S

oe: [=

NUTTY, YOUR MOTHER PHONED For ME 2 WHY AND SAID THAT YOURE WANTED AT THE EXPRESS OFFICE «ce

SOMETHING THERE FOR You !

GEE, TI

A BICYCLE,

MAS EVE -- IT A HAPPY WEEK FOR

11-10

might have gotten the confession over with but he was relieved. She would be so hurt. He was sick and disgusted with himself! Meticulously he gave his shoulders another brushing, combed his hair carefully again and adjusted his tie. He might as well go down and get it over with. :

Laura met him on the stairs. “Oh, there you are!” She s at him affectionately as she took his arm. Going down the long stairway John surprised to see more than just a few guests in the living room. Suddenly they all crowded into the hall tof tp, Sen a of “Su filled the ho ne, { “ “Say, what is this?” John asked Laura under his breath. Git

& silly

‘Why, him, “it’s your

birthday!

Q—Where is the school that is

fine. Come down as dressed,

S00% as you won't

”

“I hate to shave myself—I'm always talking myself into a shampoo and massage.”

," Laura laughed at

YOUR HEALTH

nervous system of man is multiple |

sclerosis. In this condition, patches of hardening develop in the

tissues of the nervous system with a | degeneration of the sheaths of they

nerves, causing tremendous interference in the motor and sensory activities of the body. The patches are widely scattered throughout the nervous system and the effects are widely varied. =. ‘Usually the condition begins in| 20 and |

person somewhere between: years of age, seldom in children cause of disease

PANY HOW WE CAN HAVE HIM TILL CHRIST] ALMOST A WEEK? LETS MAKE

HIM ===-

FIX HIM A LEMON MERINGUE; PIE ozHE'S FAIR CRAZY

MAYBE ITS A WONDER | NEW SLED, OR §

“He knows perfectly well he stole that dog!” . “Aw, he says it isn’t exactly stealing—he just happened to ~ find the dog before the man lost it.”

—By Al Capp

Mind Your Manners

Test your knowledge of correct social usage by answering ‘the following questions, then checking against the authoritative answers below: , 1. How is a bride’s wedding . ring usually marked today? 2. May the bridegroom’s ring also be marked with initials? 3. Is a piece of jewelry a suit--able wedding gift from the bridegroom to the bride? :

the wedding reception, instead of something stronger, should the guests drink to the bride and groom? 5 5, Does the bridegroom .or his best man usually hand the clergyman his fee? !

What would you do if— You are a young man en-- ~ gaged to a girl and one of her relatives offers you the use of - a house in which to spend your honeymoon— A. Accept it if the offer fits in with the plans of your fiancee and yourself? z B. Offer to pay for the use of - the house? C. Decide it would be poor taste for you to accept the offer since it came from one of the bride’s relatives?

Answers

1-8. L. M. and F. C. R., Dec. 2, 1937. : 2. Yes. 3. Yes. His gift should be’ something for her personal adornment. 4, Yes, Ne : 5. The best man, though, of course; it is given to him by the . groom.

Best “What Would You Do” solution—A. :

ease may be merely coincidence. x ss 8 8

"A FTER & period of num

4. If fruit juice is served at ||

| many other - conditions in which | Patients are sometimes greatly de-

after some infectious dis- |

e REGAL LILY,

FAVORITE OF THOUSANDS OF * AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN GARDEN=ERS TODAY, WAS § AN UNKNOWN PLANT, GROWING IN THE BLEAKEST | REGIONS OF f° WESTERN GHHNAY, |

| 30 YEARS AGO. J ¢

COPR.1937 BY NEA SERVICE, ING:

BE _—. THE FIRST NAMED S/IGN oF 7+ ZODIAC.

PM AD

THE late Dr. Ernest Wilson, traveling under the auspices of the Athold Arboretum, ‘in 1910, found the Regal Lily growing in the Hupeh section of western Chine. Bulbs of the plant were carried on men’s

backs to the river, where they were placed on boats and eventually were shipped to America.

NEXT—How many acres of forest land are there in the United

: =»

ei States?

ficult to-diagnose because there are

pressed, but in other cases are’ excited and may even hzve traordinary feeling of well

definitely to change

much comfort and certain have been given with benefit. =

diseases die not

BY. toward ime

People with long continued chronic

so much from these