Part 34 (1/2)
THE DIMPLER
CHAPTER XIII
THE DIMPLER
Billy Little soon found Dic and greeted him with, ”Well, we haven't got her yet.”
”No, but when she recovers, we will have her. What an idiot I was to allow that old woman to make me angry!”
”You are right for once, Dic,” was Billy's consoling reply. ”She has been waiting for an excuse to turn you from her doors, and you furnished it. I suppose you can never enter the house again.”
”I don't want to enter it, unless by force to take Rita. Why didn't I take her long ago? It serves no purpose to call myself a fool, but--”
”Perhaps it's a satisfaction,” interrupted Billy, ”a satisfaction to discover yourself at last. Self-knowledge is the summit of all wisdom.”
”Ah, Billy Little, don't torture me; I am suffering enough as it is.”
Billy did not answer, but took Dic's hand and held it in his warm clasp for a little time as they walked in silence along the street.
The two disconsolate lovers who had come a-kidnapping remained over night in Indianapolis, and after breakfast Billy suggested that they discuss the situation in detail.
”Have you thought of any plan whereby you may communicate with Rita?” he asked.
”No,” answered Dic.
”Do you know any of her girl friends?”
”The very thing!” exclaimed Dic, joyous as possible under the circ.u.mstances. ”I'll see Miss Tousy, and she will help us, I'm sure.”
”Is she sentimentally inclined?” queried Billy.
”I don't know.”
”Is her face round or oval?”
”Oval,” replied Dic, in some perplexity.
”Long oval?”
”Rather.”
”Good!” exclaimed Billy. ”Does she talk much or little?”
”Little, save at times.”
”And her voice?”
”Low and soft.”
”Better and better,” said Billy. ”What does she read?”
”She loves Shakespeare and Sh.e.l.ley.”