The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-01-10

twice its tempo against her breast.
Then her stealthy hand turned the
white china knob and released il so
that it sprang backward with a click
Who's that2"
Me. Dee Dee.
She could hes" the plong of the bed
spring, the patter of bare feet across
the floor; feel The slight aperture OF
/ the opening door. She oozed through
the slit.
'AlI right, Dee Dee
God. l must have been sound
asleep What time is it:''
1T isn't late, Dee Dee
Light the gas
II can undreSS in the dark"
Light the gas
&"
Light il, / say
IT'S lit, Dee Dee"
The figure in the center of the room.
in her high-necked, IOng-sIeeved night
dress. her sparse hair drawn with IN
pleasant tension from her brow. her
pale eyes wide moved forward a step.
one bare foot. callOuSed even across
the inStep. extended.
"Lit?"
Dee Dee. what's the matter?"
"Gimme-my glasses"
She took them from Miss Barnet's
trembling fingers and curved them
about her ears.
Quit your nonsense now and light the
gas. amt in no humor for f0olin'.
Quit waving that little spark in front
of me. Light the gas. / amt going to
look at the clock. I'm done worrying
about your carryings-on. I'm done.
Light the gas. Sadie. there's a good
girl. Light the gas"
dee Dee My Cod Dee Dee, I
tell you it's lit-big."
There's a good girl Sadie. Don't
fool your old aunt
"See, dearie, amt fOOling. See, the
gas-jet here beside the dresser. Look
/ can't turn it no higher. Hear it sing
and splutter. You amt awake good
yet, Dee Dee"
Silence-the ear-splitting silence that
all In its brief moment is crammed
with years and years upon years. A
cold gray wash seemed suddenly to
flow over Miss Worries face.
"Put my finger next to the gas flame.
You-you're lying to me TOTO fool
your old aunt Lemme feel my finger
get burnt"
They moved, these two, across the
floor, their blanched faces straining
ahead. With the sudden sting of heat
finally across her palm, reddening 1t,
Miss Worte flung wide her arms and
her head backward. and her voice tore
out without restraint.
God! God! God!" And she fell to
trembling so that her knees gave way
under her and she crouched on the
floor with her face barred to the ceiling,
rocking herself back and forth, beating
her fists against her fiat breasts.
God! God! God!'
"Dee Dee darling, it amt nothing!
A little too much strain, that's all.
'Shh-h-hi Lemme battle them. 'Shh-h-h.
my darling Oh, my God darling!
'Shh-h-h!"
"Lemme go! Lemme go! He told
me today it would come like this Only
he didn't say how soon. Not how soon.
LII UOHC IOT, 1 tell YOU! III uOuC!
XIII noe, Sadie If you love me, kill met
He told me and / wouldn't believe It
Kill me, girl, and put me out of it
/ can't breathe in the dark! / can't!
/ can't! / can't live in the dark with
my eyes open! Kill me, girl, and put
me out of it-kill me! Kill mew
dee Dee, my darling, amt 1 right
here with your Didn't you always say,
darling, when it came you-you'd face
it?"
"Pm done! Kill me! Kill rae! Don't
make me live in the dark with my
eyes open-don't! There's good girl,
Sadie. Don't! Don't! Don't!"
From the room adjoining came
rafting at the barred door between.
"Cut it, in there! This amt no bar
room. Go tell your D. IT'S to a police
man."
They crouched closer and trembling.
"'Shh-h-hl Dee Dee darling, try to
be easy and not raise the house-try !"
Miss Worte lay back exhausted
against Miss Barnet's engulfing arms.
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