The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-11-29
Chapter IS
SANTA GETS A THRILL

a SAsRSSA 90
SANTA GETS A THRILL
IN THE library across the hall,
\ which was little better than an
alcoye,. Give raised the dap OF the
desk and spread mis- papers. The
earnest murmur of voices pursued
him. What on earth could Santa
and Dicky find to talk about2
He listened. Words were indis.
tinguishable. Brittle laughter!
Across the years the peculiar pitch
OF thai laugh reused memories. IL
was Santa's hunting cry. She had
invariably employed It In her fap-
per days when she was turing a
fresh victim 70 the slaughter. Con
yersauon droned again. Heavens,
why be Jealous? Il was as much bis
fault a. hers that she was stuck
there alone with Oak.
Meanwhile Santa was experienc-
ing = new thrill In conducting a
tetea-tete with this forbidden man.
He had known her every heart,
throh. lt was curious TO reflect that
she had given herself TO him to the
strains or priestly music.
Now TO show him courtesy Dor,
dered on iiaisOn. Pulses OF emotion
were stirring. She gazed at him
with wistfulness, her lips saying
one thing. her brain dramatizing
another.
A pause occurred.
@Ik IL TO laugh" he ventured.
"How?"
-These hands that once caressed
you"
"Dicky. be sane or I'll throw yon
out"
He sighed sentimentally.
$50 many thingr to remind me.
You. Myself. The furniture. Only
the room 10 different"
my husband Is different"
Don't you ever regret, Santa7"
.Not noticeably."
II do.Y
Don't believe you. I'm not the
least BIT interested"
He bent forward.
that's not true. You're having
the time Of your young life. II I'd
been . former beau you'd be inter
ested: whereas zen and vowed
ourselves to become one fiesh. Wen
remain a part OF each other as long
as we remain above ground
His blue eyes pierced. explored,
exposed her. She could summon
Give. It seemed wiser to handle
the situation without his help.
Lighting q cigarette. she became
the composed young woman Of
bankruptcies.
you're an IDIOT" she blew q pun
OF smoke.
Don't | mean anything2"
@No more than last years. frock. :
Fiinging his hands abroad, ia q
superlatively foreign gesture. Diciy
relaxed.
$50 the rose still has thornsl
You're the kind Of woman who
never ought to have married. l won.
der whether Give has found that
out9s
-Ask him." Santa suggested.
@No. / wouldn't rob him Of his
pathetic faith in you. Y0aT do
that
why so certain2"
She gaped as though he were al
crystal-gazer. She hadn't the least
respect for any OF bis opinions, yet
bis pretensions TO DO able 70 read
her fortune fascinated.
because you're no mystery to
me. my DEAR"
She was startled to hear him en-.
ploy that familiar form OF address.
It gaye her the sensation that she
was back IN Chicago.
~You see lived With you, guar.
relied with you. loved you Tor q |
year." he continued. eft was the
quarrelltng that taught me so much. |
To pretend that We have retieen, |
cies 10 lunacy. ! know you from
every angle"
-Then let's scrap reticencles.. |
She. licked her ash. aPortrait 81
. wife by her divorced husbandi |
skooIr
'rm not vindietivs.~ He hest.
tated.
That's all right. You're going 20 |
hurt me. | don't mind II yoa can |
teach me which OF my faults 10 |
avoid. | fooled myself that gave
you everything. Just as I'm footing |
myself that l give Give everything. |
Gives an idealist. He'll never Be /
content with less. may be starving
him
-You ara II you weren't, you
wouldn't have said It."
How do you know She strove
70 keep her tone ineonseQaential.
-can you bear the TRUTH You
must hays noticed last night how