The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-12-06
PARADISE
DAWSON,


| "My dear Santa, come down .
earth. Allow me to tick OF your q,
tempts at justice"
Like getting out q financial re
port on one OF your companies" sh
twitted him. Don't be 90 neutral
Pull your chair closer"
He complied grudgingly.
your past doesn't make q favor
able showing. You gave me the cat,
when l proposed to you. and on
gagged yourself to Dicky."
II was afraid of love-" she OF
cused herself. II loved you too tire
mendously."
And because you loved me too
tremendously. you left me to- suffer
A queer way of showing devotion!'
"But am queer" She rested {
hand on his knee prettily.
"Pll say you are. The bird in the
bush-the chap you've missed--ii
the one you value. You discover
lofty motives for your chopping and
changing. For instance. when you
were pledged to Dicky, you prom.
ised to follow me to Europe"
you're digging awfully far back,
darling"
"Why not? / was once the bird
you'd missed. You've always been
consistent in yeur Inconsistency.
You played the same game on Dicky
that you're playing on me. Having
chosen him, you tried to collar both
Of u.s." ls:
"Then In your opinion I'm pro.
miscuous-minded?" she suggested.
I'm my opinion" he thwarted her
effort to charm him. "yot're totally
lacking in sense OF responsibility.
Having tossed me to the bow-wows.
you reconsidered and divorced
Dicky."
Which proves my fairness" she
pleaded. "A more obstinate idiot
would have stuck to her guns and
ruined the lives of all three OF us"
SIT won't do" He smiled grimly.
II have you sized up. In your own
opinion you're a goddess. You can
do no wrong. But when you mar.
ried me, you were no philanthropist.
A woman who has failed one man
can fail second. It was up to you
far more than to me, to make spe-
cial effort. Instead Of which,"
She held out her arms.
"Can't we cry quits?"
mo! We've reached the cross.i
roads. You don't at all appreciate
the crisis. I'm through with sQusWk.
Ing. II your tenderness for Dicky
Is genuine. you must prefer him.
Why not return to him? The de-
,ision we make tonight is final."
He hadn't set out to say that,
What II in an attempt to lash him
back to her she, too. should adopt
the whip Of cruelty? Her lips Dusk.
cred. Her hands clenched and iln.
folded. s
"There isn't any decision
With wriggle that convulsed her
entire body she twisted. burying
her face in the cushions.
He was on his knees beside her.
II knew there wasn't. Pi0ase
don't hide"
She drew his head down. Gradual.
" her sobbing ceased. For some
moments there was silence.
What are you thinking, Santa!'
She released him.
Gee! You're handsome. II you
ever looked rcross-eyed a. anothef
woman, I'd bump her of. That's
how much ! care for YOU"
The telephone tinkled. She was
on her feet In second.
"Pll bet that's Dicky. He never
knows what he's licked. Listen
while I give him his hail and fare
WE'LL"
She seized the receiver in fight
ing mood.
"Yes. That's correct. Yes"
She turned.
tits for you--a woman
Give took the receiver with q
vigor scarcely less belligsFsnt than
her own.
"Hellol What d'yoa wanti" His
irritation svaporated, his tone be-
came honeyed. 30. It's you!---
Teach him . esson.---No. she
didn't at first. Why certainly. TIL
beat him up for you any time. Not
1t all--the pleasures mine"
He rang on to discover that
Santa was still standing behind
him.
"Who was sheI"
'Lou-L4ou.s
"But she's as detestable to me as
Dicky Is to you. How did you get
30 friendly with herf"
He took compassion on her. Con.
fessed how he'd gone behind her
back by visiting Lou.Lou at the
theater.
With head bent. Santa continued
the polishing of her nails.
eve lost one husband 10 Lou-Lou.
don't intend 10 lose another.
Never again. ~ long a. I live. Give.
win I do anything without consult
Ing you. You believe that aoa't
your"
fcesyisAI fsJf,isss. cs-ass.s, Ds~ssaI
Danger approaehss santa, ssmsr-
soM. tn slest Eeasaassepeeartas