The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-11-01
PARADISE.
DAWSON,
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dinner. Got O business conference"
"It won't do, Dicky." She spoke
firmly. This is my first night
back"
"Too bad darling. The confer
ence is about those mines. And
it's too worse, too; I have tot sleep
on a train, for I'm due In ST Paul
tomorrow"
I For another conference?"
you're becoming quite acute lit
tie guesser."
II don't believe a word Of it,
Dicky. For some reason you're
afraid Of me-"
For heavens sake!" He yawned
so that she heard him. "This is
your chance as much as mine. If
the deal goes through, Wen be in
clover"
Then I wish you luck, if I don't
see you again."
"But you will" His tone became
anxious. ~ have to fetch my suit
case. If you're a kind little wife.
you'll have it packed"
She made her toilet with special
care, choosing the high-waisted We
netian gown with the billowy skirt.
which he'd loved when he was
counting. Between tears and temper
she flung his travelling kit into his
suitcase. Dinnerless and wounded
she sat down to wait for him.
Hours slipped by. Seven. Eight. !
Nine. There would be no time to-
deliver her ultimatum. To start a
discussion with a husband In a hur-
ry would be useless.
Her reading of his character be-
came clear and yet more clear.
From that third night Of the honey
moon when he'd called her Lou-Lou
she'd been continually stumbling on
discoveries. Most Of them she'd re-
fused to admit till now. They had
come to her in fragments. She
pieced them together like Chinese
puzzle. At last she had no doubt
that she knew all about him.
His key in the latch. She snatched
book. He entered briskly. hum
ming.
From the hall he called to her,
"Got my suitcase ready?"
I'm the bedroom"
She heard him go in search Of 1t.
then his footsteps returning.
well, Pm1on darling"
That's good"
mot huffy, I hope"
you're an optimist."
"Bless my soul. hadn't noticed.
You're all dolled up. Why the mag
nificence?"
20, trot along"
She turned a page. He ap-
preached and stood over her.
Expecting someone%
There was one name with which
she could always annoy him.
Joking aside" she glanced ND,
ito whom did you lend my coat? To
Lou-Lou?"
Been shopping! So that's how
you've spent the afternoon?"
"Pll hand it to you, Dicky. when
you place your affections, you're
tremendously loyal"
you're right" He twiddled his
mustache-a sure sign that he was
confused. 81 hate to quit on any
body. The poor kid was down and
out. used to be her pal. or course
when married you-So In sense
I felt responsible. Surely you don't
blame me?"
"Blams you, for playing the good
Samaritan" She opened her eyes
charmingly wide.
81 wish / didn't have to CO." He
perched himself on the arm of her
chair. "You strike me as queer,
Santa-too darned polite. What are
you planning about the twenty
thousand?"
"oh. that You really must go.
Dicky. Look at the time. I'll give
you my answer later"
THAT'S not very satisfactory.
These fellows I'm TO meet win ex-
pect me to be definite"
He lowered uncertain: then
picked up his suitcase. She accom-
panied him to the hall and sub
mitted to his embrace.
The moment he was gone, she
slipped the chain in place. She
might have forgiven him had the
girl been anyone but Lou-Lou.
Next morning she removed all
her belongings to storage. She was
scrupulously honest, leaving him
his share Of the wedding presents
and the bed, which had been his
solitary contribution to the furnish
ings. To the pillow she pinned O
note referring him to her lawyer.
Her final act in the ritual of de-
parture was to tiptoe through the
empty rooms. She'd promised him
his answer: here 1t was with no
word spoken. She pictured the sur.
prise OF his Homecoming.
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Tomorrow. 0Ieky Bak does Iuss