The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-12-07
chapter as
SANTA TAKES A RIDE

SANTA TAKES A RIDE
NEXT morning, when Give had
AZ departed for business. Santa
lay in bed bordering. He'd beer
sweet, but she knew now that the
velvet scabbard concealed sword
Of cutting keenness. She would
never again dare to take chances
with him. 1t had been scenes like
the quarrel of last night that had
broken up her first marriage.
Lazily she oegan to dress, drting
with her reflection. OF her physical
self she approved heartily-haunt.
ing eyes. snowy. limbs. darting
sIightness. II 1t were not for her
gimcrack mind, she could pass for
saint or the Venus de Milo,
Speech betrayed her. Clothes mis-.
represented her.
The vision of her beauty restored
her confidence till she fell to analyz.
ing its elements One third of hez
appearance was the money she
spent on it; the second third was
youth and health: only the remain.
ing third was due to features.
She might lose her money. So
natural an incident as the birth OF
a child could snatch her youth and
health from her. II she relied on
her physical exquisiteness to retain
her hold on Give. she would be.
come like her mother, a dyed
headed clothes prop. hanging on to
a husband whom she had educated
to despise her.
sri never do that to Give" Then
q proud thought struck her
Couldn't. He wouldn't LET me
Gives not Daddy"
He certainly wasn't. To heaYe
Dicky of his chest. he'd had the
nerve to conspire with Lou-Lou.
"I.li have to watch my p,s and
as"
Purged by her fright, sanctified
and demure, she sailed forth. The
elevator-boy smirked at her.
"That gentleman your husband
tossed out has been here inquirina
for you"
"What Gentleman" she bridled.
the plump one who carries q
cane and wears spats. Your hus'
band gave orders that he wasn't to
be admitted"
20, that gentleman who used d
visit my husband" She feigned In
difference.
Il was only putting you wise" the
boy. apologized.
She Aounced ont and LEFT him
gaping. How many observers had
regarded Dicky as her lover? As
she lowered on the steps above the
avenue, she shivered In the chill
February air.
A taxi stationed against the
pavement caught her eye. She
dived Tor 1t and was on the point Of
entering, when Q hand seized her
wrist and jerked her inside.
"D0n't make q FUSS" . voice
warned her.
She struggled to retreat, but the
taxi started.
"You beastl When Give hears
about this"
"He WON'T You'l never dare
tell him."
TITS the trick o. gangster." her
breath came sohbingly.
aAn act OF Providence. ] was
ling In ambush, hoping that
might catch sight OF you. Yoar
walking bang In on me was pure
luck" He sim kept tight hold Of
her wrist. "Sit back and relax II
yon don't behave naturally, the
driver win become Suspicious"
She thought quickly. Virtue De-
nanded that she should scrsam and
produce Q scandal Dicky would
be arrested. Headlines IN the pa.
pers. Poiice-court proceedings. The
prisoners defenf 0 would he that
she had led him on. The elevator.
boy. who believed that he was her
lover. would be called as witness.
Lou-Lou would probably testify
against her.
Public sympathy would swing 70
Dicky. Whatever his punishment
her reputation would be- blackened.
All Gives protests would be jussi.
Ned. she'd have made q boob OF
him and advertised It. The best
way 10 master Dicky was to show
no fear OF him.
Whats the idea OF this comic
interview" She spoke contamp.
Ituously.
"That refuse 10 give you up.
-Are you saneg How can You
lgiye up anyone who doesn't belong
ito your"
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