The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-12-09
Chapter AZ
SAoRtuA
THE WOLF SMILES


THE WOLF SMILES
vTHE day following Santa hid with.
= in four walls. Each time the tele'
phone tinkIed her heart quickened.
Like a beleaguered city. she watch.
ed for Gives return. Never had he
seemed so precious.
On the second dag she Ventured
out but took her maid with her,
The third day she went out unac.
companied. Gradually her alarm
subsidized.
The fourth day she had fitting
at Bloomhoff's. that extraordinary
institution where grand duchesses
and bootieggers' wives elhowed
each other in their anxiety to be
served by the redoubtable Bloom.
hon himself. AS Bloomhoff left her
she raised the curtain to return to
the show room and the endless pa
rade of manikins In evening.gowns,
negligees. pyjamas. On couch be
tween herself and the elevator. bar
ring escape, sat Dicky. He smiled
like the wolf in Little Red Riding
Hood.
SORRY to disappolnt you"
Touching her arm affectionatelyt
he conducted her to the elevator
The clients OF Bloomhoff doubtless
imagined that they were witnessing
!. loves young dream.
In Fifth avenue she shook her
self free.
Whats your gamer"
II can't live without you"
"Bnt how did you know that ]
would be at Bloomhoff's?"
Rang up and discovered"
They walked a block. She broke
the silence.
What do you imagine you gain
by prosecuting met"
4That you'll fall for my charm"
'How do you mean fall?"
"That you'll remarry me-"
She took her time in apswering,
"Dicky. please believe me. The
only flowers you'll ever receive from
me will be in a wreath at your fu.
neral"
I'm rise from my grave" he re.
sponded lightly.
"But what do you want?"
l.
"That you'll lunch with me-"
To lunch With him where they
could be seen only by a few people
seemed preferable to counting the
publicity OF the streets. He selected
high-class speak-easy In the East
K1fties. Seated elbow to elbow on q
red plush couch. O table pinning
them to theswail. she tackled him.
Insult me all you ike. You'll
sever getsanother chance"
III we quarrel we shall attract
attention. That was why brought
you. Act as though we we're q pair
OF pals. like any OF these other ooh.
pies. Take Peep in that mirror OPP
posite. We don't look SO mon.
strous."
81 look like young niece on q
spree with her hard-toiled uncle"
That's more in your old style.
xc7've always laughed at my en-.
peNse. Lord. what will do II the
day ever dawns when I'm forbidden
10 hear Won laugh9"
A pair of cocktails had been
placed before them. she had in.
tended to refuse hers. Changing her
mind, she toasted him.
Here's to our parting"
MAY It be q false alarm" he
tested.
1T isn't Don't KID yourself"
His face collapsed like a child's.
I'D commit suicide II I believed
you were through with me-"
But Dicky. that's not news to
you I've been through with You for
ages"
"May be- You haven't acted like
II"
He called for another cocktail.
She prayed that he might call for
twenty. Meanwhile she argued.
MAY ] speak frankly for your
own good7" he questioned.
-Can you be moie rude than you
have been?" she challenged.
He defeated her by laughing In
his most winning manner.
lord bless mel It's like old days
In Chicago to SIT here fighting.s
-You were about to harangne me
for my own good" she logged him.
"Don't know hat | dare. II Of
fend you, you'll scoot."
Soups too nice" she mumbled.
"Then claiming the privilege of
an ex-husband. III dispense with
draperies After we'd become en-.
gagged you revoked for ave minutes
In Gives favor. After we were mar.
ried you revoked In his favor more