The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-10-25

/
Then as Caroline, laughing and
shaking her head. was about to run
out Of the room, there was a change
In voice and manner. A puzzled look
came over Patsy's face: her color
receded. and her voice took on q
tone Of disappointment.
"Oh -. Yes. she's here. Who shall
say? oh s. Very well. I'll call
her.
She turned from the instrument,
which was fastened to the wall at
the foot Of the stair.
Caroline = someone wants you.
She won't give any name"
Caroline took the receiver with
some impotence. It was so stupid
OF people not to give their names.
II you were cut OF, you never knew
who had been calling you. She sim
ply hated that.
There came to her along the wire
an almost inaudible voice.
SIS that Caroline Leigh?"
who is speaking"
sis that Caroline Leigh?"
"Yes. Who is speaking?"
aWill you come and see me?
want to see you very badly"
"But who are you? ! didn't
hear
Il didn't say. want to see you
about Jim" There was faint des.
perate catch In the voice before the
name came out.
TT took Caroline q moment to get
= her own voice steady.
Are you-no, you're not-Nesta."
"Who Is Nesta? No. never mind.
I'm Susie. You know now, don't you?
Will you come and see met"
Caroline's heart leapt. Susie Van
Berg wanted to see her. Why? or
all things In the world, she wanted
most to see Susie Van Berg. She
wanted It so much that she was
afraid to say yes. Could she GO
might she go2 Was there any pos
sible hurt to Jim in her going? She
couldn't see any.
Susie Van Berg spoke again, a
little louder. little more insist
emily.
Are you there? VIII you Gomez
yes" said Caroline, and had the
feeling, like Robert. that she was
taking an irrevocable step.
How viii yon conner" said Susie
Ven Berg. + would send the car
but then the servants would talk"
They'll do that anyhow" said
Caroline with the ghost Of a laugh.
"But ron needn't bother-I've got
my own little car. When shall
conner"
The voice said, "At once"
Caroline's thoughts moved rapid.
". She said.
"Not II you don't want to make
talk. It Isn't 80 II knew you very
well. Il would be better II / came In
the afternoon--anyons can come in
the afternoon"
what timer The voice fiuttered.
Between flve and SIX" said Caro-.
line. "Will that do?"
The voice said. "yes." The click
Of the receiver put a full stop to the
word.
Susie Van Berg turned from the
telephone. clutching with both
hands ct the pale blue satin wrap
she was wearing. She had locked
both doors before she rang up Caro-.
line Leigh-ths bedroom door. and
the door OF the big dressing-room
which she had turned into sitting
room for herself.
The communicating door stood
open between the two rooms. The
telephone was 4. the sitting-room.
She had hung mp the receiver be-
cause she had heard someone try
the handle OF the bedroom door.
She stood for q moment. listening
In strained position. the light of
the grey rainy morning falling cold
upon her pallor. She had the type
Of looks which needs the sun. Her
hair was 80 pale as to be almost sill.
yer. her eyes q torget-me-not blue.
her skin as white as privet. with no
more than . faint rose to tinge the
cheeks. and deepen 10 the color Of
pink hawthorn in the lips.
She stood there listening, and
heard the handle tried again. In an
instant she had stepped out OF her
slippers and. picking them up.
crossed the door and gone through
the communicating door. moving
without . sound. The bedroom blinds
were down. and the curtains drawn.
The only light came from the SIT.
ting room.
Susie Van Berg slipped into the
turned-down bed and. leaning over
the edge. set her slippers down be-
meath e. Then. pulling the clothes
about her. she reached out her hand
and rang the bell
fCopvrtehf. 1853. J. B. Lippiacost CO.
Tomorrow. Caroline makes
okranaeig un8ekkinu eaIl