The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-01-05
Chapter %
THE FUR FLIES

THE FUR FLIES
ttCERvEs you right Mark!" de.
clared Mrs. Lodely when the
general amusement had subsidized.
, "All the same" she added, "he
really does faint--for minute or
two. Loses himself altogether. If
You know what | mean. S'pose You
come upstairs now, Mark? There is
an elevator"
Most of the way" put in Far
rell He was beginning to feel
slightly uncomfortable about the
elevator. He looked at Mark but
Mark had become absorbed in his
tormentor.
you make the most extraordf.
nary impression on me" he was tell.
ing her. ooh, of course. I've heard
Of you and seen photographs but
never imagined you were really
like this. How stimulating to be
so very ugly! / should like to do
a portrait Of you"
your" Miss Raoul scourged him
without mercy. "You-mee-diocre,
een-seeg-nee-fee-cant? / laugh. I
choke. Who me paints? Venet
makes Study of an Actress Grind
lee eem-portunes that give sitting
downs. Another sees the caree-
cature. But you? Prattcb"
"You wouldn't be so rude to me
IL you really thought me negligi-
ble," retorted Mark. He was still
upon the couch but had propped
himself upon his hands; the thin,
unbeautiful fingers dug into the up
holstery. "As for my mediocrity,
1t is very doubtful whether your
success will be more than a pass
ing vogue; whereas mine, If it
comes to pass at all, will endure"
II say already l am eem.mortal!"
Your only Immortality viii be
my portrait of you, / think, and
even then they will doubt whether
did not dream you. In short"
said Mark, still palely staring, you
have had to introduce yourself to
me. The situation in a nutshell"
well, Lodely. shall we"
Miss Raoul hurled Armitage's In
PREVENTION aside.
Il myself introduce to your she
shrilled. "And I eem-agine that /
kindly speak to you to give youl
encouragement onlyi Where shall
the world ever of you hear? Not
anywhere! Not anywhere eem-
portantl" %
Leila at this point seized her
friend by the arm and propelled
her to the front door. Thomas, the
footman. shot forward and opened
IL and at the same moment Gaffen,
who had oeen steadily urging Mrs.
Lodely In the direction Of the ele.
vator, got her into IL and sped
with her to an upper story.
The sudden blessed silence
hummed in Armitage's ears. He
surveyed Mark over the deserted
battlefield.
"Have a drink" he invited.
Mark had collapsed once more
upon the couch and, fiat on his
back, began to chuckle.
$50 that's Patsy Raoul! I'd no
idea I should meet her here and
so soon. Could you follow her last
few phrases? Pure pavement. +. !.
! shall paint her sailing paper.boats
in a gutter. l think-bright red
boats"
Armitage was struggling to master
the situation. 81 don't want you to
tire yourself. II you won't have a
brandy let's go upstairs. I'd like
70 know IL your quarters will suit
you"
He followed Marks slow prog
ress into the elevator. Mark
dropped upon the bench that ran
along one side aud said fervently--
"All my life | have dreaded
stairs. You won't understand that,
but imagine yourself IN pain all
through some apparently endless
night and your sedative-what-
ever Il ts--separated from you by
forty.three distinct and progress.
sively painful efforts"
There is a short flight for you
20 tackle here. I'm afraid" apollo.
glzed Armitage. The top floor
used TO be the servants quarters
in my fathers time. Then no con.
Verted the back into a staff.wing:
but the elevator shaft was never
taken any higher"
"But why stow me so high up?"
Because II seemed to make the
best-workroom for you"
The lift had now completed its
ascent, but Mark remained seated,