The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-10-24
Chapter So
IT is LOVE-

Chapter 80
TITS LOVE-
1T DON'T believe Mrs. Rodgers
: would have told me anything II
sls hadn't turned out to be Nanna's
sister," Caroline continued. Il didn't
recognize her, because she used to
be thin like Mamma. and now she's
exactly like feather-bed. But she
knew me at once she said hadn't
changed bit"
"No-you haven't" said Jim.
And that was the last moment that
he could have said 1t, because, In the
very middle of saying 1t. Caroline
stopped being the dearly familiar
child, half playmate and half sister,
whom he had teassd, petted and
adored from the time she had first
ciutched at his hair with her baby
fingers.
Something happened, and she was
q new EarOiine--a Caroline whom
he knew. and did not know. whose
hand on bis arm sent . tremer all
over him. It was horribly disconcert-
ing and embarrassing. He lost the
thread of what she was saying. be-
cause there was a pounding noise in
his ears.
He looked at her. and then looked
quickly away. She was o new, en-
chanted Caroline, who took his
breath With her warmth and beauty
enchanted. and enchanting.
Jim took hold of himself.
II didn't hear what you said.1
He looked no higher than the dust
sheet which covered the bed. but he
knew that she was looking at him.
He hadn't the faintest idea what she
had said, or what she was going to
say. It came like bomb-sheil.
"They think you were In love with
Mrs. Van Berg"
He looked up then with sharply
interTogative jerk Of the head.
with Susie?"
"Yes." Her eyes were very bright.
Were. you? You needn't say IL you
don't want to-"
"Weil, wasn't. What put &c into
anyoneis head that VAST"
That's what | was telling you."
said Caroline earnestly. "You see.
Mrs. Van Berg's maid is going about
saying that Mr.. Van Berg was shot
because he found out something he
wasn't meant to--thats to say, she
doesn't say It right out, she Just
drops hints. Mrs. Rodgers calls her
an hitting 'ussy.' And she says
she says perhaps the emeralds
weren't stolen at all, only hidden TO
make it look as II there had been a
burglary"
what damned nonsense!"
"Jim, you didn't think I believed
her! It was only thought-you
might have cared for her - and
there might have been--a quarrel"
"WeIl. didn'tls
He got up and began to walk about
the room. It was more than he could
do to sit within yard OF Caroline
and hear her ask him whether be
was In love with another woman.
CHE sat where she was. harehead-
- ed. her old brown coat open over
q cream shirt and shabby tweed
skirt. Her eyes followed him.
There wasn't any quarrei?"
"How do I know?7
It was damnable. but he didn't
know,
aJim--you don't mind my telling
you. The hussy says Mrs. Van Berg
used to have . photograph oi you.
She says 1t was always out until that
night. She says It has never been
out since" 49, 80
He stood in the middle OF the
room frowning intentiy.
II gave her . photograph they'd
been aWfully good to me. She may
have had half . dozen reasons for
putting e away" He said Il without
conviction. Why should she have
put his photograph away like thatf
You'd think Q woman whose husband
had just been shot would have
something better to do. You wouldn't
expect her to DO lddIing with photo.
graphs.
He began to wonder whether
Susie Van Berg knew that he had
been with Elmer that night.
II was there" he said. Elmer and
I had drinks together. ! wonder Y