The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-10-18


and reminded her Of one Of those
fish which flap slowly to and fro be
hind the plate glass Of an aquarium
The light in the Office was almost
as opaque as water, and he had tbs
pale hnwinking stare Of fish. He
had q voice that matched, high and
weak. -
Please may Fsee an entry In the
register? It's marriage-on the
twenty-fifth Of July"
.Last?s
Caroline did not take his meaning,
She looked at him with bewildered
eyes.
Please may see the register of
marriages for the twenty-ifth Of
July?"
Last July?"
aYes-oh yes"
She stood and waited. She wasn't
afraid; she kept insisting on that.
There was nothing to be afraid
about-there couldn't be. She was
going to see Jim Riddell's sigma
ture. and 1t would be the signature
Of q stranger. There wasn't the very
slightest possible doubt about that.
She saw the clerk turn the pages
Of the register-big, stir pages thick
with the names Of men and women
who had gone adventuring into mar
riage through this drab back door.
Perhaps II You loved someone very
much, you wouldn't notice the limo
leum and the smell OF disinfectant.
Here You are" said the clerk in
his high weak voice. He stood aside
and pointed at the left-hand page Of
the open book.
Caroline, q little dazed, looked
down at the names. She saw Nesta's
name "Nesta Williams, spin.
ster." And then James Riddell,
bachelor" It wasn't Jim's writing
Of course 1t wasn't. What odd writ.
ing It was-like child's. No, It
wasn't. A child wrote round hand.
This was more like shaky print.
She looked up with a puzzled
frown.
What funny writing!"
"Whatr said the clerk. "Oh, that?
Written with his left hand, that was,
on account Of having his right arm
in . sling motor-bicycle accident,
] think he said"
CAR0LINES heart jumped: she
~ didn't quite know why. Jim hadn't
got his arm In a sling. Jim hadn't
had an accident. Jim hadn't writ
ten that signature. Why didn't she
feel all happy and triumphant? Why
didn't she even feel relief? Why did
she feel as IL there was something
horrid Just round the next corner?
The clerk was speaking. and she
tried to give him her attention.
IL You want d certified copy. It
win be ave shillings."
Caroline famed. A copy OF this
abominable liei She made her voice
gentle and polite with a terrible Ell.
fort.
mo. thank you"
The fame died down. She felt
businesslike and rather tired. Jim
Riddell's address was given as IL
Saracen Row. Nesta williams as g.
Grove Road. His fathers name was
James Riddell too; her fathers
name was Thomas Williams. she
wrote down both the addresses and
asked to be directed to Saracen
Row.
third to the left. second to the
right. and third to the left again"
said the clerk.
Caroline turned back at the door.
DO you remember this Mr.. Rid
dell-could yon describe him7''
The clerks pale. prominent eyes
looked at herwithout intelligence.
He had his arm In . sling"
oh cant you tell me what he
looked like?"
why" said the clerk. awe get
them coming in all day. shouldn't
remember about his arm II It wasn,t
for the writing said he'd never
signed his name with his left hand
before. and you can see what an
awkward job he made OF 1t. II it
wasn't for that. wouldn't remember
him.
you can't remember at all. Not
whether he was dark or fair. or
short or tallg"
-No. miss. I Garland you might
take that to mean that there wasn't
anything very much to remember.
You take my meaning? I might have
remembered red hair. or q squirt, or
handy legs. or anything over six
foot or under ave. so you may take
II he was Just one OF the average
lot--and a. said before. they keep
on coming In. What with births. mar.
riages and deaths. they keep coming
In al day. and after . BIT you stop
taking notice"
Caroline went out feeling very
much discouraged.
tcepsrssAs. isss. ,. 3. Eapps.eets os.I
--@.