The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-02-04
Chapter 4S
aARRARAIs SURPRISE

Chapter 4S
5ARRARAs SURPRISE
MARK and Barbara. After that
IVA first swimming moment in her
mothers room Leila had felt moth.
ing emotiontaIIy new about It.
There had been 80 little hope, real.
~, that Farrell Armitage would be
able to come between them. she
had not seen him since that day
of climax, nearly a year ago, when
he had pushed the emerald into her
hand, but Patsy Raoul spoke Of him
sometimes. 81
She went up Malavie's dark stairs
and into the room where sns had to
leave her hat. She had taken a cab,
and her extravagancs had made her
almost the earliest arrival. She
walked through the empty, sunny
workrooms and through q door let
tered miss Quentin" She knew
there was a telephone there. and she
thought It would amuse her to ring
mp Barbara before she left home.
sWish her luck and all that
But Barbara was not at her hotel:
she gas here in the big, bare room.
She leaned. palms downward. upon
atile Of sketches, her pose absorbed
and intent. her eyes blank.
"oh! SorryI" said Leila.
Barbara started and smiled. The
sketches toppled and she straight
ened them before she spoke.
you're early. Leila. Allwell2"
"All excellent, thanks. II You
don't hear glowing reports Of my
progress. it's only because / don't
seem to be making any She paused
and added. Il came in to use your
phone in your absence, as q matter
OF fact"
Breach of discipline" twinkled
Barbara. "Good thing I'm here to
stop you"
They regarded each other easily
and pleasantly across the Uttered
table.
well. I hope you know what
would have said to you on the
phone" managed Leila at last. II
don't know why Il always a0nnds so
much thinner done face to face.
But there you are--I wish you hap
. piness. Both Of you.
barbara lifted her head sharply.
The movement brought II into shad.
ew. and immediately the sIlvery gold
deepened and darkened. ware upon
wave. Her eyes darkened. too. and
grew wary.
r don't understand you. You
speak as though lid chosen"
Well, according to the paper. you
have. Your engagement - an
nounced to Mark"
"But Il can't bel I didn't send
any announcement to the papers,
Leila shrugged.
swell. someone did. Mark. prob
ably. You'll have shoals OF congrat.
ulations all day. don't doubt" She
turned away, moistening dry lips.
"But--" began Barbara. She
looked suddenly very young, q slen-
der. bewildered child In q dark frock.
~There's q mistake" she insisted.
"Tf Mark announced our engage
ment, he did Il for some reason OF
bis own. I haven't said I'd marry
him
"But you are going to. Aren't
your
"why need I marry anybodyf I'm
happy as | am"
"You needn't, but you win. You're
that kind. Men--Mark's kind and
Farrells kind-will always want
you. And they'll badger you until
Jon get desperate and marry-any-
one. Malavie. Ltd"
Tho tension relaxed. Barbara col
ored. glanced towards a door that
led into the great mans sanetum.
"oh, he's thought Of It, toof" com.
mented Leila shrewdly. "welI.
there's one thing. you'd flnd out at
last what his real name Is"
Barbara gathered up the pile OF
AAtches and took them to jacques
!. Aalayie. Ltd. who. like herself. had
Lstarted work ct elk o'clock that
orning. In n room even bigger
nd harer than hers he now sat with
the morning papers before him and
removed 9 pincenes from his schol
arly countenance as he asked wheth.
or she had finished.
yes. And think you'Il be
pleased. But ! won't come out 10
breakfast with you after all. II You
don't mind"
@You must requah food. lou had
. heavy Gay yesterday. rememhah.
Il know. But I've some private
business to attend to this morning.
She pointed to . paper open at the
social column. Il didn't authorize
that announcement. Mr.. Malayie."