The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-09-27

ness. The shadows Of swift clashing
events moved in them. They were
like the shadows of fierce darling
fish seen through waters yelled by
mist. Mist-fog. Fog came into it,
fog. and voice.
His voice? Behind the fog, strange
violent things. happening at an In.
credible speed. flashing through his
mind too quickly to be grasped
like beads of light. strung on dark
chain like q kids green beads
For an instant he saw a small
brightly lighted picture. The light
came from above. and swinging to
and fro beneath It was q string Of
square green stones. They swung
from mans hand. There were eight
OF them-big, square. green stones;
a double chain Of pearls between
every two.
He saw .he mans hand, and the
square green stones. and the pearls.
and the light shining down on them.
The voice said. Like q kids green
beads" and everything went dark.
Some time after this Nesta was at
the door. He thanked heaven that
he was up and dressed. II he had
had to lie there whilst she sat on the
edge Of his bed and talked, he might
not be able to hide the violence of
his recoil. Women always bullied q
man when they had him at q disad.
vantage.
The thought OF yesterday sci his
teeth on edge. To-day they would
meet on equal terms. and he, would
try and remember that the situation
was q horrible one for her. For him.
self It was very nearly intoierabie.
He hadn't a Job. and as far as he
knew. he hadn't . penny in the
world.
What was he to do? Live on Nesta
borrow from Nesta? The situation
was not only nearly. but quite. intol.
cradle.
These thoughts went to and fro In
his mind as they sat at breakfast In
the small hot kitchen.
Tom Williams bolted q couple Of
rashers of bacon. gulped down his
tea, and was of, saying that he would
be late. The chug-chug OF his motor
cycle came back through the thin.
walls Of the little house.
WITH recovered confidence Min
W began to tell him how wonderful
Tom was at almost everything
why. he can cook as well a. ! can.
And every bit of paper in this house
is what he hung himself" It was
great relief to have Minis prattle to
get them through the meal. She had
shy smiles for him now and no
longer kept her eye on the door. So
much for a shave! :.
When breakfast was over. he spoke
to Nesta directly.
SIS there somewhere where we
can talk?"
With no more than q nod she led
the way into the parlor, with its
saddle-back suite In bright shades
OF red and blue. It's crimson Amin.
ster square. and Its silver photo.
graph frames.
Into this room, so new, so garish,
so commonplace. there came these
two angry, incongruous people; and
at once It's slight emptiness became
charged with strain. pressure. re-
sistance.
Nesta waited for him to begin. She
stood with her back to the window.
leaning forward over one Of the red
and blue chairs In a would.be easy
attitude. He walked TO the wooliy
mat in front Of the hearth, and said
what he had planned to say.
This is q rotten deal for you. I
want to tell you I'm awfuliy sorry
about It."
Heavens! How incredibly dificult
she made It! His words. his efforts
to get her point OF view. slipped
back from the hard surface she
turned towards him. It was like see.
ing . fly slip on Q pane OF glass.
She was angry. hard. resentfui. cold.
But there was something else.
He could feel the pressure Of her
will. Why should she bs putting out
her will against him IKE this? Il got
his back up. It made Il too damned
difficult to feel or say the decent
thing. What was she TO him after ell.
but a stranger whom he disliked!
He said. Il really am sorry" and
the room filled again with her scorn-
full silence.
She stood there leaning over the
back OF the chair with bright close.
set eyes and Just q hint Of an angry.
smile breaking the straight line OF
her lips. There was something secret
about that smile. something that
said. "Take eare-I can be even with
you IL / like"
He spoke before he knew what he
was going to say.
why do you look at me like that!
What's behind all this!'
"Ahl" said Nesta very softly.
You'd like to kncw-wouldn't your"
fcesssseAt. 1888. ,. y. LsppSncost ce.l