The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-09-18

to tell you something flrst."
what did you want to tell meY'
"It wasn't art funny listening to
that there radio message last night
and him in the next bed. But Matron
shouldn't ave put no more than Just
Jimmy Riddell-those other names
was all nonsense. It's Jimmy Riddell
he keeps saying. and I'll take my
Bible oath to 1t.
sNow, Mr.. Giles. l can't stop talk
ing here"
Mr.. Giles screwed up his face until
1t was all wrinkles.
"And I'll tell you something else
he said too"
Something else?"
"Um-" said Mr.. Giles. Some
thing most uncommon queer, nurse"
"Well-what was IT."
Mr.. Giles chuckied
"First he said. Jimmy Riddell,'
and then there was something about
being clever, and then he said,
'Green-like kids beads Plain as
plain that was. And then OF he goes
muttering again."
"nH we'll" said the nurse. II
~ can't stop talking here. be-
lieve you're just trying TO keep me.
because You don't want to go out.
You're crafty old man, that's what
you are-but out you co.
She pulled the bed away from the
wall as she spoke, and taking It. by
the head. pushed it brisklys down the
ward. s.sssa
Behind the two red screens the
muttering voice went on. Outside.
the sun streamed down.
Nesta Riddell got out of the car a
little way down the road and stood
for moment with her hand on the
door.
Nov. Tom, you'll walt here. and
IL it's Jimmy. and IL they'll let him
come. I'll come out and tell you"
"And IL It isn't?" said the man at
the wheel.
He was so like Nesta Riddell that
strangers took them for twins. AS a
matter of fact, she was three years
the elder and very much the better
man. Tom Williams didsa he was
told. and with no more than some
times sulky look. and sometimes a
jerk OF the shoulders.
Nesta slammed the door and
walked up the road towards the
gate. It was going to be really hot.
She had been In two minds about
wearing her new blue voile. but In
the end she had chahcedsit. For all
she knew. 1t might be thee oppor.
tunity she would have. because II
this man who had been picked up in
the fog wasn't Jimmy. then It was a
hundred to one that Jimmy was
drowned: and if Jimmy was drown.
ed. she would have to go into black.
She lifted the latch OF the gate.
pushing 1t open with . BRISK jerky
movement. and walked MP the gravel
path. The garden vas bright with
autumn flowers. Big heads OF pink.
and white. and purple phlon summed
themselves. but the cornfiowers and
Shirley peoples had been beaten
down by the heavy rain and sprawl.
ed untidily on the drenched earth.
Mis-. Riddell did not look at the
flowers. She walked straight up to
the front door. rang the bell. and
then waited. with her hands. clasped
rather tightly upon the red handbag
which matched her beret. She was
rather handsome young woman.
sith high color and dark hair that
eurled naturally.
Her grey eyes were q little too
small and little too closely set. and
there were lines between them. ana
other lines about her mouth which
might spell temper. She wore large
pearl earrings and the latest choker
necklet. also Of pearls-enormous
white ones. They made her throat
look brown and rather stringy.
CHE had rung the bell but the door
~ stood open. She could see across
tho small lobby and down Q long
white-walled corridor. Two other
passages went on to the right and
left. and in a moment q Cat. rosy.
checked girl OF eighteen. with q
white cap and blue print sleeves
rolled up. came flying round the left
hand corner.
Nesta Riddell began ut once.
"I've come about the message on
the radio
The girl opened blank round eyes.
Mrs. Riddell's brows met IN q
straight line. . dark line like q
frown.
"There was a radio message TO
say that a man had been picked up
In the fog
The rosy girl became roster. and
her eyes rounder. She was desper-
ately interested and very nearly IN
artlcalate.
She said. -T'Ii tell nurse and bolt.
ed like a rabbit.
Nesta opened her hag. took out n
sheet OF paper. and waited. when
the nurse came. she would know
whether Jimmy had been drowned