The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-10-03
Chapter II
cARoLINE,s PLEA

~ Cnapter IL E
Z cARoLINE's PLEA ~
CAROLINE felt as IL there were
~ strong invisible bars between
them. She lifted her chin and took q
step forward. All the bolts and bars
In the world weren't going to keep
her from Jim.
MAY / come int"
Nesta stood where she was. the
door half closed.
I'm Mrs. RiddelI-but ! don't
know who you are"
I'm Caroline Leigh. I've got q
message from the Elston cottage
hospital. May I come in?
Nesta Riddell had no intention Of
talking about the Elston cottage hos.
pital at Minis front door. She stepped
back, let Caroline pass her and,
shutting the door. showed the way
into the parlor. Caroline turned ia
face her. flushed with success
There, beside the hearth, was the
coalscuttle. as bright as a new pen
ny. She held out the bill.
Il think you dropped this bill. The
nurse asked me to give 1t to you"
Nesta glanced at It, frowned, and
crushed 1t in her hand.
THANK you-you needn't have
troubled; 1t didn't matter"
ooh, but was coming to see you
anyhow"
you were coming to see me?
What for?"
Caroline stayed silent. Her feeling
OF success drained away. She felt as
IL she were on the edge of saying
something very important. Once she
had said it, she would not be able to
take 1t back. Yet she must say 1t.
Only what it was that she must say
she did not really know.
Then she said 1t.
where's Jim?"
Nesta's hand closed hard upon the
crumpled bill. Jim wasn't here,
thank goodness. It was no more
than ten minutes since he had
barged out of the house. Jimi She'd
teach other women to come after
her husband. She repeated the name
in q most offensive voice.
"Jsm?"
Caroline colored brightly.
mrs. Riddell-please--I must see
him-because ! think he Is my cou.
sin. Jim Randall. The nurse said"
What does she know about It?
Hes my husband"
"Are you sure?" -
Nesta laughed angrily.
What do you supposef"
"The nurse said"
"And l say. what does she know
about it?'
please let me speak. The nurse
said there was piece of letter in his
pocket with the signature Caroline.
I'm Caroline, and sent him q letter
signed Just like that. so you See"
NIESTA'S manner changed. She
smoothed away her frown and
said In her best company manner:
ITS a pity you've had so much
trouble for nothing. The letter was
from Miss Caroline Russell. who is
. cousin Of NINE"
Detection flowed In upon Caroline
like a fog. 1t all came out so pat
Miss Caroline Bussell--a cousin OF
mine. She couldn't have invented
q name like Caroline Russell all In
one flashing instant.
She lifted her head as II TO get
above the fog and asked:
Have you got the letter here?"
mo, haven't. I don't keep old
torn bits OF paper"
"If could have seen it," said
Caroline very earnestly. She was
pressing her hands together. palm
TO palm, and finger to finger. Her
eyes under her little brown tweed
cap. the bright clear brown of peaty
water. gazed pleadingly at Nesta.
Her hair was the same bright color,
Nesta did not answer in words,
She smiled a little.
IF you would lend me a pencil
IL could write my name-you'd
know II IL was the same"
"Do you think | don't know my
own husbandl" said Nesta.
What did one say to that--what
could one say: or course she must
know her own husband. Carollne's
hope was pricked bubble. She had
made a fool of herself to q woman
with = rasping voice and eyes like
hits NJ fin.