The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-05-10

and empty and STILL ana my arms
were tight around her and holding
her close to me, and her hair
brushed my face.
And Immediately the empty cor
ridors and the hotel and the world
ceased to exist, and there was moth
ing but darkness and warmth and
Sue in my arms with my mouth
against her mouth.
Then Sue was q small figure In
the darkness apart from me. her
face white blur. And / was trying
to steady my voice so / could speak,
and my heart was pounding as II
I'd been running q race. and /
wanted her in my arms again, and
dreaded what she might say. It's
true that q kiss is only q kiss. But
the girl was Sue. It made such a
difference.
"I,m sorry"
l waited. / thought Of trying
further apology.
Then all at once Sue spoke. She
spoke In 4 breathless little voice
that I'd never heard before. But she
said coolly enough:
Weren't We going TO look at the
Pope's pianof"
Fl OPENED the door and then
paused.
''It's dark In here" ! said, with
perhaps > note Of warning in my
voice.
WELL" said Sue, and there was
just spark Of laughter In her eyes.
"Well--open the shutters"
But 40 she followed me into the
large. empty. funeral room the
laughter fed.
.HOw cold IL isl. she said with a
SILVER. and how mnsty." She
followed me 70 the window and held
back the curtain while ] flung back
the window. which let In q breath
ot crisp fresh air, opened the shut.
ters, and aa the gray Hight crept in
closed the window again.
The light did nothing to remove
the gloom that hung over the old
room. Even the lowered carpet and
the silt cupids on the mantel mirror
looked garish and desolate and ugly.
The color had gone from Sues
face.
at isn't exactly lively in here" !
said, "in spite Of the frivolous furni.
ture."
The furniture makes Il worse"
said Sue with q shudder. However,
there's the piano"
Il doomed up Ia the shadowy cor
f-enOrmous, dark, long. like a
great black coffin on legs. Neither
OF M was IN Z hurry % approach it.
Sue looked about her, walked over
to q long. white table with faded
pink velvet cover which atood under
the dead chandelier. and paused
there meditatively.
"Dust," she said, drawing q slim
foreilnger across Il.
Her voice broke on and changed,
and she said with sharp Impotence:
What Is the matter with this
room!"
'.It's been closed too long" | said
proaaically. though knew Whit she
felt. "And It's cold"
Tho room had all at once become
intDlerable. Its silence Drooded;
the cold was musty: the shadows
dim; there was an intangible feeling
OF menace hanging over It and us.
Instinct bade me set sue cut OF the
place.
But In that little moment DC 81.
lence between Ms came . very
strange and startling thing,
Someone somewhere near u.s.
sighed heavily.
IL was q long Righ--lona and strug.
Cling and inexpreasibly weary. II
was distinct and unmistakable and
dreadful n that chill. bFeathlesa 81.
lance.
Our eyes leaped to meet. I was
on my feet. So was Sue. Neither
OF as spoke.
Then I went to the piano. Il was
dark In that corner. held the re.
voiver In my hand.
There was no one there.
lifted the I'D Of the huge shape.
After moment my tingera drop
ped the revolver into my pocket
again. and I touched cautiously
something inside.
"What-f' whispered Sue.
closed the ia. Ii was. then, IN
very truth Z eoffin.
Please .eave. Leave at once.
Sue did not move.
was thinking that the crowded
thing under that lid couldn't pos
sibly have uttered that heavy. straR.
Cling aigh. Il vas too long dead.
fCopgrsoAt. fess. lftpaea O. EAsrAaysl
IRE fMira vieeisn e aha ktllar /.