The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-01-22
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GODDESS
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
by HerberR lenses,

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family bitter way of his that &C.
tresses made lousy nurses and to get
the hell out of there.
Janice had given him a verbal wal
lop in return. She'd said with a
placid detachment. "PlI hold the
mask. Doctor. while you pour the
gchloroform. The mans just afraid
I'll find out about his past when he
talks going under. But he's not near
ly so bad as he thinks he is. He'll
probably sing psalms. I'll stay"
Vaguely Frank remembered that
Janice had been splendid while they
had worked over the unconscious
Spin. Deft. capable. yet unobtrusive,
she had been invaluable. The meta
morphosis from skilled actress to
the subordinate but efficient part of
doctors assistant was amazing be-
cause it was absolute.
Frank and Janice walked from the
hotel room where lay Spin, to the
detached cottage that was to be the
girls for the night.
Light from the Casino slashed into
the mild sky. Music from the hidden
patio followed them as they walked;
bursts of distant laughter and of
muffled conversation were synco-
pated by the sound of ivory balls
rafting about the spinning wheels
in the gaming rooms. The moon was
a newly minted silver coin flung
high above them.
The world, to Frank, was a very
good place to be ali-'e in. Janice was
safe-it was enough: explanations
could come another time. He was In
love with her, he realized with sud.
den conviction Spin Winslow's cyni-
cisms about Janice Kent's ambi.
lions, the vague memory of the non.
marriage clause of her contract
with Consolidated. her wealth, her
beauty. her aura of unattainability
had shrunk this night but she re-
NAMED, walking by his side. clinging
bit tiredly to his arm, the weary,
sweet girl with whom he was in love.
\ T the doorway of her cottage,
4 \ she turned her face, a bit white
in the moonlight. to Frank. Her voice
held the huskiness of fatigue when
she said:
Good night. Frank. You've been
such dear Oh. don't mean that.
How absurdIy trivia! words are! |
mean"
Frank caught her in his arms. She
did not resist but lay there an in
slant, looking at him. Her eyes were
wide-the deep blue of them had
darkened to black. They limited.
meltingly, of surrender.
Frank kissed her. Her lips against
his were cool and detached--a curl
Gus aloofness that caused Frank, in
brief fash, TO think of the tigurines
OF the Virgin he'd seen in remote
inches of lost churches found in for.
gotten jungles.
Did he imagine it?-or did for a
fleeting instant her lips tremble
against his? Abruptly she was out
of his arms and her hand on the
door-knob. Frank half raised his
arms.
please ." she said. "I'm very
tired" Was 1t fright he saw In her
eyes?--no-but 1t was an odd timid-
ity. "l'm sorry" She seemed to say
that to herself Frank, forget that.
win you. please Her breast rose
and fell with quick. short breaths.
but the alarm had gone from her
eyes.
Il love you. Janice" said Frank
The words were husky in his throat.
Janice put up her arm in gesture
of half protest. Suddenly she
laughed. little trill that ran
through half an octave. The sound
OF it seemed to throw cloak OF re-
straint between them. Franks arms
dropped to his side. The girls sIen-
der figure took on a new poise. She
said hurriedly:
"We mustn't be silly. You must
go now. You oh. how mournfui
you look!" Her little laugh broke on
hair note.
Swiftly she drifted against Frank.
She shook his arms IN a small ges.
tuFe of good-humored protest. She
stood on tip-toe. Lightly her lips
brushed his-a fieeting feather Of
fragrance. then she was gone.
But she was not gone from
Franks mind. He stood. staring at
the door and rapidly running back
through the strange trait OF events
that had brought them to this spot.
There we're so, many chances that
they might never have met. Suppose.
for one, that he had not madly de-
cided to follow her car that day In
Hollywood. Or suppose that he had
not teIephoned her house this very
evening
He half raised his hand 10 touch
his lips. then turned and walked
back 10 the hotel. He was IN q glow
Of anticipation. bemused and yet
clear upon one point. His regard for
Janice.
fcssrfsas. 1874. - Rassvs Ie.ss.I