The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-09-05
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marshall he broke out.


| Marshal" he broke out.
"It's nothing! I don't know what
makes me so silly!" she said with
childish anger. to realize she had
told him another lie. She did know
what made her $50 silly" and too
well.
He had risen at that: unable,
through nervous restlessness, to sit
longer. H
"No. of course there's no excuse
for it," he exploded. You're only
burning up with fever every day.
starving. and no one does any.
thing!"
You're not worried about me.
Bob?"
He sat down instantly: he tried to
relax. She must not know how wor-
ried he was about her. Certainly
mott" he protested. a bit too ener-
getically. why should | be, child?
l only meant that you have every
excuse for being little nervous"
He laid his hand on her forehead.
So hot again!
She would not have a nurse and
in a way Bob was glad, for a nurse
might keep him out Of the room,
keep him away from her. But he
wanted her to have the best OF care
and all of care that anyone could
need.
Its only a little reaction, and
from strain" Marsha assured Bob
at the end of that week and after
the third specialist had looked her
over; land don't need a nurse.
Doctor Bolt says I'm not really Ill.
Bob"
What does he call it?" Bob ques-
toned belligerently. "'Not really
III when you're lying here. losing
weight. hour by hour! But of course
when earth's last picture is paint.
ed the medical profession will be
grating pollywogs' tails on police
dogs and calling it a day."
LIE MOPPED his brow. Marsha
i laughed suddenly. loudly.
"Today's," she said. after she had
sobered. was even more amusing
than yesterdays. Yesterdays spe-
cialist was more impressive, but to-
day's-you lowered over this one
so. Bob. and you know you're rather
long and lean and sometimes. late
ly. rather desperate looking. and
this one was so fat and short and
comfortable looking-and the con.
trast! Didn't 1t amuse your"
mo, 1t didn't" he answered, and
to his shame. not quite steadily. He
had found no help: he had so con-
fidently expected help from Bolt.
He turned his face aside, blinked
quickly her getting well was
the one thing that mattered now In
life. Instantly she sobered.
You're tired" she said. and her
voice shook a trifle. $50 tired that
the idea Of sick wife is almost too
much"
at isn't that, Marsha, it's" he
paused.
What. Bob?"
Il am worried about you. guess
I'll have to acknowledge. I've al
ways had the greatest respect for
the medical profession. know what
they can do-do do-from living
In lands where the Ill must stay Ill
II the devil-doctors can't help.
But lately-I've grown discour.
aged. All they tell me is that you
have something on your mind and
you tell me you haven't"
Il know did tell you that"
she answered YEARLY.
Wasn't 1t true?" he asked, eyes
again on her and narrowed.
mo. It wasn't true"
is it anything with which can
help you?" he asked.
We'll. in a way If you can
forgive me. But don't suppose you
will or could" she responded slow.
ly. levelly. IF a woman loves a man
she forgives him anything; but II a
woman errs. it's quite another story.
perhaps that is as it should be.
! don't know. | know only that It
makes life difficult. And you needn't
be worried about my getting we'll.
l shall. II may take a little time, but
you won't Lave to see the struggle.
! shan't be going with you"
His heart froze; but he managed
TO say a steady "No?" which she
answered with one as even.
Il want to tell you about It," she
said, land | wonder whether you
could come here to sit on the edge
OF my bed and hold my hands very
tightly as you used to while tell
II? And don't. please. stop holding
them so until I'm quite through. be.
cause =. but you'll know later. You
won't. Bob. stop holding my hands
and holding them tightly?"
81 won't" he promised.
1t begins with Godfrey Tarle-
ton" she explained (for a second
his hands relaxed and then grew
tight again. as pain stood forth In
her eyesl. whom don't care for
don't care for at all. Bob"
(CobwtRAs. 1894. 6v x Rav,laa4- 7 aylo,)