The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-08-24
Chapter Nine
DENIS FORD


DENIS FORD
DEN TYLER said: II don't know
~ how good this dancell be. It's
what the society editor will call in
the nature Of a farewell to the col.
iege contingent The contingent
may overrun the place completely.
and considering that ! used to run
around with some of their mothers
1t don't make me feel any younger"
Carol shrugged. "Pm used to it.
Don't worry about me-"
They were to stop by Alice and
Tom Harrison's, he said. Most Of the
crowd would be there. 20.
The Harrison house was brilliant
with lights and crowded with guests.
Alice put down her glass and rushed
at Carol with outstretched arms.
"Carol, darling! I'm so glad to see
you! I've been meaning to call you
all week, but little Alice hasn't been
well, and I've been swamped
with
She kissed Carol, deity avoiding
enumeration of the things she had
been swamped with, and Carol
kissed her in return.
Tom came up and said: swell,
we'll, we'll. Welcome to our fair
city!" He radiated hospitality. He'd
grown fatter too.
When she had been greeted by
her acquaintances and introduced
to the strangers he steered her to-
wards the portable bar that stood
in the dining-room.
Good Lord; you overwhelm me!
I'll take a small quick one. think:
rye and ice water"
An unattached man drifted in,
and was greeted with shouts Of wei.
come. Carol looked at him in sur
prise.
He didn't look like ASHORE; he
looked more like Hollywood. Most
of the men wore white linen suits,
but the new man wore a linen mess
jacket, and he was almost garishly
handsome. The sort, she thought,
who would have his picture taken
with his shirt open at the throat.
Tom wanted. he said, to present
Denis Ford. She acknowledged the
Introduction with a casual nod and
went on talking to Ben. Denis
Ford's type never cared for her-for
some reason she attracted solder
men who admired her mind and
were afraid of it-so she saw no
reason to bother. Ben looked graft
fed, and went on telling her about
this trade he'd made.
THEY had one more round and
l. then went.
They assaulted the club house
with noisy gaiety. They were a So
cial unit in themselves, and If the
college crowd thought them antique.
and the older people thought them
fast-why. to hell with 'em all.
They were self-sufficient.
Ben was waiting when Carol
came out Of the dressing-room, tap
ping a foot to the music. His dane.
ing was even more unchanged than
Ben himself; it went back to the
days Of the onestep and the hesita.
ton. She followed him effortlessly,
lost in the Joy of dancing-even of
dancing with Ben.
Someone touched his shoulder.
Denis Ford's voice said: MAY
break?" and Denis Ford's arms had
carried her off.
He danced beautifully, Of course.
He probably knew all the steps of
the tango. She smiled at him vague
ly. and let herself drift.
He drew his head away and stared
at her curiously. What are you
doing here?"
In ASHORE. he meant, intending
1t for a compliment. She said:
Teaching history and French in
the high school. What are you doing
here?"
He grimaced. Living on the fam
lily until I can get job" And then,
in an awed whisper: History and
French. My God!"
That made her mad. $50 won't
have to live on the family" she ex-
planned sweetly.
He should have WINGED, but he
only grinned. ooh. mine can afford
it--for a while"
What sort Of job would you pre-
fer?"
None. Fm-uh-fitted for news
paper work. At least that's what I
thought. The last managing ed.
didn't agree with me-"
so you're waiting now to select
something from all offers that are
mailed in to you?"