The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-05-19
Chapter Six
FIGURE IN SHADOW

FREDDY and Isabel came in. Fred
dy carried an umbrella, and Isa-
bel, all in yellow chiffon, looked like
an indignant daffodil. Both glanced
without enthusiasm about the shrine
of Madame Chowdhury.
Get it over, Natalie" said Isabel.
Madame put on her sibyl smile.
Her finger left the Queen of Spades.
and her eye left Dirk. She lifted the
inner curtain, and Madame and
Natalie disappeared into the red re-
treat.
Madame had the somewhat blowsy
appearance of a tipsy washwoman
: home from a costume ball. and a
curious oily grace which seemed to
annoy the colder and more matter
of fact Isabel considerably.
Waited 1ong?" asked Freddy. a
blond young man who was not him.
self when he was damp. Isabel asked
\ for cigaret and he supplied it. Dirk
brought Madame Chowdhury's chair.
and Isabel sat in it and smoked, her
slim knees crossed, somnolence re-
placing the look of annoyance on
her face.
She was like a portrait CT Elinor.
too youthful, too hardy to be an
exact likeness. Darker. slate-colored
eyes. more breadth of brow. less soft
ness about the mouth. There was the
same clear pallor. heightened by the
yellow gown; the same ash-gold
hair. the darker brows and lashes.
Isabel at college had been accounted
a prodigy at mathematics. Now she
employed her faculties of deduction
chiefly at bridge. Just Dirk's age.
she was as weary of the world as
Natalie was avid of it.
She said presently.
"Elinor told you the news. | sup
pose"
THE newS?" repeated Dirk.
Gage Seymour" she assisted him.
ooh. yes" Dirk said She told u.s."
Rupert took it, | imagine. with
customary tact"
with customary TACT" acknowl-
edged Dirk.
The rain had Begun again. was.
pounding on Madame Chowdhury's
roof. oozing through the seams. Fred
dy said to Isabel.
For two cents | won't pick up
Joe. Why can't he get his own carr"
81 won't give you two cents" said
Isabel. whats a little rain?"
nIRK went to the back door Of the
~ tent and looked out Dark as
pitch now except for the beam of
lamp. by that ray he saw that the
man no longer lay in the mud. 81
lence. except somewhere an animal
snarling in its cage. Suddenly there
was the faint sound OF applause and
two swift human figures came run
ming from the main tent acrobats
they looked like. or like the trapeZ-
lists whom he had watched perform
They disappeared into another tent.
vanished abruptly out of the rain.
simultaneously Natalie came from
the inner sanctum with Madame
Chowdhury Isabel and Freddy made
ready to depart.
The appearance of the white run
ming figures had treasured Dirk
They had run lightly. were nimble
and muscled They were fearless. or
they would not be trapezists. Pipe
10 fights for her" Madame had said
And the doors OF the van were
locked She was safe tonight.
Tomorrow he would come back lie
must see her again
Natalie was bubhiing delightedly
She had done a good deal Of talking.
had babbled lengthily at any stray
query from Madame. but she had
been appraised also of many roman
tic events to come
1t was decided that they would
stop for Joe Vincent. bachelor. so
journing alone In his summer cabin
not so far away. Joe. said Freddy.
had better give them something to
warm them up.
Can he give me dry pair of slip.
pers?" asked Natalie.
"a shouldn't wonder" said Freddy,
not without malice.